Patio ideas diy cheap
4 DIY Ideas for Creating a Patio on a Budget
Search
Home 4 Seasons 4 DIY Ideas for Creating a Patio on a Budget
Danny Lipford demonstrates how to use concrete forms on Fox & Friends.If your outdoor space isn’t quite ready for entertaining, don’t worry. Here are simple ways to punch up your patio on a shoestring budget.
*Cost and time estimates below are based on a 12×12 patio area.
Packed Gravel
Gravel is a terrific choice for affordability and ease of installation. Start by marking the area for the patio and digging out the grass. Make sure the base is level and compact using a tamper. To keep grass from encroaching on the patio, you can use landscape edging, treated wood or bricks as a border. Line the area with landscaping fabric to block the weeds and allow it to drain. Spread the gravel so it is 4 to 5 inches thick, and pack it in tightly with a tamper.
Cost estimate: $560
Time estimate: 1/2 day
Crushed Stone
Crushed stone is typically something you would use as a base material for pavers, but we’ve found that it makes for a great patio space on its own. Once you tamp it down and wet it, it becomes a solid surface. You can use the same border material as you would for a gravel patio. This is also a great option if you plan to lay pavers later, as you’ll already have your base ready to go.
Cost estimate: $430
Time estimate: 1 day
Watch Using Paver Base as an Outdoor Surface for step-by-step instructions.
Pavers
After you laid, tamped and wet the base material, and it has formed a solid surface, then you’re ready for the pavers. Pavestone pavers come in a wide variety of patterns, sizes and materials. Lay out the pavers and top with topping sand to lock the pavers in place.
Cost estimate: $1,560
Time estimate: 2 days
Watch How to Lay a Paver Patio for details.
Concrete Forms
Using concrete forms, such as WalkMaker from Quikrete, is another great option for patios. Although made of concrete, they can be made to look like bricks or stones, and can be customized by adding color to the concrete mix or staining after the concrete has dried.
Cost estimate: $1,480
Time estimate: 2 days
Watch Creating a Stepping Stone Path Using Concrete Forms to see how it’s done.
- TAGS
- Fox & Friends
Previous articleBackyard Paradise 2017
Next articleA Homeowner’s Nightmare: Termites
DANNY LIPFORD
https://www.aboutdannylipford.com/
Backed by his 40-year remodeling career, Danny served as the home improvement expert for CBS’s The Early Show and The Weather Channel for more than a decade. His extensive hands-on experience and understanding of the industry make him the go-to source for all things having to do with the home – from advice on simple repairs, to complete remodels, to helping homeowners prepare their homes for extreme weather and seasons.
10 Creative and Inexpensive DIY Patios
By
Lee Wallender
Lee Wallender
Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 09/06/21
The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto
Creating a beautiful patio for your home means more than just setting out a few chairs and hoping for the best. It involves forming an artistic vision and transforming that idea into reality.
-
01 of 10
Paver Paradise
Stacy Risenmay, Not Just a HousewifeTransforming your dull, neglected backyard into a lovely destination often requires some heavy lifting, or in this case, redesign. Stacy Risenmay from Not Just a Housewife decided that she needed the proper canvas for outdoor entertaining. Her old habit of setting out collapsible camp chairs on the grass would no longer cut it.
With help from her family, Stacy spread out gravel and sand first as a base, then laid a broad range of stone pavers. A fantastic DIY wood planter and glowing string lights soften the home's brick siding and add to the crisp, clean look. The 8 Best Outdoor String Lights of 2022
-
02 of 10
Do-It-Yourself Dream
The Handmade HomeHome bloggers Jamin and Ashley Mills of The Handmade Home wanted to transform an ignored backyard with no attractions to a family-friendly place for relaxation with lighting and pops of color. When this married design team isn't busy helping clients or writing books, they design, remodel, and decorate their own home and backyard. In this example, a 10-foot by 10-foot concrete paver patio provides a solid, dry base for all of the fun outdoor furniture. A lovely wooden swing encourages conversation beside the DIY firepit.
-
03 of 10
Young House LoveNo strangers to huge home projects, home bloggers Sherry and John at Young House Love wanted to keep this patio project simple.
