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How To Layout A Patio

Ways To Take The Edge Off Your Patio

How To Design a Patio to Match Your Style

If you are not a green thumb, have little time for plant care, or simply are not in love with growing plants, you may well wonder, “Should I even bother incorporating plants into my patio plans?” Here is one argument that may sway you: Plants help soften the harsh, straight lines of a rectilinear patio. But if you are dead set against growing plants, there is another way to “take the edge off”: Build a patio with a rounded edge, as in this photo.

How To Design A Perfect Porch Design For A Mobile Home

Note the visible rafters in the gable roof below. You can decorate it with raised planks or grooved panels for a finished look. Add an external ceiling fan for extra comfort. When designing a porch for an RV, you should also consider amenities such as fans, lighting, railings, and pillars.

Sliding window screen

Patio Design: Size And Shape

If you plan to entertain a large crowd then you’ll need a patio that is big enough to hold a dining table and at least four chairs, a place for the grill and some comfortable seating in an area away from the table.

Figure out how you plan to use it and be realistic. For example, you may want a fully equipped outdoor kitchen but if you don’t like to cook then why add it to the patio or make room for it? If you want to make room for a hot tub, be sure you enjoy using a hot tub and will do the maintenance that a hot tub requires before increasing the size of the patio to include one.


To help determine the size you need, use cutouts of furniture to scale and placing them on graph paper in the configuration where you want them on your patio. Then you’ll know if it all fits and how big your patio should be. “Cutting out shapes is a great way to arrange the components,” says Monica. She suggests allowing about two feet of space per person around a dining table to determine how big of a table you will need. Start with the number of members in your family and include room for guests.

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Choose Hardwood For Decked Patios

If you are considering for your patio, Wakefield advises: ‘It is worth spending a bit more on hardwood decking, sustainably sourced, as this produces the best and most long-lasting results. We prefer ipe, iroko or teak, in as wide a board as possible, which is usually around 140mm.

‘We tend to specify concealed milled joints this means the boards slot together side to side, avoiding the need for surface-mounted screws.’

What Size Patio Do I Need

38 Patio Layout Design Ideas You Dont Want to Miss

A little bit of homework is required when deciding on a patio layout. If you need help planning your project, contact a patio contractor near you for expert advice.


Patio Sizing TipsTime: 04:18Designer Scott Cohen shows how he designed several projects while considering furniture, entertainment needs, and proximity to the house.

Before your patio is poured, you need to think through exactly how you plan to use it:

  • Do you like to entertain? Then you might think about creating various large patio areas to accommodate dining areas.
  • Or is your backyard your private sanctuary? Then you might prefer bistro-size outdoor rooms with various small, cozy destination areas throughout your yard.
  • Do you have young children? Designating play areas may be part of your plan.

The options may be endless, but the theory is the same that “form follows function”. In essence, determine what it is you like to do and let your patio design come about from that thought process.

To aid in the understanding of the “function” of the space, ask yourself the following questions:

  • How many people do you entertain on a regular basis?

  • Do you also have large parties? How many people do you typically need to accommodate at these parties?

  • What are your favorite patio finishes? Stamped concrete? Pavers? Brick or stone?

  • What style, size and quantity of patio furniture will you be using in the yard?

Armed with the answers to these basic questions you can lay out patio space appropriately.


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Determining Shade For Patio Design Layout

Whenever you lay out patio locations be sure to take into account where shade will be available. In our aging society, shade is number one on the wish list of most clients. Careful placement of trees and patio cover structures will ensure a comfortable living space and a successful design.

One landscape designer suggests walking around your backyard with a compass. Determine which areas of your backyard will be affected by sun and wind. For instance, north-facing areas will likely get the most shade. This may be a great location for your patio and patio cover. This can also help you in determining what plants will grow best in shady areas.

More on how to design a patio

Inspect The Site Conditions

Proper drainage will prevent mildew and water stains on your outdoor stone patio and maintain a level surface that won’t droop over time. Look for a spot with no standing water after a rainfall.


  • If you want to install a patio in a moist or low-lying area, remove six to eight inches of soil and install a drain fielda three- to five-inch layer of rock beneath the topsoil, turf and paversto whisk moisture away from the surface by allowing an underground space for collection as it absorbs into the earth.
  • You can also place one to three inches of grass, pea gravel or decomposed granite joints between pavers or stones to help control runoff. This gives you more square footage with fewer stones.

If the proposed site is near your house, inspect your gutters for any blockages to avoid heavy overflow that might soak your patio furniture and accessories and direct downspouts away from the patio.

