Garden Patio Ideas For Your Outdoor Space

A garden patio is an easy and cost-effective way to define a space for dining, relaxing and socializing – whatever the weather. But what are the best garden patio ideas for your outdoor space?

Fill a patio’s border with plants that complement its pavers or provide a visual transition to higher ground-cover plantings. Plants like fragrant ferns or fast-growing Quickfire hydrangeas require little maintenance.

Grey is the new black

As we strive towards a more sustainable garden, patio materials that allow water to soak into the ground are becoming increasingly popular. This is particularly the case for permeable materials such as gravel, which will also help filter out any pollutants and keep your garden clean.

Bring your grey paving to life with some terracotta pots and a selection of plants. For a contemporary style group together similar planters of different sizes, or for a more relaxed cottage garden look add a mix of pots to your patio and fill with fresh herbs like mint, parsley, oregano and rosemary.

A water feature is a great addition to any patio, as it adds a focal point that’s eye-catching, soothing and calming, plus it can reduce noise from traffic or noisy neighbours. Try adding one to your patio to create an intimate alfresco dining area.

Create a cosy nook

Creating a cosy reading nook is the perfect way to transform your garden patio. With a mix of throws, cushions and outdoor-friendly plants, this area will feel like an external extension of your home.

To define a seating or dining area without adding walls, curved benches and a low table work well. A textured rug or seat covers also adds warmth underfoot and a sense of texture to the space.

Plant borders around paved areas create a sense of seclusion and can be easily created with pruned hedges at knee height, vigorously bushy rose bushes or a line of lavender or scented flowering plants such as nepeta.

Plants that are coloured to match a paving scheme help to create the perfect patio area, such as blue star juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Blue Star’, Zones 5-9), which brings out the colour of flagstone or bluestone pavers. Fragrant ground cover plants, such as Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile’), are great for adding scent to paved areas.

Add a water feature

Water features make a great focal point and add a sense of tranquillity to garden patios. Whether you opt for a simple fountain or a more elaborate cascade, there’s a water feature to suit all tastes.

Wall fountains are ideal for smaller gardens, as they don’t take up much space. A stone fountain looks particularly striking, but you could also try a repurposed metal drum or bamboo.

Walkway water features are another innovative and modern option that’s perfect for patios. They create a stream of water that runs alongside a walkway, bringing the sound of trickling water to your outdoor space. A pond is a popular choice, and it can be planted with beautiful aquatic flowers or even small fish to attract wildlife to your garden.

Create a focal point

The right focal point will draw people into your garden, making it feel inviting and a space worth exploring. It can be a standout plant or a feature like a water fountain, statue, bird bath, pergola or trellis. It could even be something more subtle like a garden statuary, but it must be striking and look good all year round.

Focal points can also be man-made objects and structures, such as a gate or wall. Often, they can be quite simple and use contrasting colors to create their impact. For example, a raised vessel, like an empty urn or even a bike, can make a great focal point, especially when planted with brightly colored flowers that are eye-catching. This can be particularly effective for a more natural landscape, such as a woodland garden.

Add a fire pit

A fire pit can add instant ambiance to a garden patio. It can be a round, square or rectangular shape and is perfect for sitting around.

A border of plants softens any hardscape structures on a patio. Plant a mix of long-blooming perennials and shrubs, as well as annuals to give you something to look forward to all season long.

Gardening snobs might look down on annuals, but they’re perfect for a patio as they offer a quick burst of color. They also make a great addition to your vegetable patch.

Shrubs and trees help to define a patio by creating privacy, reducing the sun’s impact on seating areas or simply adding interest. Choose shrubs with an open branching pattern, like ‘Shishigashira’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’, Zones 5-9) and ‘Ray Hartman’ California lilac (Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’, Zones 8-10) to avoid a congested effect.

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