Inspiring Patio Ideas: How to Design the Perfect Outdoor Living Area

Unlock the full potential of your outside space with these patio ideas and stylish solutions that provide an inviting and enjoyable extension of your internal living areas

by Build It

8th August 2024

Looking for patio ideas that will transform how your outdoor space looks and feels? Your garden has the potential to be turned into a completely new zone with the help of lighting, modern seating arrangements and unique surface finishes.

Whether you’re self building or renovating, paying attention to your outdoor space and developing a good set of patio ideas early on will ensure a well-planned, functional zone that can be used year-round. Whether you’re after a built-in fire pit that you’ll use for hosting guests or a sheltered kitchen island that you can use to cook family meals in the summer, think carefully about how you use your patio now and how you may want to use it in the future.

From paying attention to the patio or decking material to installing pergolas, outdoor stoves and kitchen worktops, here we’re taking a look at a range of different patio ideas to help you plan a successful garden project.

Use Patio Ideas to Create a Luxury Indoor-Outdoor Feel

Create a comfortable outdoor environment that feels like an extension of your living spaces by integrating outdoor furniture into your patio ideas that oozes style.

Photo: Trade Photographer

Sliding patio doors and sleek flooring connect this recently extended home with its garden, where a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna and gym all contribute to that luxury feel.

Remember Lighting when Developing Your Patio Ideas

Lighting can truly enhance your outdoor space so it’s important to incorporate different kinds of lighting fixtures into your patio ideas. This solar lamp is designed to provide warm lighting and gently illuminate your garden.

Manufactured from Italian HPL and oiled teakwood for a weathered finish, these Bridgman lamps are waterproof and feature dimmers, USB charging and a smart mode that automatically optimises its luminosity according to solar power reserve.

Turn Your Patio Space into an Outdoor Kitchen

Manufactured from stainless steel and Dekton worktops, EO’s modular outdoor kitchens provide a stylish outdoor living solution that’s built to last. Expertly replicating your indoor setup, you can enjoy alfresco cooking with confidence.

Sleek Fire Pit Patio Idea

Incorporating a fire pit into your patio ideas can transform a regular seating area into a cosy, sociable outdoor lounging zone that can be used at different points in the year. From long summer evenings to chilly autumn nights, a fire pit is the perfect place to host guests.

Add warmth and ambience to your patio space with this Ruma Cosipure square fire pit in black and teak wood finish. The contemporary look complements and elevates a range of garden styles. It can be left outside all year round to weather naturally or be paired with a protective cover.

Experiment With Different Patio Surface Ideas

A patio can be upgraded significantly with the type of tile, stone or decking used. You may be considering a composite, non-slip deck if you have young children running around, or perhaps large flagstone tiles if you’re seeking out a timeless, sophisticated aesthetic – each surface has its benefits. Think about what will complement your indoor space and add to a seamless finish that connects the house and garden.

The aged effect of these elegant Trail Quartzita Stone Effect Porcelain paving slabs in grey from Walls and Floors give a rustic, characterful finish to your garden patio. They’re durable and easy to clean with a matt finish and anti-slip surface, suitable for laying in a range of patterns.

CLOSER LOOK Choosing the right patio surface

When looking for patio ideas, aesthetics will play an important role in materials selection. But there are also some practicalities to consider, such as safety, durability and maintenance. Here, the experts reveal the key factors to take into account when choosing a patio surface.

“For decking, you should think about sustainability and ask whether the product contains
FSC-certified timber,” says Dom Harrison from Composite Prime. “Ours is made of recycled plastic and end of life timber from the hardwood flooring industry.”
“We have come a long way from the days when patio spaces simply featured square sandstone or grey coloured slabs,” says Sian O’Neill from Topps Tiles. “Bold patterned tiles, for instance, have really come into their own over the last couple of years thanks to frost-resistant and non-slip properties.”
“Composite decking is a good low-maintenance alternative, as it only requires the occasional scrub with a stiff brush, soap and water,” says Stefan Stefan Holmes from Millboard. “A light jet wash will remove the most stubborn bits of dirt.”
“Think about who will be using the zone and for what purpose. For example, products with anti-slip properties are a good option for households with children to reduce the risk of falling,” says Claire from Russwood. “The likes of brushed Thermopine have a slightly rougher surface finish, giving innate anti-slip features.”
“Wood-effect porcelain doesn’t have the same slip hazards of real wood,” says Lee. “It also boasts incredible durability, as it’s resistant to staining unlike other options.”
“Choosing a capped composite deck – which has an additional polymer layer – minimises maintenance,” says Dom. “The capping will be unaffected by the likes of BBQ grease and red wine stains, for instance.”
“Timber options must be correctly detailed to allow for sufficient ventilation so that the wood does not rot,” says Claire. “To avoid issues with pests, the space below the decking should be left open, free of vegetation and covered with a non-organic material.”

Overhead Shading & Pergolas

Self building a home with large spans of glazing requires you to incorporate solar shading features such as pergolas or brise soleils to mitigate excess solar gain in the height of summer. These can be turned into spectacular design features that turn into an extension of your home’s architecture.

Suzanne and Steve Richardson teamed up with Cocoon Architects and Frame Technologies to create an outstanding and low-energy timber frame home nestled into the Suffolk countryside. The highly-efficient home features a set of sliding glazed doors, creating a seamless connection with the outdoor garden terrace. An oak pergola, erected by Suzanne and Steve themselves, wraps around the glazed features, helping to reduce the direct sunlight entering the home.

Photo: Matthew Smith

“In the summer that the couple didn’t have the pergola, they experienced just how hot the house could be without adequate shading,” says Matt Plummer of Cocoon Architects. As well as serving this practical purpose, the oak slats overhead cast an interesting play of shadow onto the outdoor seating area below, forming one of the home’s key design talking points.

Incorporate an Open-Air Stove into Your Patio Ideas

With a good design, you can turn your garden into an extension of your home. This can be achieved with features such as an outdoor stove – perfect for cosying up in the evening or even cooking on.

The Hale outdoor kitchen stove from Schiedel is made from volcanic pumice for a refined textured finish and offers excellent performance thanks to its natural insulation. Easy to use and install yourself, this stove makes a great centrepiece, whether you’ve lit it for cooking, relaxing or entertaining.

Embrace Outdoor Dining with a Kitchen Worktop

Embrace outdoor dining and make a statement in your garden design scheme with this stunning waterfall island worktop from Cullifords in Baltic Brown Granite.

With light brown patterned detailing on a contrasting black background, this surface pairs beautifully with both rustic and ultra-modern spaces.

Add a Sunken Seating Zone into Your Patio Ideas

Designed by Clear Architects, the garden landscaping in this self build project in Essex features a sunken seating area with a table and integrated firepit in the centre.

Framed with white porcelain paving, the design provides a stylish and practical focal point, ideal for entertaining and enjoying the warmer months.

Upgrade Your Patio with a Multi-Use Garden Room

Perfect for use as a garden office, extra living space or for storage, an outbuilding, summer house or sheltered area can make a great addition to your patio ideas and final scheme. This five-bay garden structure in Buckinghamshire created an outdoor bar, kitchen and entertainment space – a perfect finish for a remodelled garden.

Photo: Chris Wharton

The structure was designed by DP Architects and Carpenter Oak supplied the oak frame. The oak structure’s three closed sides have been finished with charming brickwork and the roof tiled. There are two chimneys (which the carpenters carefully worked around) for a BBQ and log burner.