They eventually want to build the patio to end all patios, and this is their temporary and inexpensive option. They pulled out a splintery wooden backyard deck and added much-needed landscaping. Pea gravel, lights, and sturdy outdoor furniture complete this quick-to-build, cheap DIY patio. -
04 of 10
Outdoor Living Room
Home Stories A to Z
Beth from Home Stories A to Z dreamed up this DIY patio by extending the feeling of a living room outdoors. Beth didn't want to spend a fortune, so she kept her purchases affordable by getting a damask outdoor rug skirted by bargain wicker-look outdoor furniture. Comfort was the priority, so she chose cushioned furniture plus matching pillows and a throw—the result: an affordable, stylish, and comfy do-it-yourself patio.
-
05 of 10
Patio Revamp
Shanty 2 ChicA focal point works brilliantly as a ridiculously easy design device for your patio. Sisters Ashley and Whitney from the popular design blog Shanty 2 Chic added a unique, six-tube glass flower vase and daffodils as a focal point to this patio's center table.
It helps make the space sparkle with color, plus it offsets the rich brown wicker outdoor furniture. -
06 of 10
Modern Life
The Merry ThoughtTransform a dark, dingy backyard into an open, clean place of stunning beauty. From the oversized concrete pavers to the horizontal slat fence painted black, this patio exudes modernity. With an outdoor sectional and lounge chairs that are worthy of indoor living, this patio from The Merry Thought design team of Manda and Caitlin invites relaxation and comfort. Relaxing and inspiring, you will never want to leave this patio.
-
07 of 10
Elevated Pavers
Classy ClutterMallory and Savannah, the designers behind Classy Clutter, came up with the genius idea of turning these forgotten planters filled with dead, shedding plants into a new patio space. This is not just any kind of backyard patio, it is a two-tiered, elevated paved patio that evokes the feeling of a four-star hotel in Palm Springs.
A dying, untended plant landscape was transformed into a living space with new pavers added to the tops of the planters, along with heavy-duty patio umbrellas and comfortable seating. -
08 of 10
Alternative Furniture Materials
Afro Bohemian Living
This beautiful backyard from Afro Bohemian Living features plenty of rattan, whitewashed wood, and pops of color from container plants. By turning wood pallets into outdoor furniture, she was able to create exactly the outdoor seating arrangement she wanted without sacrificing style.
-
09 of 10
Pergola Patio
Ursula Carmona of Home Made by Carmona
A pergola is an ambitious build but well worth it. This pergola not only helps define the space for this patio from Ursula Carmona of Home Made by Carmona but provides opportunities for more design elements. Pergolas were originally intended to support vines. Any type of climbing plant can be trained up the columns and onto the roof.
Or for a lively appearance, drape it with lights, lanterns, hanging plants, or wind chimes. The decor possibilities seem endless with a pergola. -
10 of 10
Small but Mighty
Casa Watkins Living
Small outdoor spaces can be beautiful and functional, like this deck area from Casa Watkins Living shows. The outdoor rug adds a nice pop of color and anchors the outdoor dining set, and simple additions of greenery and a patio umbrella keep the space useful without being overcrowded.
Do-it-yourself patio area in the country house: from construction to furnishing
An open-air living room in the shade of plants is a cozy corner on the site, where it is pleasant to retire from the bustle of the street, enjoying unity with nature or communication in a pleasant company. With the help of such an element of landscape design as a patio in the country, you can equip a kind of patio on your site, in which it is pleasant to spend time, devoting it to your favorite activities or recreation.
The original appearance of this recreational area, which became widespread in the times of the Roman Empire, was a platform enclosed by high walls of the house. The modern version of the patio patio as a protective structure involves the use of green hedges, screens and fences. When deciding to equip a patio on your site with your own hands, it is important, first of all, to correctly choose a place for placing this recreation area.
Contents
-
1 Choosing a place for patio arrangement
-
2 Selecting the optimal coating
-
3 Preparing the base and laying the platform
-
4 Arrangement of the patio
Traditionally, the patio area is given a platform at the back wall of the house.
