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63 patio, decking and terrace ideas for gardens small and large
A plot of patio or decking is an essential consideration in gardens both big and small, from city gardens to country idylls. A lawn is of course lovely, but patios provide a good spot for an outdoor seating area. Whether you prefer a lush, plant-filled oasis or a chic, minimal garden room, you can tailor your patio to reflect your lifestyle, whether that’s with flagstones or decking. Clare Foster, our garden editor, shared her top tips for patios and decking.
Plan the space
The first step towards your patio transformation is to tidy your existing space. Throw away old plant pots and broken containers, sweep the terrace and prune back overgrown shrubs or plants that overhang the space. Give yourself a blank canvas and then step back and imagine the elements you would like in your revamped space, from seating area to storage.
Outdoor furniture
Somewhere to sit will be top priority, and it’s worth investing in a good quality set that can be folded away when not in use or a rattan conversation set with two chairs and a coffee table (such as the Sighni set from wayfair.co.uk). The Aldsworth Storage Box from gardentrading.co.uk can double up as a stool, or you might choose an outdoor cupboard such as the ‘Kolbjoern’ cupboard from ikea.com. For more ideas, visit our shopping gallery of garden furniture.
Pots and containers
For neat minimal spaces, choose co-ordinating plant pots and containers in similar materials and colours. Long trough planters such as the Andes Corten Steel Trough Planters from getpotted.com provide efficient use of space. If you have a roof terrace, polyfibre troughs such as the Saxon Trough from capital-garden.com are lightweight and versatile. The tall, narrow-profile Brann pot from torcpots.com provides an elegant counterpoint to lower troughs. For a more traditional look, choose a range of different-sized and shaped pots in terracotta, galvanized zinc or wood. Large potted plants, such as tall Dracaena dragon trees or the expansive leaves of the fig tree will have a dramatic effect on a small space.
Clever planting
Don’t be shy about planting large specimens on your patio. One or two large-scale plants can give an illusion of space, so choose bold, architectural evergreens for year-round, low-maintenance structure. The dwarf Pinus mugo is a good bet, or a spiky phormium such as ‘Jester’. For a different look, choose clipped bay or Phillyrea angustifolia, or if you have a sheltered spot, try an olive tree. One of the best trees for a pot is the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) and the cultivar ‘Sango-kaku’ is a real winner, with coral-red young branches and finely dissected leaves that turn golden-yellow in autumn. Under-plant your tree with delicate epimediums if you’re in shade, or erigeron if in sun; both will tumble over the edge of the pot to soften the edges.
Vertical accents
Make use of every bit of space by utilizing walls and fences. Grow climbers such as Trachelospermum jasminoides which will thrive in most conditions including shade, or a Clematis montana which will grow swiftly to disguise boundaries. Vertical planting systems can be hung on walls to provide pockets for succulents, herbs or even trailing strawberries. Try the recycled plastic wall planters from wallygro.com in a range of colourways. Garden shelves can be hung on the wall to display delicate flowers like auriculas or small succulents. Rustic wooden auricula theatres designed for outdoor walls can be found at budtoseed.co.uk, or try the metal Barrington Plant Stand from gardentrading.co.uk.
Playing with perspective
Make your patio or courtyard appear bigger than it really is by hanging a mirror to reflect the plants in your garden (we love the Fulbroke Arched Mirror from grahamandgreen.co.uk), or draw the eye to a borrowed view beyond the garden to give the illusion of space. Try and screen part of the garden to create a sense of mystery - try surrounding a cosy seating area with plants grown up a trellis.
Accessorise
Finally, make your patio somewhere you truly want to be, by adding accessories such as outdoor cushions from amelfi.co.uk, parasols from eastlondonparasols.com or sunbeamjackie.com, outdoor rugs from gomodern.co.uk and perhaps a cheerful line of bunting made from recycled sari silk from paperhigh.com. Now all you need to do is sit back and enjoy it.
Patio ideas from the House & Garden archive
Christopher Horwood1/65The Spitalfields house belonging to the couple behind @consideredthings has a perfect courtyard garden lined with old flagstones. A climbing hydrangea and pots of ferns and herbs soften the north-facing space. The woodwork is in ‘Grate Black’ from Farrow & Ball.
