Patio Designs and Ideas



Patio designs involve many different elements to think about. You want one that really stands out as something special, right?! There are lots of decisions to make and I know it can be very confusing!

Which paving material should you use and how much does each one cost? What's a good size? How can you make your patio special and not run of the mill?


Please enjoy this slideshow of just a few of my patio projects.

<previous next> play stop

Slideshow image


Since your web browser does not support JavaScript, here is a non-JavaScript version of the image slideshow:

slideshow image
Walkway leading to two level patio


slideshow image
Dry laid bluestone patio with landing


slideshow image
Full range dry laid bluestone


slideshow image
Beautiful fountain and pond


slideshow image
Striking patio pergola


slideshow image
Bluestone with seatwall


slideshow image
Brick design with wall fountain


slideshow image
Raised patio design with steps


slideshow image
Wonderful view can't hurt!


slideshow image
Raised patios and stone walls



See more photos and read about any of the following:

Special Features -- Patio Costs -- Shapes and Sizes -- Patio Materials



Special Features

Pergolas

Seat Walls

Raised Patios

Fire Pits

Kitchens

Decorating

Water Features

Living Rooms



See my ebook on patios with pictures, professional tips and ideas. It will help you create a great patio.


Seatwalls

An interesting feature to add is a seat wall. They are both functional and artistic, adding an architectural element to patio designs. What are the pros of seat walls? More seating, beautiful elements, and great chatting areas are just a few.

Raised Patios

Raised terraces help provide a gradual transition to ground level when there is a significant change in elevation from the house to existing grade. These elevated patios have patio walls and usually steps.

Bluestone patio with natural stone landing.

This project shows a nicely designed patio where the entrance to the house was above the grade. We used dry laid, patterned bluestone for this lovely patio. The bluestone color is "full range", which looks great on many patio designs.

You can also use the color "all blue", which is all the same blue color.
See more bluestone patio designs and pictures.

Notice the landing. Or, perhaps you didn't, since it blends in nicely with the design. Beautiful stone is used along with planters instead of a railing.

To eliminate the need for railings with these types of patio designs, here is what to do! Add a planting bed at the edge of the patio. The bed should be at least 2 feet wide, to accommodate substantial plantings. In addition to the 2 feet of depth, you will have the depth of the outer wall which should be 12 to 18 inches thick. The patio planting bed serves as both a physical and mental barrier at the edge, but does not block your view or make the patio design feel closed in.

Design landscape steps off the patio to be at least 4' wide. The wider they are, the more dramatic!

Seven Great Patio Design Ideas

Watch this fun filled video until the end to see it all come together!

These are some patio design ideas that can add interest.

  • A moveable fire pit is the least expensive.
  • Walls can be very pretty and add more seating.
  • A pergola provides shade and become a vertical feature.
  • Ponds - who can resist the peacefulness of water while relaxing?



Patio Costs


Simple Bluestone Patio Cost


Cost of Bluestone Patio With Seat Wall and Landing


Cost of Two Level High End Project
(And Different Options)


Patio Price Using Pavers



Paving Costs - Find out the costs for paving materials including brick, pavers, concrete, bluestone, travertine and other natural stones.

Other Landscaping Costs - Discover the pricing for other parts of a landscape, such as plants, walls, fencing, ponds and even some tips on how to reduce costs (while still having a great looking project)!



Shapes and Sizes

3D Designs

Curves

Small Patios

Sizes

Patio Pictures

Drawings

Decks

Patio Shapes


Patio Design Divided by Seat Wall

Patio design in autocad.

Patio shapes can be curved, straight or a combination of both.

Many people love curves!

Decide what type of furniture you would like and how many pieces...even the sizes...before you decide on your patio size.

A patio a little bit larger will not make that much different in the cost. It is the different paving costs that will.

Notice how this patio is large, but it becomes two distinct areas by dividing the space with some seatwalls.

Also, the two areas are made up of different shapes for interest.

This design offers lots of seating. There is a dining table and chairs, a curved seatwall, a geometric seatwall, fire pit with a seating group, grill and lounge chair.





