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50 Gorgeous Outdoor Patio Design Ideas

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As the weather gets warmer, we all start spending more of our time outdoors. Our attention shifts from interior design projects to our outdoor spaces. Warmer months mean the chance to sit in the sunshine and enjoy cooking and eating meals with family and friends out in the fresh air. But, is your garden up to scratch for entertaining? If your backyard looks like it’s in need of a little tender loving care - or maybe an injection of some wow factor - then you’re in the right place. This patio design collection presents 50 gorgeous ideas on how to expertly present your al fresco dining and open air lounge areas.

When considering how to design a patio, you must first map out what you aren’t able to change, like any established shrubs and trees. Rather than seeing these things as roadblocks to your patio design ideas, use these unmovable items as inspiration in the shaping or locating of your new garden area.

Warm summer days can still bring chilly winter nights. If you want to sit out long into the cooler evenings, or entertain way into the small hours, then it’s a good idea to incorporate a roaring outdoor fireplace into your backyard patio design.

Why stop at just one outdoor patio design if you have the space to enjoy several? This sprawling garden offers up multiple patio ideas. A sociable lounge, an al fresco dining area and a couple of decks at the sides are all connected by contemporary stepping stone slabs.

Once you have your patio garden design, you can have fun selecting outdoor furniture to complement it. This stunning patio has been kitted out with the Bellini Style White Outdoor Dining Chair. The white originals are available here.

A sun patio tops this multi-level garden, nestled under a pergola. It is accessed by concrete steps via a dining deck. Another set of steps lead down to a plunge pool behind glass balustrades.

This enclosed patio design is achieved with heavy planting overhead, and sheer voiles hung like banners to form a flowing wall. The voiles are knotted at their base to give them a little weight in the breeze. A romantic chandelier lights the outdoor dining table and Panton S Style chairs, as does a set of twinkling storm lanterns and table tealights. You can get the curvaceous Panton S Style Outdoor Chair here.

A half covered pergola provides areas of both light and shade around this quaint outdoor dining spot. A simple pendant light hangs at its centre.

Built-in seating can be constructed in solid concrete and dressed with cushions that are to be stowed away in winter months. The permanent seating structures can be used to create the perimeter of an outdoor room.

This covered patio design features a hanging swing seat ina natural cane finish. The flooring is a stunning geometric tile in a joyful blue colourway; orange cushions on the outdoor sofa provide a stripe of warm contrast. The fence constructed around the seating has been stained ebony black for added drama. Two decorative plates hang on the fence to make it appear like a traditional room.

Backyard patio ideas abound here: A meeting of outdoor rugs in different hues and shapes, mismatched scatter cushions and throws brighten neutral rattan furniture, colour pop accent chairs and side tables with quirky candlesticks and bowls, statement pendant lighting and a woven screen to make the whole ensemble feel cosy and complete.

If clashing multi coloured accessories just aren’t your happy place, then how about choosing just one bold statement colour. This modern patio design is a dreamy vision in purple, teamed with natural accents and lush green planting. A striped rug reflects the slat lines of the overhead pergola roof, as well as adding some smart panache.

This hot tub patio design incorporates two stunning tile patterns to make it a stand out space. Also note how the concrete walls have been painted a beautiful shade of blue to complement the tile colour. Pale blue pillows on the outdoor chaise add a finishing touch to the scheme.

Patio paver design ideas can incorporate pattern without the need for intricate and expensive tiling. You can use a combination of slabs and gravel to make patterns too.

This simplistic design patio lets the highly manicured garden topiary and large garden sculpture take the limelight.

Minimalist gardens can be created with concrete patio design ideas that are pale in tone, and provide neat built in planters around the border. Low-level low-key garden furniture completes the look.

A concrete patio design can be teamed with areas of block paving to change things up a bit.

Outdoor lighting for borders deserves a spot in our round up of patio decorating ideas too. Uplighting plants gives a dramatic and warm effect, and extends the hours you can use your garden.

Another take on the outdoor fireplace – not one for homes with young children though. This small patio design also has a substantially sized built-in bench, which proves that you don’t need a huge area to create an impressive and functional outdoor entertaining space.