Thanks to this placement, one side of the recreation area becomes completely closed, and the other three are completely open, or protected from the outside world by bars, screens or fences
It is very convenient for relaxation, when an additional exit is provided in the wall of the house adjacent to the patio, so as not to go around the building once again, heading to the kitchen for your favorite treat, or at any time to hide from the weather.
You can choose a place under the patio in a cozy shady corner of the garden, where noise and curious looks from the street do not penetrate. With the help of mobile screens and trellises, as well as stationary fences and trellises entwined with flowering climbing plants, you can even create an atmosphere of security on the outdoor patio in the garden.
You can learn more about how to choose weaving plants and loaches for decorating a fence from the material: https://diz-cafe.com/ozelenenie/vyushhiesya-rasteniya-dlya-zabora.html
It would be great if the patio would be placed close to an artificial pond so that on a hot afternoon the air above the site becomes more humid and fresh, thereby providing more comfortable conditions for a good rest
The shape and size of the site will depend on its purpose: for the arrangement of a "paradise" area of 2-3 square meters is enough. meters, a company of 3-4 people will comfortably accommodate on a patio of 4 square meters.
meters.
Since the patio is a paved area, it is desirable to use a dense floor as a base.
Concrete slabs are the most economical and durable flooring option for a site. Combining the design of square and rectangular shapes of the product gives an interesting effect
A more luxurious setting can be obtained by using natural stone slabs.
Broken sections of products, forming a bizarre pattern, give the surface of the site naturalness and special sophistication
An equally strong base can be obtained using paving slabs.
The variety of shapes and shades of paving slabs allows you to implement any design solutions, laying out various ornaments and patterns
Garden parquet, created on the basis of a combination of wood waste and polymers, has excellent performance characteristics and, unlike natural wood, does not rot.
How to lay garden parquet, you can learn from the material: https://diz-cafe.com/postroiki/sadoviy-parket-deking.
html
As a wooden covering for open areas, both natural wood flooring and modern decking building material, externally difficult to distinguish from real wood planks, can be used
So, the first step is to prepare the foundation. The place for the future site is fenced with pegs. After that, the top layer of soil is removed from the fenced area, deepening the base by 10-15 cm. To level and equip the site, the depression is filled with a layer of sand, in order to compact which, alternate watering and leveling the surface with a rake are used. The height of the sand "cushion" should be 1-2 cm above ground level.
The technology of laying the coating depends on which of the materials is chosen. In any case, the coating is laid at a slope of 1-3 degrees towards the garden with a snug fit between the products
Concrete slabs and paving slabs can be laid directly on top of a sand bed by filling gaps between stones or paving slabs with sand or mortar.
Wooden floorings provide for laying on boards inserted into a wooden frame.
When constructing a base for a patio in a country house with your own hands, it is advisable to provide for laying drainage grooves 40 cm wide and 10-15 cm deep, which will be connected to a common drainage system. Raising the level of the patio surface by 1-2 cm above the level of the adjacent lawn will further facilitate the process of mowing the lawn with a trimmer or lawn mower.
To protect the site from the scorching sun and bad weather over the recreation area, you can make a canopy and translucent polycarbonate. An alternative to a stationary protective structure made of glass or polycarbonate can be awnings - mobile structures that, if desired, can be easily moved to any corner of the garden.
The patio can also be surrounded by a hedge, which can be tall shrubs and conifers. An original addition to the interior can be not only plants collected in colorful multi-level mixborders, but also planted as soloists in planting pockets or floor vases.
Dwarf conifers or evergreens planted in planting pockets on unpaved patios will keep patios attractive and colorful throughout the year
If you want to make the site closed from prying eyes and wind, you can use openwork lattice walls decorated with weaving vines or climbing roses as protective structures
Since one of the main conditions for arranging a recreation area is an opening view of a picturesque landscape, in addition to landscaping, a patio design must include a small architectural decor in the form of a pond or fountain, miniature unusual sculptures, stone paths.
Plants for container gardening, which fill the surrounding area with a pleasant aroma, can be used: bay trees, rosemary and lavender, as well as tangerine and lemon trees. Patio walls can be decorated with planters with begonias, nasturtiums, ampelous petunias and lobelia.