Patio With Trellis Work

Bluestone patio with pergola and kitchen.

This design includes and outdoor kitchen with stools, a pergola, and open trellis work. The material used was bluestone and it was dry laid. Notice how a simple square patio can have lots of interest.


Curved Patios

  • Curves should be large and sweeping
  • Use a specific radius which will be more precise for installation
  • Create interest by combining curves and straight lines.

Straight Line Patio Designs

  • Begin perpendicular to your house.
  • For large patios, consider separate spaces by dividing the areas with a seat wall or planter.
  • Add interesting elements as circle designs, seatwalls, planters, or even a patio pond.

How Large?

A patio should be a minimum of 15 feet wide to accommodate a dining table. The space needed for lounges is 10 feet. These are minimums. You can always go larger.


Have you thought about outdoor entertainment such as audio, video and more, to enjoy on your patio? Read about the latest technology.


Patio Materials

Concrete

Pavers

Bluestone

Travertine

Brick

Natural Stone

Stone Pavers

Paver Pictues

Undecided about which paving material to use? See these helpful pages:

Compare

Pavers to Concrete

Pavers to Bluestone

Pavers to Brick

Brick to Bluestone



There are so many paving materials to choose from. The main choices for patio designs are concrete, stamped concrete, concrete pavers, brick, travertine (yes!), bluestone and other natural stones. They all have advantages, but I do like some more than others.

Ok, if you really want to know which is my favorite...it would be a bluestone patio!

Concrete

Concrete is the least expensive paving material, but it has a bad name. This is too bad, because there are outstanding projects (some quite high end!) done with this hardscape choice.

Instead of just letting the mason pour a plain old gray colored patio, you can do the following to make it very eye-catching.

Create a geometric design of 18" - 24" sqaures by "scoring" the pattern.

The design can be set parallel to the house, or it can be set on the diagonal, which can be very interesting.

Color the concrete. The best way to do this is by adding the color directly to the concrete mix.

Note: There is the possibility of concrete cracking, particularly if you live in a cold climate. I live in NJ and have seen plenty of problems with concrete.


Stamped Concrete

Stamped concrete is not one of my favorites, and here's why.

Let's assume you have selected a natural design that looks like stone. Concrete needs construction joints to help prevent cracking. These construction joints are long lines that run through the concrete.

I don't like the straight lines running through a natural stone look. (However, if you choose a geometric pattern, there is less chance of the design being compromised.)

Concrete Pavers

Concrete pavers are a man made product, produced from concrete. There are many colors and patterns available today for exciting ideas. Tumbled pavers are very popular and give a stone-like appearance.

Do I like concrete pavers?

Yes and no.

Pros

  • Reasonably priced.
  • Those that resemble stone can provide a nice look.
  • Colors and shapes available for almost any design.
  • Strong hardscape material.

Cons

  • Will not have the same look as natural materials (bluestone, brick, travertine) since it is manufactured.
  • Pieces of the same size will not vary (man-made look).
  • Can fade over time.


Travertine Pavers

What an absolutely gorgeous material to use for patio designs! Although I love bluestone, this material is a close runner up.They are a bit more formal looking and therefore not quite as versatile as bluestone. But if it fits in your landscape, wow, what a look!

Travertine is a natural stone material. These stone pavers are cut to specific sizes. They come in many different beautiful colors and patterns.

The wonderful thing about travertine pavers is that they are cool to the touch and therefore they are a great choice for pool paving. They are dry laid which makes for an easy installation. They resist freeze-thaw conditions too. This is such a wonderful paving material.


Bluestone

I am partial to bluestone patio designs! Bluestone is a natural material and will always have character.

  • There are various shapes that you can use along with different color ranges, such as full range (mixed shades of blues) or all blue (all the same blue color).
  • This bluestone patio design shows dry laid, full range bluestone.
  • Dry laying is less expensive than setting it in concrete and just as nice.

Landscaping Brick

I appreciate landscaping brick for the fact that it is a natural material like travertine and bluestone. It is made from clay and then fired in a kiln. (Tumbled pavers are made from concrete.)