One cantilevered end extends from this bespoke garden bench. A matching coffee table balances on a semi-spherical base.

The backrest of this concrete bench extends all the way to the sides of some patio steps.

Belonging to a greenfingered homeowner, this simple patio design lets the plants do all the talking.

This patio landscape design holds linear beds of grasses and a tree lined border. A couple of lanterns hang from a nearby tree to help light evening festivities along with the log fire pit.

Patio design plans can be linked to interior spaces. Select interior and exterior flooring in the same tone to create a seamless look.

This neat narrow pool and patio design is a little slice of luxury.

Water features are an ever popular part of garden design and they work superbly when combined with outdoor patio design ideas, like this triple pond creation with decked walkways.

A bit of creative planting can be all the wow factor you need. Vertical planting is a great way to inject more natural beauty into small patio design ideas.

You can take vertical planting up as high as you dare.

Covered patio ideas include solid roofs that shelter from rainfall, awnings to shade well from sun, or a pergola canopy for areas of light and shade. Open rafters mean that you can weave plants through the beams, and are solid enough to hang an outdoor light.

An Acapulco chair decorates this warm sun dappled deck, with a step stone paver patio design running off it.

For a change in texture, consider a deck over concrete patio design.

Position your patio to take advantage of the best views.

Remember to cater for the little ones too by adding a few kids chairs.

Gravel sections can be uncomfortable underfoot – especially on barefoot summer days! Add stepping stones to areas of loose chippings, you’ll thank us for it.

A natural or uneven edge adds extra character to a patio area.

Dress your new spot with an outdoor rug. You can pick up trendy geometric print designs like this for very reasonable prices in order to achieve a high-end dressed look. Add a few complementary cushions to your patio furniture for a fully cohesive scheme. Don’t be afraid to go bold with a garden statue for an expressive touch.

Placing your sitting area in a lower section of the garden can protect it from chilly breezes.

An outdoor kitchen makes a luxurious and fun add-on.

Planting can be used to create privacy screening.

Cutting away rather than building upon the existing landscape creates interesting levels.

This magical pavers patio is shrouded by trees at the end of a deck.

A circular formation makes a refreshing change from modern linear layouts.

A swing seat is reminiscent of childhood fun.

This patio cover design can be retracted to let in more sunlight.

Blur the boundaries and bring the garden up onto patios and decking by introducing mature potted plants.

An eye-catching orb lamp looks fabulous out on this luxury terrace.

This sunken seating area is surrounded by water.

A living patio roof design blends beautifully with a thriving garden.

Have fun with your patio furniture. You can buy the Bertoia Diamond Chairs here.

A dark painted wall at the far end makes the garden appear like a continuation of the interior.

Indoor-outdoor living at its most seamless.


Patio furniture ideas:
50 Modern Outdoor Chairs

44 Backyard Landscaping Ideas to Inspire You

Reviewed by

Kathleen Miller

Reviewed by Kathleen Miller

Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto 

Your backyard landscaping should be an extension of what's going on inside your home. Often, regardless of your indoor style, your backyard ends up looking more colorful, casual, and fun. The possibilities are only limited by the terrain, your design skills, and your do-it-yourself landscaping know-how.

Get Inspired by These Backyard Landscaping Ideas

You can always hire a landscape designer or architect to help your outdoor space realize its potential. A skilled professional can guide you through the process of figuring out a style, deciding who will be using the yard, creating zones of activity, choosing materials and plants, and recommending builders and contractors for everything from swimming pools to outdoor structures to installing irrigation.

Explore 44 ideas that show you how to transform a backyard into your favorite space.

The Best Landscape Design Software

description and original design ideas

In well-equipped summer cottages or suburban areas, more and more often you can see small cozy and incredibly attractive paved areas equipped with benches, tables, barbecues and other recreational facilities. Such beautiful courtyards are called "patio", which in literal translation from Spanish means "house without a roof. "

Making a patio area in a summer cottage is a laborious process, but at the same time very interesting. You can equip such a site on any site, regardless of its style and size. Before embarking on a project, you need to think through everything to the smallest detail. Be sure to draw up a plan that will reflect in detail the design and design work, namely: nine0003

  1. Platform size;
  2. Her form;
  3. Location on site;
  4. Walkways and patio base materials;
  5. Decor elements;
  6. Presence of a brazier, barbecue, grill, yard stove and other outdoor cooking equipment;
  7. Species of plants for the organization of beds, flower beds and other garden compositions.

