Patio Plans & Designs

Designing and planning a patio gives you the opportunity to create something unique.

Patio plans and designs range from simple to complex outdoor areas built for a variety of purposes. When considering how to build your patio, take the time not only to look at ideas that immediately grab your attention but also to ask yourself if that idea is right for your home. Some of the least complex patio designs end up being the most useful, so don't be fooled into thinking that you need to go a little wild.

Gazebo

One patio design idea that allows it to stand out from the crowd is planning for the addition of a gazebo. The gazebo could serve as a gathering place that serves an alternative to the primary section of the patio or it could house a much smaller space better used for solo enjoyment of a book or time spent communing with nature.

Garden Patio

A garden patio plan allows for great flexibility in design. Add a small redwood deck with raised beds at the end of the patio or design the patio to wrap around a centrally located garden. The addition of a canopy roof serves the garden patio well by protecting plants from too much direct sunlight.

Lanai

A lanai is a patio plan designed with the purpose of connecting the house to the outdoor area. A lanai is nothing more than a patio with a roof of some sort. A model lanai is a patio that provides a seamless transition from the indoors to the outdoors. Furnishings for this type of patio tend to be sturdier and more comfortable than standard patio furniture. A lanai is a way to use your patio for activities that would otherwise be conducted indoors, such as sleeping, watching TV and enjoying a meal.

Pocket Patios

Pocket patios are designed to be detached from the main section of the patio to create a smaller, individual area that can be used for specific purposes or that just offer the chance for a little more solitude. A pocket patio could be planned with the aim of giving kids a separate patio area of their own. Or the pocket patio could be the site where a hammock is situated for a little nap away from the social activity of the main patio.

Private Patio

When building a house from scratch, consider the addition of a private patio. This smaller patio design would be accessible from a bathroom or a bedroom and would not be utilized for the same type of social interaction as a traditional patio. A private patio can be a private domain that can be enjoyed in much more seclusion than a family patio.

Cooking Patio

Those hoping to spend considerable time outdoors on the patio enjoying a meal should look to a design that incorporates a built-in cooking structure. This patio plan could range from the inclusion of a barbecue pit to an outdoor chimney to a simple fire pit placed in the middle of the patio.

References

• Patio-ideas-guide.com: Steps to Designing a Patio
• "Gardening and Patio Building Book"; Don Rutherford, editor; 1983
• "Complete Home Landscaping"; Catriona Tudor Elder; 2005
• "Design Ideas for Home Landscaping"; Catriona Tudor Erler; 2007