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

Contemporary Back Patio Ideas and Designs

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Copper Fire Bowl
Copper Fire Bowl
The Garden Artist LLCThe Garden Artist LLC
Large copper fire bowl with glass warms guests up to ten feet away. The tape lights and grey river stone create a nice transition to the sandstone patio.
Palo Alto Contemporary Retreat
Palo Alto Contemporary Retreat
Boxleaf Design, Inc.Boxleaf Design, Inc.
Meg Messina Photography
St. John's Wood in London
St. John's Wood in London
The Garden BuildersThe Garden Builders
Pro Colour Photography www.procolourphotoraphy.co.uk
Richthofen MCM
Richthofen MCM
Design PlatformDesign Platform
David Lauer Photography
Built-In BBQ Grill Surround
Built-In BBQ Grill Surround
Elan Landscape Development Inc.Elan Landscape Development Inc.
Limestone Grill Surround and Peninsula with Rock Faced Bluestone Counter Top, Cedar Pergola and DCS 48" Grill. Dan Wells Elan Landscape Development Inc.
Fire on the Lake
Fire on the Lake
Southview DesignSouthview Design
There is nothing like a firepit with a view. This lovely firepit overlooks an infinity swimming pool and the firebowls on either side of the pool frame the lake nicely making this area a great place to take in the evening with friends and family.
Garten in Mindelheim
Garten in Mindelheim
Droll & LauensteinDroll & Lauenstein
Martin Staffler, Gartenfotografie
Fentiman Road, Vauxhall
Fentiman Road, Vauxhall
Emmett Russell ArchitectsEmmett Russell Architects
Garden Design Crystal Palace, South London 2
Garden Design Crystal Palace, South London 2
Kate Eyre Garden DesignKate Eyre Garden Design
Houston Patio Addition With High Ceilings, Luxe Finishes
Houston Patio Addition With High Ceilings, Luxe Finishes
InnovationLandInnovationLand
As you can see, a beautiful, dark-stained patio ceiling rises high over this patio addition design. Here's the "before" shot of the white Hardie panel ceiling before we replaced it with the dark tongue and groove boards: Atop this wood patio ceiling is a 210-square-foot hipped roof extension off the existing house, with red brick, white trim and grey composite shutters matching the existing house. Underneath the patio ceiling sits a new outdoor kitchen and a fireplace with a seating area. The outdoor kitchen island includes a raised countertop with bar seating for six and the following Renaissance Cooking Systems (RCS) stainless steel appliances: drop-in cooler, horizontal door, sink , single access door, trash door, 30-inch Cutlass Pro grill, double drawer/door and lowered power burner. The gas-burning fireplace features a mounted flat-screen TV, a wooden mantel and a flagstone hearth that matches the pool coping. The family's existing wicker patio furniture was placed in the new seating area around the fireplace. We really love the finishing materials in this patio addition design. The fireplace and exterior walls of the kitchen island are dry-stacked Chardonnay ledgestone. The countertop is Spectrus granite. As this 3D graphic rendering shows, the new stamped concrete patio features a Versailles pattern with a contrasting border. The 645-square-foot patio under the roof addition is a lighter tan and the 1,580-square-foot patio around the pool and firepit is a darker tan, visual distinction between the two areas.
Custom Built Fire Table
Custom Built Fire Table
Reyes Landscape ConstructionReyes Landscape Construction
The fire table was custom built with on site forms, and the same is true for the custom concrete bench and stone backrest. The patio is made of Flagstone with a concrete underslab. Under the concrete seat we wire bench to have low voltage lighting
Cedar Pergola with Flagstone Patio and Fieldstone Retaining Wall
Cedar Pergola with Flagstone Patio and Fieldstone Retaining Wall
Land Art Design, Inc.Land Art Design, Inc.
Designed and built by Land Art Design, Inc.
Waters Edge
Waters Edge
Dean Herald-Rolling Stone LandscapesDean Herald-Rolling Stone Landscapes
Designed to make the most of a steep site, this private home in Sydney’s south has created great spaces to enjoy the view of the water. The design features a covered main pavilion with a fully equipped kitchen including a sink, fridge and wood fire pizza oven. Designed for entertainment it also includes a large dining area, sunken spa and wall mounted TV. O the same level of the pavilion is a sunken fire pit area nestled underneath a large existing Frangipani. Travel down a set of steel stairs and you come to an inviting blue pool with wet edge spill over out to the bay. The curves of the pool and lower lawn area designed to add interest when viewing from above. A generous lounge and nearby pool pavilion provides plenty of places to relax by the pool and the cantilevered section of the pavilion, with feature timber panelling, ensures that there is shade poolside and look fantastic next to another mature Frangipani. The overall look and feel of the project is sleek and contemporary, with plants chosen to emphasise the shapes of the design and to add contrasting colours. This project is definitely a great place entertain and relax whilst enjoying the view of the water. Rolling Stone Landscapes
Belmont Contemporary
Belmont Contemporary
Kristen Rudger Landscape DesignKristen Rudger Landscape Design
Tsunami House, Resilient Design, Camano Island WA
Tsunami House, Resilient Design, Camano Island WA
Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest ArchitectsDan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects
Lower level cabana. Photography by Lucas Henning.
Beaux Arts Village
Beaux Arts Village
LaCantina DoorsLaCantina Doors
LaCantina Doors Aluminum Thermally Controlled bi-folding door system
Ridgetop
Ridgetop
Linden L.A.N.D. GroupLinden L.A.N.D. Group
Rebecca Lindenmeyr
The Shack
The Shack
Feldman Architecture, Inc.Feldman Architecture, Inc.
Phil Bond
Modern in Bed-Stuy
Modern in Bed-Stuy
New Eco LandscapesNew Eco Landscapes
Photos by Lori Cannava
Danville
Danville
Envision Landscape StudioEnvision Landscape Studio
photography by Joe Dodd

Contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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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