Arranging a patio in the country is a rather expensive undertaking, therefore, in order to calculate at least the approximate cost of this project, it is recommended to draw up a detailed estimate. nine0003

The larger the platform, the more original the base can be decorated. As a material for coating, natural stone, concrete or clinker bricks are most often used. But do not limit yourself to this list. With a strong desire, you can use other raw materials, as long as it meets the basic operational requirements. If you took a small piece of land on the patio, then you should limit yourself to covering one type, but if the recreation area has a sufficient area, then you can safely combine a variety of materials. But note that the garden paths and paths leading to the patio should not be out of style. Decor a la "chessboard" is also not particularly welcome. Firstly, such a pattern can violate the visual integrity of the zone, and secondly, other objects can easily be “lost” on a too contrasting base. nine0003

To protect against adverse weather conditions, you need to pull a special canopy. Such a design can be either permanent or temporary (i.e. stretched if necessary).

To give a full and maximally finished look to the future patio, it is necessary to form a small fence from the sides. It is not recommended to build too high and dense walls, after all, the site is not a bunker, but a place for a good outdoor recreation. The best option for patio fencing is a hedge of climbing and climbing plants. nine0003

  1. To liven up the space a little and add some contrasting spots to it, you can use one simple trick: randomly pull out several floor tiles and place flowerpots with lush flowers in the resulting gaps.
  2. Furniture and decor items must match each other in style. Otherwise, it will not be possible to achieve a harmoniously coordinated landscape composition.
  3. Don't be afraid to overdo the greens. The abundance of lush flower beds, bright flower beds, sprawling bushes will only give the patio more picturesque. If you wish, you can even organize a small fountain or an artificial stream. nine0008
  4. At night, street lighting will help maintain a fabulous and cozy atmosphere, and light sources can be placed in the most unexpected and non-standard places.

To give the recreation area an original and stylish look, experts recommend competently combining well-known landscape styles with each other. For inspiration, you can look through photographs posted in specialized magazines, or find examples of stylish projects on the Internet. Organizing a stylish and most comfortable patio with your own hands is not so difficult if you strictly follow the recommendations and advice of experts. But you should also understand that no one is immune from mistakes, so there is a high probability that the first time the project may not be implemented exactly as you planned. Wouldn't it be easier to entrust such a responsible and painstaking work into the hands of experienced professionals? Studio "Landscape Lel" in Krasnodar will take on any of your projects with great pleasure. Visit our official website, get acquainted with our works and place your orders! nine0043


Country house patio - installation instructions.

Real photos of finished patios in the recreation area on plot

At present, the dacha has ceased to be exclusively a source of additional income in the form of vegetables and fruits. Most modern summer residents use suburban areas for cultural recreation and unity with nature. Increasingly, lovers of outdoor recreation decorate their sites with alpine slides and neat lawns, artsy pergolas and cozy gazebos. Recently, the patio area has become very fashionable. nine0003

What is a patio? A cozy place to relax in the courtyard or in the garden; under a canopy or open sky; with a small coffee table for intimate conversations or a meeting place for a noisy company. There is a huge variety of patio types in the landscape of suburban areas.

Brief content of the article:

Good location

It is very important to choose the right place to create a recreation area where both households and guests will feel comfortable. nine0003

The most common location is against the wall of the house. Best of all, if there is a door in this wall, you will not have to overcome the distance with treats for guests or hide from the weather. This version of the patio is the classic and most common.


But just as popular are garden patios shaded by spreading fruit trees with a small pond or pretty fountain. If there is no way to hide from prying eyes in the shade of the garden, you can build an artificial fence in the form of a screen. nine0003

Before deciding for yourself what should be the ideal place for relaxing in the country, you will have to look through any catalog of beautiful patios. It may not be possible to stop at any specific option, but several ideas will merge together, thus getting a unique project.

But even if you cannot come to a certain decision on your own, it is never too late to seek the help of specialists.