Paul Massey2/65A director’s chairs in a Basque stripe bought in St Tropez partner a mosaic table from Morocco on the patio of Sophie Edwards' house in Malta. A series of climbers help to bring the space to life.
Paul Massey3/65A dreamy villa in Corfu designed by Martin Hulbert features a built-in seating area in the shade. It's enlivened by a combination of different cushions and woven lampshades, all from Caravane.
Paul Massey4/65The same house features a mixture of seating from Kettal – aluminium-framed ‘Vieques’ sofas and classic ‘Basket’ chairs designed in the 1950s by Danish designers Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel – is arranged around an old wooden table, sourced from Ardingly Antiques Fair, on which the legs were shortened. Plain and patchwork cushions from Caravane provide colour and comfort, softening the contemporary lines of the furniture, including a locally made long wooden bench. Everything is positioned to capitalise on the wonderful views out to sea.
Salva Lopez5/65In the artist Sergio Roger's Art Nouveau apartment high in the hills above Barcelona, the terrace is decorated with a tablecloth from Lisa Corti and vintage Spanish tableware, which set the scene for a relaxed lunch under a jasmine-clad pergola.
ALEXANDER JAMES6/65In this house designed by Sarah Peake of Studio Peake, the Mosaic Factory tiles in the kitchen are continued out to the terrace, creating a sense of unity between the two. Outside, terracotta pots with plenty of greenery and a large dining table add the sense of being on holiday.
Paul Massey7/65In the cotswolds home of Sarah and Renshaw Hiscox, an outside dining area has been carved out in the shade of a tree. An eclectic mixture of printed textiles and wooden and metal furniture makes the space feel informal, as though it has evolved over time.
Mark Anthony Fox8/65At the back of this Cotswold-stone house, two seating areas – one an old wooden pergola swathed in fragrant white Rosa ‘Sander’s White Rambler’ – offer views of the beautiful garden. Peonies were added by the owner to complement the existing romantic planting of roses, ferns and lavender, anchored by box balls.
Chris Horwood9/65Old bricks make for a traditional feel in a city courtyard garden. Costume designer Anna Rhodes and her partner, BAFTA award-winning documentary maker Fred Scott, have maintained the old cobbles in their Greenwich workers' cottage, and added red bistro furniture for a hit of colour.
10/65The vintage-inspired Paris home of French fashion designer, Morgane Sézalory, is a treasure trove of honest-to-goodness Parisian design with a certain je ne sais quoi attitude. Whilst each room in Morgane's house is an individually special jewel, the garden is a true marvel. According to Morgane, every inch of the garden was conceived from scratch. “Nothing you see was here,” she says. The total makeover included laying grass, planting flower beds and trees, constructing terraces and paths, stringing fairy lights, and even installing a small shed and an arched, mirrored trompe l’oeil doorway “that makes you feel as if it leads to somewhere else beyond,” Sézalory notes.
Jan Baldwin11/65Even for House & Garden’s former decoration editor Wendy Harrop, extending and reviving a neglected, dark and pebble-dashed brookside house in southwest London proved to be a challenge – but her efforts have been amply rewarded. The garden is of no exception: here, Siberian larch cladding by Russwood links the studio and house.
Owen Gale12/65Tom and Connie Barton, founders of Honest Burgers, have brought the charm of their lochside Scottish cabin to their garden in London, creating an open space full of muted natural tones highlighted by greens. By opening the space from their office onto their houses' back garden, they have been able to extend their outdoor space – an excellent option for city dwellers seeking a moment's peace amidst nature.
Chris Horwood13/65In her Chelsea home, the designer Nina Campbell has unleashed her full arsenal of decorative trickery to make every corner of the house sing. The garden originally had a low wall on to the street which Nina extended to make the space private. There is a bin store hidden behind the wall of roses, and the space is a haven for birds. 'Oh my god, I'm a real twitcher. The robins are like my children.'
Paul Massey14/65Well Cottage – available for holiday rental! – combines the best of charming country decoration with a modern touch. The garden offers ample space for outdoor dining and sunbathing.