Read Also: How To Level Ground For Patio Pavers

The Shape Of Your Patio

The shape of your patio might determine where you put it. If you have existing trees near your house that you want to keep, you could build your patio around them.

Any nearby natural boulders can be incorporated into the design for a natural look. A rectangle shape made of cut flagstone, brick or paving stones will lend a formal, symmetrical look to your home while a curvaceous circular shape will give it a more casual feel. “Overlap several rectangles or squares, or incorporate angles or overlapping circles in your design,” says Joanne Kostecky, APLD, president of Garden Design, Inc.

Gather ideas from magazines, books and websites for inspiration so you’re armed with ideas to present a landscape designer or architect.


It’s Your Call: Genius Or Cracked

Build with Roman – How To Layout a Paver Patio Plan

Here is an interesting look for a patio. The designer has left a grass strip around each of the pavers. The resulting “crack” sets off the pavers nicely. Here’s the trade-off, though: This patio is hardly low-maintenance. Why give yourself more mowing work than you already have to do? But it’s your call.

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How Do You Build A Covered Patio With Slate Roof

Use a broomstick to push across the sand-filled patio to fill in the gaps between the board. Sweep up any excess sand and look between the boards to see if the gaps are filled. Add sand and sweep the patio until you get what you want. Remove the slate mold and fill the remaining space with decorative stone.

How To Build A Screened In Porch

Use a utility knife to cut the sieve slightly wider than any openings. First, roll the mesh into the slot on the top horizontal base using the screen roll slot tool. Pull the screen mesh with one hand while turning the slot to hold the screen in place. Now roll up both sides and keep the screen in the middle of the opening. Finally, use the mesh roll on the lower horizontal base and gently pull on the mesh for a perfect fit. Cut off excess sieve from the outside edges.

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Embrace Organic Lines For Your Patio Layout

When defining your patio’s layout you can go for a softer finish by zoning your seating area with flowers and by careful placement of garden furniture too. Choosing natural materials will help a patio area feel a little more organic, perfect if your garden is lush with trees and more greenery to complement this area. Teak, whether new or reclaimed, or timber is the most durable of all garden furniture and you’ll be able to find a finish that suits your style too.

  • Find all types of garden ideas to complement your home in our edit.

Pergola Outdoor Living Room

38 Patio Layout Design Ideas You Dont Want to Miss

Your patio can be an extension of your home! This layout features large marble pavers with varying patterns but cohesive through the same color scheme. The couch and love seat create a comfortable outdoor living room space for you to relax with friends, or sprawl out to get some work done. The pergola is a great touch, giving you both a bit of sunshine and shade throughout the day, keeping you comfortable. Add some interesting topiaries and flowering bushes along the outside to create privacy and bring a bit of nature into your living room!


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Iscapes Online Patio Design

Upload photos of your outdoor space to iScape or use the augmented reality function to visualize your ideal landscape. You can create either 2D or 3D designs, collaborate with your partner or designer, and buy products directly from iScape. Whats more, you can change or redesign your patio online as many times as you want! If you need an experts insights, hire an iScape designer, and design your dream patio together.

How Much Does It Cost To Add A Screened Patio To A House

If you’re starting from scratch, expect this space to be expensive a porch with windows and screens will cost about $30,000. Installing a screen on an existing porch is much cheaper, ranging from $2,000 to $2,800 for 200 square feet. Protecting a patio or terrace also reduces the costs of, for example, floors.

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Lounge About On Your Patio Chair And Let Your Stress Slip Away

Without some type of furniture, your patio is just an area in the yard to pass through, not a true outdoor room. You need chairs on a patio so that you can rest while getting a breath of fresh air, reading a book, or dining. Furniture installation is a major step in making this outdoor space more livable, more truly an extension of the home.


How To Build A Retractable Awning

How To Design A Patio
  • Preparation of the stems. Lay the PVC on a large, flat surface.
  • Sew the shade. Cut the fabric into 4 pieces of 10’4”. From the rest of the fabric, cut 32 pieces 41/2″ wide and 27″ long.
  • Add stems in the shade. Lay the fabric umbrella piece by piece on a flat surface.
  • Building support. Attach the 4″ x 4″ x 8′ planks to an existing sturdy structure that is anchored securely to the floor.
  • Assembly of the awning. Determine the center point between the two posts on the front of the 2″ x 8″ x 12 foot back wall. Mark this point with a marker 4 inches from the top.

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What Do I Put Under A Brick Patio

A gravel base, sand and a thick polyurethane plate are needed to protect the stones from rotting or uneven placement. While all parts of the foundation are needed, gravel is important for a number of reasons. A pebble bottom provides a solid foundation for the weight of a stone deck, stones are heavy.

