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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Patio
  3. Space Location: Back Garden

World-Inspired Back Patio Ideas and Designs

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Deering Bay Estates
Deering Bay Estates
Escala Construction Inc.Escala Construction Inc.
This is an example of a medium sized world-inspired back patio in Miami with an outdoor shower, concrete paving and no cover.
shipwreck
shipwreck
Distinguished PoolsDistinguished Pools
Photo of a medium sized world-inspired back patio in San Diego with tiled flooring, a gazebo and a bar area.
Stepping stone walkway with grass joints in Lighthouse Point Florida
Stepping stone walkway with grass joints in Lighthouse Point Florida
Matthew Giampietro Garden DesignMatthew Giampietro Garden Design
Stepping stone walkway with mondo grass in the joints in Lighthouse Point, Florida by Waterfalls Fountains & Gardens Inc. Plantings by Ultimate Landscape
Aquarius - Custom Swimming Pool - Flower Mound, TX
Aquarius - Custom Swimming Pool - Flower Mound, TX
One Specialty Landscape Design, Pools & HardscapeOne Specialty Landscape Design, Pools & Hardscape
An outdoor fire pit with fire glass and custom stone seat benches lead to the sunken bar area complete with a custom cedar pergola with custom outdoor lighting. http://www.onespecialty.com/aquarius-luxury-swimming-pool-flower-mound/
Kalorama Contemporary
Kalorama Contemporary
Horn & Co. (Previously JHLA)Horn & Co. (Previously JHLA)
Small world-inspired back patio in DC Metro with a water feature, natural stone paving and no cover.
British West Indies Custom Home in Naples
British West Indies Custom Home in Naples
Simonsen-Hickok InteriorsSimonsen-Hickok Interiors
Inspiration for a large world-inspired back patio in Miami with a fire feature, no cover and natural stone paving.
Portfolio
Portfolio
Ambiance Unlimited, Inc.Ambiance Unlimited, Inc.
Design ideas for a medium sized world-inspired back patio in Los Angeles with a water feature, no cover and concrete slabs.
Maui Residence
Maui Residence
April Powers Interior DesignApril Powers Interior Design
This is an example of a medium sized world-inspired back patio in Hawaii with a pergola and tiled flooring.
Shade Sails
Shade Sails
Smart Shade Solutions Inc.Smart Shade Solutions Inc.
Shading the Tropical Patio
Design ideas for a small world-inspired back patio in Miami with an awning.
Dana Point
Dana Point
Ray Morrow DesignRay Morrow Design
Design ideas for an expansive world-inspired back patio in Orange County with an outdoor kitchen, natural stone paving and a pergola.
Yard Crashers - Modern Zen Fusion
Yard Crashers - Modern Zen Fusion
McKeithan Design Studio, LLCMcKeithan Design Studio, LLC
Photo of a medium sized world-inspired back patio in Nashville with a fire feature, gravel and a pergola.
Natural Waterfall & Swimming Pool
Natural Waterfall & Swimming Pool
Exterior Worlds Landscaping & DesignExterior Worlds Landscaping & Design
A Memorial area family commissioned us to create a natural swimming pool in their back yard. The family already had a standard pool on premises, but it was isolated in an area of the yard not particularly suited to seating guests or hosting get-togethers. What they wanted was a second, natural swimming pool built that would serve as the hub of a new home outdoor entertainment area consisting of a new stone patio, comfortable outdoor seating, and a fire pit. They wanted to create something unique that would preserve as much of the natural features of the landscape as possible, but that would also be completely safe and fully functional as a swimming pool. We decided to design this new landscaping plan around a pre-existent waterfall that was already on the property. This feature was too attractive to ignore, and provided the ideal anchor point for a new gathering area. The fountain had been designed to mimic a natural waterfall, with stones laid on top of one another in such a way as to look like a mountain cliff where water spontaneously springs from the top and cascades down the rocks. At first glance, many would miss the opportunity that such a structure provides; assuming that a fountain designed like a cliff would have to be completely replaced to install a natural swimming pool. Our landscaping designers, however, came up with a landscape plan to transform one archetypal form into the other by simply adding to what was already there. At the base of the rocks we dug a basin. This basin was oblong in shape and varied in degrees of depth ranging from a few inches on the end to five feet in the middle. We directed the flow of the water toward one end of the basin, so that it flowed into the depression and created a swimming pool at the base of the rocks. This was easy to accomplish because the fountain lay parallel to the top of a natural ravine located toward the back of the property, so water flow was maintained by gravity. This had the secondary effect of creating a new natural aesthetic. The addition of the basin transformed the fountain’s appearance to look more like a cliff you would see in a river, where the elevation suddenly drops, and water rushes over a series of rocks into a deeper pool below. Children and guests swimming in this new structure could actually imagine themselves in a Rocky Mountain River. We then heated the swimming pool so it could be enjoyed in the winter as well as the summer, and we also lit the pool using two types of luminaries for complimentary effects. For vegetation, we used mercury vapor down lights to backlight surrounding trees and to bring out the green color of foliage in and around the top of the rocks. For the brown color of the rocks themselves, and to create a sparkling luminance rising up and out of the water, we installed incandescent, underwater up lights. The lights were GFIC protected to make the natural swimming pool shock proof and safe for human use.
The Amber Courtyard by Alvarez Homes - New Home Builder in Tampa Florida
The Amber Courtyard by Alvarez Homes - New Home Builder in Tampa Florida
Alvarez HomesAlvarez Homes
Home builders in Tampa, Alvarez Homes designed The Amber model home. At Alvarez Homes, we have been catering to our clients' every design need since 1983. Every custom home that we build is a one-of-a-kind artful original. Give us a call at (813) 969-3033 to find out more. Photography by Jorge Alvarez.
Crabapple tree bosque in bloom
Crabapple tree bosque in bloom
Verdance Landscape ArchitectureVerdance Landscape Architecture
Verdance Fine Garden Design
World-inspired back patio in San Francisco.
Hale Ku Mana
Hale Ku Mana
JM DesignJM Design
Large world-inspired back patio in Hawaii with an outdoor shower and a roof extension.
Custom Water Feature in Irvine, CA
Custom Water Feature in Irvine, CA
DC Landscape Design and ConstructionDC Landscape Design and Construction
Inspiration for a large world-inspired back patio in Orange County with concrete paving and a pergola.
Oliver Residence
Oliver Residence
JZMK PartnersJZMK Partners
Inspiration for a large world-inspired back patio in Hawaii with decking and a roof extension.
Madison Green - Royal Palm Beach
Madison Green - Royal Palm Beach
Fischman Outdoor KitchensFischman Outdoor Kitchens
World-inspired back patio in Miami with an outdoor kitchen, brick paving and no cover.
Tropical Pavillion Home
Tropical Pavillion Home
Maxa ConstructionsMaxa Constructions
Photo of a small world-inspired back patio in Cairns with an outdoor shower, concrete slabs and a roof extension.
Wellington Estate
Wellington Estate
TASOS KOKORIS AIA, LEED APTASOS KOKORIS AIA, LEED AP
Main Residence Porch
Inspiration for a large world-inspired back patio in New York with a roof extension.