Simon Watson15/65A mother-and-daughter design duo has taken an unconventional approach to the conversion of a sixteenth-century convent in Tuscany, filling the rooms with objects and artworks of their own making. Here, the convent's abandoned cloister has become the scene of a lovely garden and terrace, perfect for hosting friends and family round the long table.
Michael Sinclair16/65Designer Looby Crean jumped at the chance to convert a former storage building next door to her house in Chiswick when it became available, and its unusual proportions make for a beautifully expansive interior. Teak chairs from Julian Chichester surround a zinc dining table in the garden.
©James McDonald Photography17/65Travels in the Cyclades influenced the decoration of Rebecca Körner’s house on Mykonos, in which the Australian interior designer has combined bold mid-century pieces with stylish elements in natural materials. This is no different on the house's lovely patio, furnished with oak ‘Avery’ chairs by Pinch and a marble table designed by Rebecca herself. The reed roof to the patio allows for a pleasing combination of sunshine and shade.
Christopher Horwood18/65The stylish garden at Lucy Williams' west London house is modern, chic and spacious, a true oasis in a bustling city. With sparing yet comfortable furniture and easier-to-maintain plantings (most of which will remain green even during a cold winter), the garden is a space of year-round calm.
Anson Smart19/65Behind this house in Sydney designed by Arent&Pyke, an open seating area offers impressive waterside views. The decking is made of blackbutt timber and the furniture is a mix of mid-century designs by Thonet and contemporary pieces from Italian brand Paola Lenti.
Paul Massey20/65At the home of artist Phoebe Dickinson, the antique metal table was found in Tetbury. A mirror on the back wall reflects the light and makes the space feel larger.
Benjamin Edwards21/65With its mix of clean lines and natural textures, the townhouse of interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch pays homage to its London setting, while serving as a reminder of her rural roots. Designed by Charles Harman, the garden with its clean grey stone paving features a Neptune dining table and custom bench. Cushions are in a mix of fabrics from Christopher Farr Cloth.
Paul Massey22/65On the poolside terrace of this Gloucestershire rectory, the formal planting mirrors the straight lines of the paving and the Georgian house nearby. The table is from The Chelsea Gardener. The designer laid out the terrace and planted the trees and hedge herself; there is a rill around the edge which is fed by a waterfall at the rear or the terrace.
Paul Massey23/65At this country house by Flora Soames, the garden was designed 20 years ago by Rupert Golby. It comprises many inviting places to relax, such as the patio with its traditional flagstones.
Paul Massey24/65The raised terrace at the same house, which is softened by self-seeding Alchemilla mollis.
Ngoc Minh Ngo25/65In the Moroccan garden of writer, garden-maker, collector and aesthete, Umberto Pasti, potted plants almost completely cover the chequerboard marble floor. “To bring order to the chaos, limit materials and keep the pots consistent – for example use all terracotta, or all zinc.”
Harry Crowder26/65At the Gloucestershire farmhouse of Lucy Cunningham, the landscaped patio keeps the bucolic feel of the rest of the house and grounds.
Mark Anthony Fox27/65Charlotte Boundy's petite but pretty garden in Shepherd's Bush, which is accessed from the kitchen is the perfect spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Jake Curtis28/65At Thea Speake's basement flat the small courtyard garden outside the open-plan living area and Thea’s bedroom is a sun trap, and looks lovely with simple furniture and striped yellow cushions.
Britt Willoughby Dyer29/65In this Richmond garden by Tom Massey, steps lead from the terrace near the house to a lawn edged by loosely planted borders. An iroko wood screen separates this area from a vegetable plot.
Richard Bloom30/65As can be seen in the view from this Napa Valley house across the pool to the vineyard and barn beyond, Thymus serpyllum grows in parallel gaps between the limestone pavers, echoing the rows of vines.
Ngoc Minh Ngo31/65Beside a terraced area of two different stones (the rougher, smaller stones lead onto a path through the garden of the same material), pink Dierama pulcherrimum, Rosa ‘Mutabilis’ and Dianthus carthusianorum fill a border in this Devon garden by Dan Pearson.
Andrew Montgomery32/65In their idyllic Hampshire garden, Kim Wilkie and Pip Morrison have created an outdoor dining patio with brick and flint, giving a textural quality to the area that blends with the ha ha and burgeoning plants.