When choosing garden furniture for arranging a patio, it is necessary to be guided not only by its aesthetic appeal, but also by practicality, as well as performance characteristics:
- Aesthetic and "warm" wooden furniture is not known for its weather resistance.
- Solid and durable wrought iron furniture is quite heavy and difficult to move.
- Lightweight and durable wicker furniture is the best option, since the material used for its manufacture is resistant to stress, exposure to sunlight and high humidity.
Chaise lounges and benches, garden sofas and armchairs - these are the interior elements that make the courtyard unique and individual
Barbecue is an integral part of outdoor recreation. Therefore, in the patio, it is desirable to allocate space in advance for the arrangement of the hearth
Material on how to build a barbecue with your own hands from brick will also be useful: https://diz-cafe.com/postroiki/pech-barbekyu-svoimi-rukami.html
It is pleasant to spend time in the courtyard even in the evening, enjoying the chirping of grasshoppers and crickets. In the open air and comfortable to receive guests, treating the company to a delicious dinner.
And since friendly gatherings often end after sunset, lighting becomes the key to a comfortable stay in the evening.
Wall lamps can be hung on the wall adjacent to the house, garden figurines with solar batteries can be hung in the flower beds. Pole lanterns or garden torches can be mounted around the entire perimeter of the patio
Video with helpful patio tips:
- Author: limon4ik2013
Rate this article:
(4 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Share with your friends!
photos and 80 coziest DIY ideas
Menu
09/22/2017Cozy cottage patio in a traditional design
The patio in the country, the photos of which can be seen below, is an equipped cozy place to relax, surrounded on all sides or partially by a hedge.
The patio is by no means an innovation; such architectural elements were present even among the ancient Roman rich. In the modern world, a patio for a summer residence is an indispensable attribute in the countries of the Mediterranean and Latin America, where the sun shines and is warm all year round. Recently, residents who have suburban areas have also begun to pay great attention to this element of architecture. In appearance, the patio sometimes resembles a terrace, so some people think that they are one and the same. However, there are differences between the two designs.
The terrace is always above the ground. It is an integral part of the house and has restrictions in the form of gratings. The patio is part of the local area. The popularity of the patio today is due to the development of landscape design. In addition, in the days of hot summer, such a cozy place to relax is most welcome. Beautiful patios are a great alternative to a living room. In the warm season, it is much more pleasant to receive guests outdoors, surrounded by flowers and nature.
Contents:
- Contemporary patio views
- Custom patio solutions
- Country patio area
- How to decorate a patio - work steps
- Patio landscaping
- Tips that will come in handy when arranging a patio in the country house
A small patio with a magnificent panoramic view
A spacious patio under a canopy will save you both from the rain and from the scorching sun
Patio in the country house surrounded by a green garden
Even on a small site you can place a cozy patio for relaxing
For this purpose, country patios are equipped with everything necessary, without which a feast is impossible.
- Large round table.
- Comfortable chairs.
- Canopy.
- BBQ.
- Fireplace.
- Brazier.
- And even a swimming pool.
The design of the patio is chosen according to the preferences of all family members and the possibilities of the territory.
Almost all such recreation areas are surrounded by flower beds, small fountains, shrubs and trees.
Types of modern patios
The most common type of patio in a country house is:
If the courtyard is arranged along the perimeter of the house, this provides an extension of the adjoining area. The advantage of a corner patio with a "U" or "L" shape is obvious, in this case it is protected from several sides at once.
A similar element of the site architecture can be planned in such a way that guests have the opportunity to enter the living room or another room of the house directly from the patio. For example, while working in the office, the owner can take a short break and go outside to enjoy solitude and nature.
Cozy patio in the country house
Patio in the country house with a corner soft sofa
Patio with a biofireplace on the terrace
Luxurious patio with a fireplace and under a canopy
Patio with a pool in the country house is also a great option.
A small artificial pond will perfectly fit into the patio area, which, in combination with the lush greenery of the country landscape, will create the ideal of a country holiday.
