Patio ideas for layout, materials and features

Patios are often built too small. Mark out the area with string or hosepipe and place your furniture inside it, leaving room to pull chairs back and walk around the table. A patio that feels generous on paper can feel tight once people are sitting on it.

The area outside the back door is convenient, but it is not always the sunniest. A second, smaller patio in a sunnier corner, linked by a path, can be more useful than one large terrace in the shade. Consider privacy from neighbouring windows too.

Rectangular patios suit modern houses and make the most of paving sizes. Curved or angled edges soften a garden and lead the eye towards the lawn. Setting a patio at an angle to the house can make a narrow garden feel wider.

On sloping ground, split-level patios create separate dining and lounging areas joined by steps. Low walls around a raised patio give extra seating and a home for planting. Our garden steps page explains how to plan comfortable steps between levels.

Porcelain is hard-wearing and easy to clean, which suits busy family patios. Indian sandstone and limestone offer natural variation, while granite is dense and durable. Resin-bound surfacing gives a smooth, permeable finish that can flow into paths.

Match the material to the style of the house and to how much upkeep you are happy with. Lighter colours stay cooler in sun but can show marks; darker stones hide dirt but get warmer. Ask to see paving wet as well as dry, as many stones change colour noticeably after rain.

A fire pit patio makes the garden usable on cooler evenings. A sunken or circular seating area around the fire pit creates a natural gathering point, often set away from the house and slightly apart from the dining area. Built-in benches or low walls give seating without extra furniture.

Choose paving suited to sitting near heat, and keep the fire pit clear of fences, overhanging branches and the house. Check the guidance supplied with your fire pit before use. Our fire pit areas page covers this type of space in more detail.

Every patio needs a gentle fall so rainwater runs away from the house rather than pooling. The finished level should sit below any damp-proof course, and the base must be prepared properly for the ground beneath. These details matter more than the stone you choose.

Lighting, planters, a pergola for shade or an outdoor kitchen can all be added around a patio. Plan cable routes and footings early so the paving does not need lifting later.

Joints deserve attention as well. Well-filled joints help keep weeds out and stop water sitting beneath the slabs, while the jointing method should suit the paving chosen. Edges against lawns and borders also need a firm restraint so the outer slabs do not shift over time.