Depending on the specific clay used, different colored brick will be produced. When looking at brick, you may also notice that there are different finishes also. Some brick pavers are very smooth, while others have a more textured appearance.

Brick manufacturers have numerous ways of producing these various effects. In addition, you can even buy old brick. Today there are bricks available that are extremely strong and will have great longevity.

One style I have used and like is Pine Hall Brick - Rumbled Free Range. It has an old look and pretty color ranges.

Landscaping brick for patio designs can be either dry laid or wet laid.


Brick patio design and landing.

Brick Patio Design and Walkway


But what about laying brick or concrete pavers over existing concrete? If you have an existing concrete slab, and question whether brick can be laid over this, the answer is yes. However, you must make sure that this existing foundation is in good condition. Existing cracks and other defects should not be there. Personally, I would only consider laying brick over existing concrete if it was in excellent condition. Do NOT use sand as a joint filler in this situation. Water will percolate down to the existing concrete base and have no where to go!


Questions About Patio Design or Materials?

Do you have a question about your patio design or a situation that you would like some help with? Whether it be confusion on pavers, bluestone, concrete, other materials or if you just need general guidance, just ask me! I only ask that questions be design related...thanks!

I decided to create this section due to the many questions people have regarding patio designs and materials.

The idea is - Ask one, or Answer one!

You may ask a question yourself, comment on or answer questions of others, and rate comments too. All helpful comments will be greatly appreciated!

Other Visitor Questions and Comments!

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Plants for Roof Top Garden Between Patio Stones 
We have a series of patios constructed of patio stones, positioned around a large area (roof top terrace)of crushed rock. These areas include a sitting …

Thermal Bluestone All Full Mixed Colors 
I'm wondering if you've had any experience using thermal full color bluestone on a patio? We live in California and love the look of bluestone and are …

Travertine VS Concrete w/acrylic overlay 
We have been interviewing several landscape companies for a backyard remodel. We live in the Phoenix, AZ area. It was suggested we pour concrete and …

Paver Color for Red Brick House 
We have a red brick house with white trim and tan/sand colored grout. I am confused about what color & design to choose for our upcoming backyard paver …

Patio Grading Solutions 
I've always had flooding problems in my basement. Had a wood deck removed and foundation dug and repairs made. Waited 9 months before pavers were installed …

Water running off stone patio into conservatory doors at house 
Here's a question regarding water getting into the house due to improper installation of patio. Water is running off patio into the house. Please also …

Grading A Patio Located Away From House 
I'd like to install a brick patio in my back yard and I'm not sure how to pitch it properly. The problem is my back yard has a slight pitch towards my …

Decomposed Granite, Resin and Stabilizers 
What should you do if you find your decomposed granite is to sandy and you think you should have ordered the DG with resins or stabilizers? Hello. …

help on starting 2 to 1 herringbone pattern for cobble stone pavers? 
I am going to layout a 7 x 26 ft area for cobblestone pavers and found a design calculator that helped give me a number for using 6x6 and 6x9 cobblestone …

is pavers with concrete together to make a patio OK? 
Here is a question about using pavers and concrete together! A few years we had a brick paver 12" x 12" patio put in. Now I want to expand it …

Support post woes 
My wife and I have recently purchased a townhouse in a wonderful neighborhood. We are very much outdoor people almost all year round and almost passed …

Travertine Paver Installation | Problems | Sand | Polymeric Sand 
Here's a question regarding a travertine paver pool decking installation and the sand (or polymeric sand) that was used for the joints...why is it uneven? …

Landscape Steps For Slopes and Porches 
Question about landscape steps for slopes. Shallow hill about 5 foot high slight grade, what would be the min dimension and the max dimension for …

Backyard Courtyard Design - Courtyard Ideas 
A question about courtyard design and ideas regarding hardscape materials. I want to turn my backyard into a courtyard. I have the really old red …

Ugly curb appeal - how to design a front landscape 
Hello! I am a rookie gardener and have had a lot of fun in my backyard with reasonable success, but now is time to tackle the curb appeal and I truly have …

