- Garden & Outdoor
- Patio
Patio Ideas and Designs
How should I position my patio?
If you are designing your 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 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 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 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.
Whether you want inspiration for planning a patio renovation or are building a designer patio from scratch, Houzz has 423,546 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including New Form Landscapes Ltd and Harrington Porter. Look through patio photos in different colours and styles and when you find a patio design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful patio ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.
James Balston
window for garage - michael_russell340
Peter Landers
The built in stone bench would be nice in the kitchen terrace but it is probably too small to accommodate it. And it might be better to have something moveable to catch the sun. - fiona_o_neill
nick smith
Will we be concerned with health and wellbeing?“I think the pace of modern life is having an effect on homeowners and, in turn, on design,” Olga says. “In an age where we’re being overloaded with information, people want their homes to be a retreat from the outside world. “We’re often asked to design using neutral colours and to create a relaxed look,” Olga continues. “Recently, for example, a client asked us to create a retreat from her hectic work life. She said all she wants at home is somewh - phillipcleere
Belsize: a Village located in London’s Camden Town, where the charming semi-detached houses have been the home of personalities such as Tim Burton and the Gallagher Brothers, and have now become particularly desirable places to live. At the heart of the district, ten new apartments designed by Godfrey London Details have been created as an expression of the luxury and artistic mastery of the multi-award winning interior designer Poggenpohl.
Here, Portraits stone-effect porcelain stoneware by Caesar, installed outdoors in the 60x 60 cm size and Faro colour, represents the ever-changing beauty of nature whilst granting the maximum freedom of design. The culture of Made in Italy material that distinguishes Caesar has also been chosen for some of the bathroom furnishings, in particular the elegance and brilliance of Anima marble-effect stoneware, in its Dark Emperador polished version, to give an unmistakable style and details that are never the same. Lastly, the reinterpretation of concrete of the Gate collection, in the subtle Breath colour, has been chosen for tiling the walls of the bathroom with harmony and originality to offer a refined and timeless look.
Large square paving slabs - tkennedy62
This traditional Cotswold stone house has been updated with some beautiful new features including a fantastic swimming pool and dining terrace which look too good to be real.
Outdoor dining - jackie_kotz
SUMMER
Ian Lamond Photography
Hand-crafted using traditional joinery techniques, this outdoor kitchen is made from hard-wearing Iroko wood and finished with stainless steel hardware ensuring the longevity of this Markham cabinetry. With a classic contemporary design that suits the modern, manicured style of the country garden, this outdoor kitchen has the balance of simplicity, scale and proportion that H|M is known for.
Using an L-shape configuration set within a custom designed permanent timber gazebo, this outdoor kitchen is cleverly zoned to include all of the key spaces required in an indoor kitchen for food prep, grilling and clearing away. On the right-hand side of the kitchen is the cooking run featuring the mighty 107cm Wolf outdoor gas grill. Already internationally established as an industrial heavyweight in the luxury range cooker market, Wolf have taken outdoor cooking to the next level with this behemoth of a barbeque. Designed and built to stand the test of time and exponentially more accurate than a standard barbeque, the Wolf outdoor gas grill also comes with a sear zone and infrared rotisserie spit as standard.
To assist with food prep, positioned underneath the counter to the left of the Wolf outdoor grill is a pull-out bin with separate compartments for food waste and recycling. Additional storage to the right is utilised for storing the LPG gas canister ensuring the overall look and feel of the outdoor kitchen is free from clutter and from a practical point of view, protected from the elements.
Just like the indoor kitchen, the key to a successful outdoor kitchen design is the zoning of the space – think about all the usual things like food prep, cooking and clearing away and make provision for those activities accordingly. In terms of the actual positioning of the kitchen think about the sun and where it is during the afternoons and early evening which will be the time this outdoor kitchen is most in use. A timber gazebo will provide shelter from the direct sunlight and protection from the elements during the winter months. Stone flooring that can withstand a few spills here and there is essential, and always incorporate a seating area than can be scaled up or down according to your entertaining needs.
Photo Credit - Paul Craig
Garden - bradykieran