Patio steps

We decided on a place to create a cozy corner, we need to think over the dimensions. The dimensions of the patio for a summer residence depend primarily on the direct purpose. Namely, whether it will be a corner for two or for noisy gatherings of large companies, or maybe it will be your personal secluded place.

Foundation

One of the most important steps in building a patio is covering the area. As the basis, you can choose different materials:

Regardless of which pavement option you choose, you must complete the following steps to prepare the site for laying the base:

Proceed with laying the flooring. It is important to remember that tiles or natural stone should be laid closely so that each element fits snugly against the previous one. nine0003

When constructing the base for the patio, it is also necessary to provide for rainwater runoff, which is most practical to direct towards the garden or flower bed.

Canopy

A patio with a canopy will make your seating area even more cozy, protecting you from the scorching sun or sudden bad weather. The canopy can be made stationary, for example, from translucent polycarbonate. It is practical and modern material, besides it is very durable. nine0003

An interesting variant of thin wooden slats arranged either in a parallel way or in a mesh laying pattern, creating an interesting play of light and shadows. The canopy can be made portable, for example, from a stretch awning or an umbrella.

Lighting

It's easy to make your patio a functional place to hang out at any time of the day. It is enough to place decorative lamps or garden torches around the perimeter. Lighting fixtures can also act as decoration. nine0003

Patio furniture

How to make your patio as functional as possible? The choice of furniture is of great importance, first of all, for the direct purpose of the patio - for relaxation. The main rule to follow when choosing patio furniture is its scarcity and practicality.

Patio furniture should be made of moisture resistant materials, especially if you decide to make it stationary. Not the best choice would be upholstered furniture in light colors, as it is extremely easily soiled. After all, the patio is a corner for relaxation, and not for constant washing and cleaning. nine0003

It is not recommended to clutter up a cozy corner with bulky tables and sofas. Give preference to light wicker chairs and coffee tables.

Wrought iron furniture will also look organic, and if you decorate it with bright pillows, then it is not at all usual. A cozy place for relaxation will also not do without a comfortable deck chair or swing.

If you are a fan of friendly gatherings in the open air, you need to consider the accommodation of the number of guests that you most often have. In this case, the brazier will be an integral part of the patio and it does not matter if it is stationary or portable, the main thing is that it fits into the overall concept of the patio. nine0003

Creation of comfort

Few would dispute the fact that one of the main conditions for a comfortable stay is privacy. It’s not very pleasant to feel prying eyes on you during relaxation. A lattice or openwork partition, entwined with weaving roses or clematis, can become a protective and at the same time decorative design.

An excellent hedge can be a group of evergreen shrubs. In addition, conifers will add bright colors to your site all year round. Landscaping a patio is a very important stage of decor. After all, a suburban area is a corner of nature that you create with your own hands. Photos of the patio in the country are striking in the variety of landscape design ideas. nine0003

Ornamental plants in multi-level mixborders or intricate flowerpots look impressive. With the help of planting pockets, you can combine the garden and the patio area, planting annuals or bulbous plants in them, preferably.

By opting for fragrant rosemary or lavender, you can fill the countryside atmosphere with fragrant notes. Exotic orange or lemon trees in outdoor pots will bring the Mediterranean spirit to your home. nine0003

If the patio adjoins the wall, then it can be decorated with unusual pots with colorful begonias or nasturtiums. Climbing plants will also perfectly decorate an unsightly adjoining wall or emphasize the unusual design of an arch or pergola.

The design of the patio perfectly fits an artificial pond or fountain. Of course, it is not so easy to make a fountain on your own, because it is necessary to lay communications: supply and discharge of water. To create such a decor, it is better to invite a specialist. nine0003

It's not that hard to deal with a small pond. It is enough just to dig a small container into the ground, fill it with water and decorate at your discretion. Unusual sculptures illuminated by garden lights will create a mysterious fairy-tale atmosphere.

Do not strive to create pretentious and ostentatious beauty in practice that is not comfortable and useless. When creating a patio in your summer cottage, remember that you are creating a cozy patio primarily for yourself and your loved ones, and not for the sake of surprising your neighbors. nine0003

Photo of the patio in the country house