Porch sun shadesWhich color sun shade is best? While light colors resist heat build-up, black colors offer better protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. This makes black and other dark colors a good choice for sun protection. Unfortunately, black attracts heat, so wearing black is more comfortable on sunny but cold days.What is the best material for sun shade?Material: To get the best sun visor for the car, you need a durable and heat resistant

Select The Perfect Color Duo

There’s nothing like pastel colors to make you feel all the SS21 vibes. To keep it simple but so effective, choose just two core colors for your space. The sage green bistro is set off by the simple addition of oranges on the table, and it works a dream. When they are gone it will happen consider a red or orange lantern as your centrepiece and that will be enough for a gorgeous patio look.

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Build A Small Patio In The Right Spot And Marvel At The Results

A patio need not be enormous to serve its purpose. If the owners of this patio built it for the purpose of communing with nature, then they could not have asked for anything much better. For one thing, the location is superb: It is tucked into a hillside, forming something of an amphitheater. In spring, the daffodil flowers surrounding it are a great plus.

Plants and patios can complement each other. We will be looking at many examples of the marriage of plant and patio in upcoming slides. Beginning with spring, let’s examine how you can plan your patio in such a way as to make it enjoyable for all four seasons of the year. This will involve astute plant selection as well as creative solutions to some nagging seasonal problems.

Install A Cool Water Feature

Patio Layout Ideas

A water feature can add great value to a patio. If you choose to have a fountain, the sound made by the cascading water is very soothing. Here are some fountain styles to consider:

  • Add color to your liking as a finishing touch for your patio project.chuckcollier/E+/Getty Images

    As a finishing touch, it is always fun to play around with color. The owner of the patio in this photo clearly has a thing for orange. Patio furniture is one thing plants are another. Working with plant colors is more complex, but here’s some help in choosing a landscape color scheme.

    Continue to 48 of 49 below.

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    What Materials Are Best Used For Outdoor Furniture

    When decorating the interior of your home, some of the main material considerations include durability, comfort, and style. The same holds true when it comes to furnishing the outside. The only difference is, your furniture needs to withstand the outdoor elements. While no furniture is completely weather-proof, some materials do the job better than others. Top materials choices for your outdoor space include synthetic wicker, also called resin wicker, teak, aluminum, and stainless steel. When it comes to upholstery, it is hard to beat Sunbrella fabrics, which are resistant to fading, degradation, mildew, and mold. They also come in dozens of colors and patterns, making it easy to select a look that complements your overall décor.

    Stretch Your Patio Space Further With Steps

    We spoke with Chris Moorhouse, Category Director for Timber, Building, Décor and Garden at Wickes about the best patio ideas and he suggests ‘A great way to ensure your patio looks stylish and well-presented is by breaking it into zones. This can be achieved by adding steps, laying different materials or the addition of plants and paving circles. This will help to differentiate between dedicated areas e.g. grass, play area, relaxation, dining area.’ Not to mention the planted contour adds heaps of character to this patio space. ‘Finally, opting for low maintenance materials that require minimal cleaning, such as porcelain paving, all weather furniture and shrubs will ensure your patio looks great all year around!’

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    Keys To The Perfect Patio Furniture Arrangement

    Dont try to arrange your patio furniture without reading these tips! Tired of rearranging your furniture over and over again? Well, Ive put together this list of patio arrangement tips to help you get it right the first time.

    Read through this list and then draw out your layout on paper. Being able to visualize what you want will make your life a lot easier! You dont have to produce blueprints but just getting a rough shot will put you miles ahead of the game. If you have questions about your specific arrangement, you can send me your questions by filling out a comment at the bottom of the article. Now lets arrange some patio furniture!

    How Do I Build A Slate Patio In My Backyard

    How To Design The Perfect Outdoor Space

    Create a family-friendly backyard by building a slate patio. Like this? And more: clear grass, plants and weeds with a mower, rake, pickaxe and shovel. Mark the area and then use a rake to align it. Remove excess soil. Use recycled or inexpensive 2×4 molding to make a patio frame. The frame is secured with 1 rod.

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    Extend Your Livingroom Outdoors

    This design is taking exactly what you have inside your home and recreating it for the outdoors. The wood flooring is weather treated here, but you wouldnt know the difference between the outside and inside. This large patio layout gives you enough room to create an intimate living room area on one side, and incorporates a large open space on the other for any activities youd like to enjoy! This setup is precise with lines and symmetry, and if thats important to you, this is the patio for you!


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