World-Inspired Back Patio Ideas and Designs

Patios are the go-to solution for turning your garden, or part of it, into an outdoor living area. A well-laid patio will integrate your home seamlessly into your garden, providing a solid and level surface for garden furniture and potted plants. Well designed patios are about more than just paving slabs – its positioning and layout are crucial to how much you enjoy this space. Before you start picking out patio ideas for materials and laying your world-inspired patio, ask yourself important questions such as what will you use it for? How many people should it accommodate? Which part of your garden has the best aspect and sunlight? Will the patio have enough privacy?

How should I position my patio?

If you are designing your world-inspired patio as a space for entertaining then make sure it’s wide enough for the garden furniture you want so you haven’t got guests tipping over into the flowerbeds. Don’t be wedded to the idea of having your world-inspired patio attached to the house; think about positioning yours elsewhere in the garden if that space doesn’t offer the best aspect or lighting position. Consider the position of the sun through the course of the day and depending on whether you are most likely to want to dine outside at breakfast, have lunch on your patio or host dinner outside, you may want to position your patio differently. You can connect patios to your house with a footpath or stepping stones to allow easy transportation of food and drink.

How should I design and lay my world-inspired patio?

Rectangles are the classic shape for patios, not least because they make the most efficient use of space and can be softened with garden edging. However, a rounded patio or a paving circle can perfectly complement a garden which isn’t linear in design. Paving slabs come in an extensive range of materials and are the most practical surface for patios. Yorkstone has the most traditional appeal, whereas concrete blocks, granite and slate patio slabs have a great texture and colour for modern gardens. Natural stones such as limestone, travertine and Indian sandstone vary in colour and finish and are a great way to add shade and texture to your patio. For some patio ideas that offer an alternative to block paving, loose material such as crushed stone and wood chippings have a rustic and more casual feel; if there are specific materials that re-occur elsewhere in the garden, you could repeat this in your choice of patio materials for consistency. Finally, it’s not a British summer without the great British barbeque, so look at patio ideas that incorporate barbeques and think about how you could accommodate one on your patio.

What garden furniture does my patio need?

Rattan garden furniture is a patio favourite, offering a durable, attractive finish that blends well into natural surroundings. Metal garden furniture and wooden garden furniture are sturdy alternatives available in many styles. Weight is a good feature in garden furniture to stop it from being blown away, but if you want to be able to move your furniture around the patio and garden to follow the sun you won’t want to go too heavy. Browse the various world-inspired patio ideas that include garden furniture to see what styles of furniture go with different types of patios. If you find a particular patio set you like, you may be able to ask the designer where the furniture is from so you can look at buying the same set for your patio. Good, outdoor patio furniture crafted in high-quality materials should withstand bad weather, but cold, wet British winters followed by strong sun in the summer will be enough to weather even the best furniture, so it’s important to have somewhere, such as a shed, to store it when not in use for long periods of time. If you don’t have the space to store patio furniture, make sure that at least the cushions and umbrellas are stowed away out of the elements, and consider investing in a waterproof cover. One piece of furniture that might be able to stay out for a bit longer is a patio heater; it will warm any brave patio users and most modern designs are built to survive the cold weather. If you prefer something a bit more rustic than a patio heater, look at fire pits instead which will add warmth and an attractive centrepiece to your patio. If privacy or shade is an issue, then covering patio furniture with a parasol or sheltering patios with a gazebo or pergola are both smart patio ideas – these can be covered in climbing flowers or even wound with outdoor fairy lights for romantic evening lighting.
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