Eva Nemeth33/65The writer Daisy Garnett's south London garden is a lush and leafy haven full of charm and personal touches – and developed a life-changing love of gardening in the process. Folding doors along one side of the kitchen open it out to the garden and lead onto a York stone terrace, which was extended by Daisy and her husband Nick to balance the back of the house. An old bay tree, neatly clipped, provides architectural structure.
Eva Nemeth34/65At the back of the garden designer Emily Erlam's terraced Georgian house limestone flagstones are used throughout the ground floor to link the open-plan kitchen living space with the dining terrace, where outdoor furniture from Belgium is set against a backdrop of shrubs, including Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’, Ballota pseudodictamnus, Fuchsia magellanica var molinae and rosemary.
Eva Nemeth35/65The relaxed second terrace of the garden designer Emily Erlam's terraced Georgian house uses pale gravel to bring light to an area sheltered by a mature crab apple. Simple, comfortable furniture is nestled against a wall of Trachelospermum jasminoides and a clipped structural planting of box, Ilex crenata and Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’ in terracotta pots.
Michael Sinclair36/65This courtyard in a London house by Emily Todhunter is used solely for an art installation by Jordi Raga. Surrounding the sculptural water feature, the hexagonal patio stones are stepped to create a slight plinth for it to rest on.
Owen Gale37/65This small London garden was designed by Piers Beeching, who used big, pale stone slabs to create a patio. The stairs have rounded edges for architectural intrigue.
Michael Sinclair38/65In the back garden of Shalini Misra's north London house, generous timber decking sits outside the french windows, and a metal spiral staircase connects the terrace and the upper-ground-floor deck. The dining table and chairs are from Chic Teak.
Paul Massey39/65In the garden of this Georgian house decorated by Ben Pentreath, the airy garden room leads straight onto classic paving stones of varying sizes, flanked by lush greenery to enclose the city garden.
Elsa Young40/65The terrace at this Ibizan finca with interiors by Joanna Plant has a rustic wooden pergola to provide shade and natural brick flooring.
Paul Massey41/65Butter Wakefield designed the garden in this crisp London townhouse. White gravel and lime chippings are flanked by paths of London brick, with a small terrace created from reclaimed cobblestones.
Ngoc Minh Ngo42/65The wooden deck in a garden by Todd Longstaffe Gowan has groups of terracotta pots and red support poles to contrast with the green wall of foliage. A wicker seat provides a vantage point from which to survey the garden.
Miguel Flores-Vianna43/65The Plumbago Terrace of John Stefanidis' Patmos house, shaded by olive trees and cypresses, is a magical place for afternoon tea or evening cocktails. It looks out on an herb garden terrace with beds of mint, thyme, parsley, coriander, and arugula. Pots of white agapanthus and trailing pelargonium add to the lush Mediterranean atmosphere, which the cobbled patio heightens.
Paul Massey44/65The outdoor area of this house in Padstow is quite something, featuring landscaped lawns and a swimming pool overlooking the Cornish Camel estuary. Directly outside the house is a patio, where large flagstones of various grey and brown tones mirror the bricks on the house.
Alexander James45/65The tiny courtyard at the home of the interior designer Helen Green comprises of simple but elegant touches: a trellis of roses, a feature stone water plinth and plants potted in a variety of vessels, from wooden crates to wicker baskets and pewter milk pails. It is paved with traditional bricks in a basket weave pattern - the grouting is gently mossed over, softening the lines.
Taken from the May 2012 issue of House & Garden.
Paul Massey46/65This stylish all-weather area decking created by Ebba Thott for her client's London home uses matchboard planks, which flow up the wall to create a bench for the table, and a planting area for the living wall.
Taken from the February 2012 issue of House & Garden
Lucas Allen47/65Diamond pattern paving leads back to a shady seating area in the garden of a timeless townhouse in Bray decorated by Christopher Howe.
Andreas Von Einsiedel48/65Two houses were combined to create this modern Chelsea home. The buildings had an unusual formation in that they were each shaped around a courtyard garden in the centre.
When the dividing fence between the two gardens was removed, the effect was to create a central courtyard in roughly the shape of a keyhole. This quirky feature has become the focus and defining element of the new layout. Inspired planning of fenestration means that, from every aspect of the house, you have glimpses and vistas of this intriguing space, as well as several points of access to it.
