8 Winning Design Ideas for Your Patio
Looking for garden inspiration? These gardens all won our annual Best of Houzz award for design...
With January firmly behind us, now is the ideal time to start planning your dream garden for the spring and summer ahead. While plants, trees and shrubs are all fun things to contemplate, it’s worth spending some time considering the hard-landscaping features, such as patios and paving. These structural elements will form the bones of your garden, and getting them right will make all the difference to how you use your outdoor space.
These patio designs were all recognised in our Best of Houzz 2017 awards, and each winning image offers a fresh way of looking at hard landscaping. So take a peek the winners below (in no particular order) and be inspired.
These patio designs were all recognised in our Best of Houzz 2017 awards, and each winning image offers a fresh way of looking at hard landscaping. So take a peek the winners below (in no particular order) and be inspired.
Think outside the (square) box
It’s all too easy to fall back on the idea that a patio should be a square of paving slabs, but a curved or circular design like this one can make a real impact. There are no straight lines in nature, so it makes sense to design curves into the hard- landscaped elements of your design for a natural, organic feel.
In this garden, alternating rings of large and small pavers in two different colours add visual interest, and the circular theme is echoed by the choice of a round table and curved chairs. The soft, cottage-style planting creates a lush, enveloping feel.
It’s all too easy to fall back on the idea that a patio should be a square of paving slabs, but a curved or circular design like this one can make a real impact. There are no straight lines in nature, so it makes sense to design curves into the hard- landscaped elements of your design for a natural, organic feel.
In this garden, alternating rings of large and small pavers in two different colours add visual interest, and the circular theme is echoed by the choice of a round table and curved chairs. The soft, cottage-style planting creates a lush, enveloping feel.
Frame a patio with oversized planters
This petite garden has the feel of a lush, tropical oasis thanks to the large-scale plants and rich foliage. But while it is certainly a verdant space, there isn’t actually an inch of grass to be seen.
The entire floor area is paved, but by placing large planters and raised beds along each side of the garden and filling them with oversized greenery and vertical planting, the space is brimming with life. A neat bench on wheels nestles directly in front of the raised beds, providing a practical seating solution that leaves the central space uncluttered.
This petite garden has the feel of a lush, tropical oasis thanks to the large-scale plants and rich foliage. But while it is certainly a verdant space, there isn’t actually an inch of grass to be seen.
The entire floor area is paved, but by placing large planters and raised beds along each side of the garden and filling them with oversized greenery and vertical planting, the space is brimming with life. A neat bench on wheels nestles directly in front of the raised beds, providing a practical seating solution that leaves the central space uncluttered.
Design into a corner
This compact paved garden is a masterclass in designing a small garden without compromising on style. Generous padded seating and two large planters create a smart hotel-like feel, and the large-format pale-grey paving slabs form a seamless flooring surface that could easily run indoors too.
Horizontal-slatted perimeter fencing mirrors the style of the bench to create a coherent feel, and evergreen planting and structural grasses add movement and horticultural interest.
This compact paved garden is a masterclass in designing a small garden without compromising on style. Generous padded seating and two large planters create a smart hotel-like feel, and the large-format pale-grey paving slabs form a seamless flooring surface that could easily run indoors too.
Horizontal-slatted perimeter fencing mirrors the style of the bench to create a coherent feel, and evergreen planting and structural grasses add movement and horticultural interest.
Create a secret garden
This paved area has the feel of a secret garden, enclosed as it is on all sides, but the planting is entirely provided through potted shrubs and trees.
If you have an under-used area of paving, be it a petite city garden or a small access area along the side of a house, transform it into a mini oasis by cramming the area with pots bursting with colour and life. In this garden, a bistro style table and chairs provide a casual seating spot and a mature olive tree in a large pot creates visual height and interest.
16 ideas to kickstart your small garden revamp
This paved area has the feel of a secret garden, enclosed as it is on all sides, but the planting is entirely provided through potted shrubs and trees.