In order for vacationers to enjoy the shade and sunbathe, a retractable canopy should be installed, which can be automatically or manually quickly pulled up or retracted. Such a canopy will protect in inclement weather from dampness, and in hot weather from direct sunlight.
More recently, the residents and their guests entering the courtyard were met by flower beds and various benches, now this role is assigned to a beautiful and comfortable front patio. The entrance can be decorated with:
- miniature fountain;
- original alpine slide;
- plaster or bronze statues;
- flower beds;
- modern stylish fence.
Country garden patio with superb landscaping
Outdoor patio with fireplace surrounded by tall green shrubbery
English style patio with small folding chairs
Custom patio solutions
in such a situation, a multi-level patio would be appropriate, which will also be a decoration of the facade.
An excellent solution is a balcony patio, if the area of \u200b\u200bthe balcony allows you to equip such a resting place.
A rooftop patio is a clever solution when the property is small and the roof of the house is flat and quite spacious. Here you can not only relax, sunbathe, but even plant plants. However, the arrangement of such a zone requires prior consultation with the builders.
The highlight of any cottage will be a patio with a barbecue, which is especially appropriate on a large plot. For each landscape design, you can choose the most appropriate equipment on which you can bake meat, vegetables, fish and cook other products. Fortunately, the range of such picnic accessories today is unusually wide.
Mediterranean-style patio with barbecue
A small cozy patio in the courtyard will save prying eyes
Corner country patio under a fixed umbrella
Patio with dark wicker furniture and a bio-fireplace in the country house
Patio in the garden with wicker furniture and a large fireplace
You can add wicker chairs, a small table, a mini-sofa and even a hammock to complement the hospitable corner in front of the entrance to the house.
Tip: It is not recommended to plant hardwoods around the patio, as loose leaves will spoil the whole landscape. You will have to clean this area daily.
Patio area in the country house
Before starting to build a patio, the owner must choose the right place on the site. As a rule, a zone between the house and the garden will be allocated for it. Therefore, if housing construction is still at the design stage, the future owner needs to provide an appropriate place on the plan where it will be possible to equip a patio in the country house with his own hands.
To have an idea of what a modern patio should look like, you should review many different photos of similar architectural structures. It is not necessary to repeat everything exactly like in the picture from the Internet, you can only borrow some details of the idea and add something of your own.
There are several design directions for arranging a patio, you can choose one of them:
- rustic style - picturesque pergolas, wicker furniture, wooden benches;
- Japanese style - stone decking, bamboo decorations and bonsai;
- mediterranean style - white elements, wooden base, terracotta flower pots;
- Moorish style - bright colors of decoration, colorful impressive mosaic on the floor.
Country Style Patio Area
Japanese Country Style Patio Design
Industrial Style Country Patio
An ideal place to relax is obtained on the site where the house is shaped like the letter "U". It is in this secluded nook, closed from prying eyes, that the patio area should be planned. Structures can have any shape, from strict geometric (rectangle, circle, oval) to completely uneven.
The main thing is that the rest in such a place should be joyful and comfortable. The scenery for this "paradise" is selected in accordance with the features of the exterior and the allocated funds. If the house itself is luxurious and expensive, then the patio should match it.
If the owner of the house does not know how to arrange a patio, he should seek the help of professional designers.
Tip: in order to correctly determine the size of the future patio, you need to estimate the maximum number of people visiting and calculate the area so that each guest has at least 3 m 2 .
Beautifully decorated patio in Mediterranean style
Romantic shabby chic in the design of the country patio
Modest patio in the country house in the English style
How to decorate the patio - stages of work
To make the patio area as comfortable as possible, you need to think through everything. You should take care not only about the scenery, but also about the materials covering the tracks and the base of the site.
Bulk materials such as sand, gravel and expanded clay should be avoided. Firstly, it is inconvenient to walk on such a surface. Secondly, cleaning up the area will be very difficult. Best to pave the base:
- paving slabs;
- clinker bricks;
- porcelain stoneware;
- natural stone;
- concrete slabs.
Standard patio area tile can be replaced with small pebbles
Patio area with solid stone slabs
Standard patio area using paving slabs
Any of these materials can be installed mortar or dry.