49/65Artist and maker Bridie Hall lives in a delightful north London house, which benefits from a sliver of garden. Classic flagstones have been used to pave it and support Bridie's bistro table and plethora of potted plants.
Paul Massey50/65In a London flat by Ebba Thott of Sigmar, double steel doors leading to the decking were designed by Ebba to give access from the main corridor. The small garden has wooden decking and is large enough for an outdoor dining table.
Michael Sinclair51/65At this country cottage in Oxfordshire, sliding glass doors lead to a paved terrace outside, which Butter Wakefield has edged with nepeta, ferns, woven willow balls and a multi-stemmed crab apple, Malus hupehensis ‘Cardinal’.
Lucas Allen52/65The crazy paving at this townhouse in Bray was inspired by Gertrude Jekyll, and leads back to a wider outdoor dining area. Crittall windows ensure the extension is filled with light.
Alexander James53/65Grasses are planted in front of the original wisteria-hung loggia at this house designed by William Smalley, while a stone table on the patio makes a great permanent dining space.
Andrew Montgomery54/65Jinny Blom's small city garden is a neatly walled space, replanted only months before this photograph was taken. Jinny created raised beds with the same brick as the walls and used reclaimed decking to create a walkway over the long rectangular pool. The terrace was created using slate-coloured narrow Belgian bricks.
Paul Massey55/65This Notting Hill townhouse has an undulating glass conversatory which leads on to a garden for entertaining. A target-shaped combination of paving slabs and bricks focuses the eye to the central dining space and from this bullseye radiates classical symmetrical planting.
Andreas Von Einsiede56/65Use your paving to create structure as in this townhouse garden off Portobello Road. With the dining area situated on the roof terrace, the garden has been simply, symmetrically designed for pure visual pleasure; a mock Roman bust takes centre stage. Encaustic mosaic-patterned tiles delineate the beds edged with box.
Ngoc Minh Ngo57/65Think crazy paving is outdated? Think again! Here in the terraced garden of Jos and Annabel White's house in Manhattan's West Village it makes a super chic patio.
Simon Upton58/65Traditional red brick paving brings a warmth to an exterior - here in the Notting Hill garden, belonging to Balthazar restaurant owner Keith McNally it has been laid in a herringbone pattern.
Alicia Taylor59/65Architect Alan Higgs converted a Georgian pub building in London into a subtly modern flat for himself. He constructed this sleek roof terrace to maximise the natural light within his interiors. He has chosen simple wooden decking, in keeping with this modern space. A line of pleached trees planted in pots softens his urban rooftop view.
Lucas Allen60/65Designer Suzy Hoodless worked closely with Johnny Holland of Hackett Holland architects on the extensive renovation of this Victorian house in London.
The gorgeous little garden, landscaped by Alasdair Cameron, features white cobblestones with a modern linear pattern formed by darker stones.
Sharyn Cairns61/65The back garden of a west London house transformed by designer and architect Rabih Hage has been divided into two sections, with a sunken terrace.
Taken from the January 2016 issue of House & Garden.
Paul Massey62/65On the Greek island of Patmos, this bamboo-covered terrace not only provides shelter from the sun, but also creates a beautiful dappled effect on the floor and walls, and blends in well with the limestone. For director's chairs like these, try Habitat's 'Africa' design, £45 each.
Simon Brown63/65The city garden of this English garden square house includes a patio with a spiral pattern, making this small outdoor dining space a special feature. 'My wife and I have moved a lot - 20 times! This is the longest I have ever lived in a house in my life,' says the owner, speaking about his home in one of west London's most picturesque garden squares.
Nathalie Krag64/65The owners of this Tuscan house decided to make an outdoor sitting area out of a corner of the loggia - an idea that can be applied to any outbuilding in need of a bit of care and attention. Choose pieces made from robust materials like wood and metal, which can tolerate the elements, such as the classic bamboo chairs, wooden table and oak swill-style baskets used here.
Tim Beddow65/65A relaxed patio seating area in Anne Hasley's French farmhouse retreat has been covered with gravel for the ultimate low-maintenance look. The space is contained within the shell of one of the old outbuildings and features cushions with a check design.