Patio Materials | Patio Design Ideas 
Need help deciding on patio materials and what to use. We are creating a small patio area in the walk-out area of our home. We're now ready to pick …

Travertine Tile or Pavers Over Concrete 
Last year a vendor put down a thin layer of concrete and etched lines to look like big stones. A complete disaster as efflorescense caused grayish areas …

Walkway Ideas | Walkway Materials For Front Yard Walk 
I need some walkway ideas for my front yard. I have a brick house and am not sure what to do. I am forwarding pictures of my brick walkway I took …

Cleaning Flagstone - How to Clean Flagstone Walkways and Patios 
I have a flagstone walkway which is in heavy shade. It has now turned color and is getting pretty black and green with mold. I also have plants in between …

Bluestone Limestone Porch and Travertine Pool Coping 
Hello. I hope you can help me. I have a question or two about mixing different varieties of stone. I have a brick house. There is a bluestone porch …

Driveway Materials 
What do you think about using 2 inch thick 6 x 6 tumbled Connecticut bluestone as driveway pavers? Is 2 inches enough for a driveway, or would you go …

Bluestone Walkways, Patios and Types of Installation 
What do you think about a slate walkway in Michigan with the weather changes? Also, what is the best and most appropriate way to have it set and the …

Decking Materials and Prices 
I thank you for your wealth of information on your website. It is one of a kind. I have found your cost estimates for patio tile/brick/paver, etc to …

Landscaping Drainage 
I am getting very confusing estimates on re-doing our existing kool deck with pavers in regards to drainage. One contractor says no drain is needed …

Click here to write your own.

Pool Stairs 
I am not sure where to place pool stairs.I am having the pool pipes replaced under our pool deck which is concrete. The deck will be replaced with stamped …

Paver Types With Decks 
I have a question about different paver types with decks. I'm in the process of meeting with landscapers for a hardscape/landscape job I want in my …

Paving with Indian Peacock slate 
I'm waiting for warmer weather to pave about 600 sq. ft. of patio. Seeking reassurance that this imported slate, 16'x16' tiles will be a great choice. …

Pavers Over Concrete 
Hi I just read a letter from someone asking about extending her cement slab with patio pavers. I have the similar situation. I have a cement slab …

Pavers and Concrete Patio Together 
Just stumbled on this site and love it. The info is awesome! Off of our family room are double sliding glass doors which leads to a concrete patio …

Confused about mixing flagstone 
I have a patio that I laid with 12 x 12 blocks, made on top to look like flagstone. The outline of the patio is square. I want to use the blocks …

Sitting Wall/Sliding wall 
I have a lot that is graded at a downward slope. Our brick patio was leveled out by putting gravel underneath and throwing mulch on the sides of the …

Travertine Stone and Maintenance | Travertine Patio 
Can I dry lay travertine pavers over concrete? I realize the border will have to be thinset, but do I have to thin set the field pavers? If I can …

Landscapers and Pools 
We are looking to build a patio and pool in our backyard and are just starting to ask landscapers/pool builders to give us quotes. One of them says …

New Patio | Swimming Pool Decking 
We have a question regarding a new patio and swimming pool decking. I live in Southern New Jersey. My wife and I just built a new home and are moving …

Paver Patterns 
We are having pavers put down on a new patio and walkway and are confused about paver patterns. The walkway begins at the front of our home and leads …

Patio Designs and Septic Systems 
We are thinking about patio designs and septic systems..namely ours! I live in Redmond, WA, in the great Seattle area. I always wanted to be a gardener. …

Concrete Pavers or Bluestone for Patio Design 
I must tell you that your site is the best web site I have ever visited for complete information!! It is fantastic. I live in Pennsylvania (wished …

Click here to write your own.

If you enjoyed this page, please share it!




Patio Designs


Popular Pages

Patio Construction

Building a Patio
Pavers Over Concrete?
Grading and Drainage

More Patio Pics

Paver Patio Ideas
Bluestone Pictures
Brick Patterns

Creating Shade

Awnings
Shade Trees
Pergola Design

Dress it Up!

Lighting