In extreme cases, to install the base, you can use wooden flooring made from materials impregnated with antiseptic compounds. But it should be noted that the wooden coating still cannot last as long as any of those listed above.
The area chosen for the patio should be cleared of sod approximately 15 cm deep. The soil layer must be well compacted and treated with a herbicide that will prevent the germination of weeds. From above, you need to pour a layer of sand or gravel, and only then you can lay the base, which should be decorated around the perimeter with a border.
Tip: when laying the base, you can use a combination of different materials, colors and shapes. For example, cover the center of the site with natural stone or paving slabs, and mark the frame with cobblestones. Paths suitable for the recreation area should be combined with the main material.
In order for the relaxation area to be functional at any time of the day, it is necessary to take care of its lighting.
Lanterns and garden torches will look very original here. Lighting fixtures can also be placed on the wall of the house adjacent to the patio.
Large ceramic tiles on the country patio in the shabby chic style
Wooden platform is also suitable for the country patio option
Country patio: photos of the best landscaping options
shaded and sunny area. To create shade, you can install decorative canopies or pergolas that will braid climbing plants, for example:
- small-flowered clematis;
- parthenocissus;
- lemongrass.
Outdoor recreation is always associated with lots of greenery. In this case, curly greenery is most appropriate when you need to disguise a not-so-attractive wall. If the wall is ideal in its appearance, on the contrary, it should be emphasized by hanging a container or flower pots. It is recommended to put tubs with cypress or lavender in the corners of the site.
Country patio with a small pergola with decorative grapes running along its frame
Cozy patio in the garden with beautiful landscaping and an abundance of flowering plants
Corner cottage patio in a modern style with coniferous and flowering plants
In a checkerboard pattern, alternating with tiles, you can install several small flower beds.
Instead of small flower beds, you can arrange one large flower garden or even a tree that was on the site before the creation of the patio. In the shade of such a tree on a sunny day it will be pleasant to relax, lying in a sun lounger.
A patio located at a distance from the house should be zoned with tall shrubs that will create an atmosphere of privacy and protect vacationers from the wind. Having reunited with nature, it is quite possible to protect yourself from annoying midges with a glass gazebo. Wealthy people can easily afford such pleasure.
Miniature garden patio in a green garden is an option for big nature lovers
Plants such as yucca are good for a beach style country patio
Small arborvitae planted around the patio will delight the eye
Tips to help when decorating the patio in the country
- To protect the country patio from prying eyes, you can use a plastic or metal frame, plexiglass. Admirers of military subjects will certainly like a camouflage net.
- You need to choose a place for the patio either on a small hill or on a flat area. Otherwise, in the rainy season it will be damp here.
- If the site does not allow for a patio on a hill, then it is necessary to provide a system of drainage and rainwater runoff.
- A miniature pond can be built by digging a large basin or a baby bath into the ground, and a water lily and a decorative frog will serve as decorations for such a mini-pond. Professionals need to be involved in the creation of a large reservoir and pool.
- To install the fountain, it is necessary to provide a communication system (water supply, drain, power supply).
- When choosing lighting, care must be taken to be able to adjust its intensity.
- Do not plan to place a patio in an area where there are inspection hatches.
- Hanging bird houses will be an original design solution.
- A real brick oven installed in the recreation area will not only be useful, but will also create additional comfort on the site.
- If the owner does not have the opportunity to install a stationary or retractable canopy over the patio, a large beach umbrella or one that is used on summer grounds in a cafe can save from the scorching rays of the sun or rain.
- Aroma design is also an original patio solution. To create a fragrant atmosphere, you just need to transplant some fragrant plants from the garden to the site.
Compact patio on the balcony
Even in a small courtyard, you can find a place for a cozy summer patio
Mediterranean-style country patio located in the courtyard
Small patio located in a secluded place in the country garden
Country patio with wooden floor and soft sofas for a large company
Various ideas come to mind in the process of creating a country "oasis" ". The radiance of the starry sky, the flames in the fireplace, the water murmuring in the fountain - these are three elements that can be concentrated in one place and enjoy a divine rest with the whole family or alone.
