Plan And Design A Patio | 4Homes

Garden Designs & Ideas How To Plan And Design A Patio

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Date Published:: 15/06/2009

Getting the size of your patio right is important - too small and it won't be useful, too big and it will dominate the garden.

Decide On The Patio’s Size

Think generously when you’re planning. If you’re going to use the patio for eating out, then you need sufficient space for everyone to be able to push their chairs back from the table without them falling off the edge of the paving.

You’ll also need to assess how much furniture you’re going to have out there for months on end. An intimate dining space for two can be fairly compact. But if your patio needs to be a dining area for a family of six plus guests, as well as having space for sun loungers, and with room for children’s toys, you’re talking a much bigger area.

In a family garden, think about the patio’s ability to save your lawn area from turning into a sea of mud, too. Scale up to allow space for play.

In a small garden, your patio may need to be your whole garden – and it can still look pretty rather than like a car park as long as you use an attractive surface and add plenty of planting to soften the hard landscaping.

Don’t forget that your patio need not be rectangular. A round design or curved edges will create an effect that’s gentler on the eye, and can complement curved flowerbeds elsewhere in the garden.