If you have an under-used area of paving, be it a petite city garden or a small access area along the side of a house, transform it into a mini oasis by cramming the area with pots bursting with colour and life. In this garden, a bistro style table and chairs provide a casual seating spot and a mature olive tree in a large pot creates visual height and interest.
16 ideas to kickstart your small garden revamp
Mirror your interior style
If your interior style is slick and contemporary it makes sense to carry this over into your garden design too. A romantic, cottage-style garden would have looked incongruous with the design of this contemporary home, but this stripped back, clean scheme reflects the interior perfectly.
Large-scale paving slabs create a fuss-free area for dining, and all planting is neatly contained within a raised border along one side. To recreate this look at home, think carefully about the materials you choose for the hard landscaping, as these will be the stars of the show. Invest in the best quality materials you can stretch to and when planning the furniture placement, approach it exactly as you would a room inside your home, thinking about the flow of traffic and the way the space will be used.
If your interior style is slick and contemporary it makes sense to carry this over into your garden design too. A romantic, cottage-style garden would have looked incongruous with the design of this contemporary home, but this stripped back, clean scheme reflects the interior perfectly.
Large-scale paving slabs create a fuss-free area for dining, and all planting is neatly contained within a raised border along one side. To recreate this look at home, think carefully about the materials you choose for the hard landscaping, as these will be the stars of the show. Invest in the best quality materials you can stretch to and when planning the furniture placement, approach it exactly as you would a room inside your home, thinking about the flow of traffic and the way the space will be used.
Showcase one or two materials
This is a patio design for true modernists. The sweep of clean white paving, neatly ordered fencing and precision landscaping all contribute to a sleek and visually striking scheme.
It would take dedication to keep the garden in such pristine condition, but what a great space this would be for parties and summer soirees. The success of the scheme lies in the edited and carefully selected materials. The white paving is dazzlingly bright, while the western red cedar fencing brings a shot of warmth and texture to the overall scheme.
This is a patio design for true modernists. The sweep of clean white paving, neatly ordered fencing and precision landscaping all contribute to a sleek and visually striking scheme.
It would take dedication to keep the garden in such pristine condition, but what a great space this would be for parties and summer soirees. The success of the scheme lies in the edited and carefully selected materials. The white paving is dazzlingly bright, while the western red cedar fencing brings a shot of warmth and texture to the overall scheme.
Have fun
As an example of bringing your interior style outdoors, this creative scheme leads the way. A paved area has been transformed into an ornate dining space thanks to a large table and stools topped with colourful patterned cushions, an outdoor chandelier and an eclectic mix of artwork and mirrors adorning an evergreen wall.
You could create a version of this look by investing in a dining table and chairs for your garden that reflect your personality and style; think beyond the traditional wooden table and chair set that grace most gardens. Outdoor mirrors are widely available and one or two hung on an exterior wall can bring depth and interest to a garden, whatever its size.
What do you think of these patio designs? Let us know in the Comments below.
As an example of bringing your interior style outdoors, this creative scheme leads the way. A paved area has been transformed into an ornate dining space thanks to a large table and stools topped with colourful patterned cushions, an outdoor chandelier and an eclectic mix of artwork and mirrors adorning an evergreen wall.
You could create a version of this look by investing in a dining table and chairs for your garden that reflect your personality and style; think beyond the traditional wooden table and chair set that grace most gardens. Outdoor mirrors are widely available and one or two hung on an exterior wall can bring depth and interest to a garden, whatever its size.
What do you think of these patio designs? Let us know in the Comments below.
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This neat paved garden is an elegant and classic design that feels timeless and tranquil. Sandstone paving slabs create a generous area for a table and chairs and a slim sandstone path encloses the central lawn, providing access to the borders and raised beds.
Easy enough to recreate in a standard fenced garden, the beauty of this design lies in its simplicity. Clean lines, a restricted colour palette and repeated planting motifs create a feeling of order and calm.
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