55 patio, decking and terrace ideas for gardens little 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 lovely, of course, but patios can provide just as good a spot for an outdoor seating area and soaking up the sun. Whether you prefer a lush, plant-filled oasis or a chic, minimal garden room, you can tailor your patio to reflect your lifestyle. Below our garden editor Clare Foster shares her ultimate patio ideas, and her top tips for decking design.
Plan the space
The first step towards a dream 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 should be a top priority, and it’s worth investing in a good quality set that can be folded away when not in use – or a conversation set with two chairs and a coffee table, such as the Sol 27 set from wayfair.co.uk. Elsewhere, items like the Aldsworth Storage Box from gardentrading.co.uk can double up as seating, and you might choose an outdoor cupboard – such as the ‘Kolbjoern’ cupboard from ikea.com – to store garden tools with ease. 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, and tall, narrow-profile pots provide 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 also 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. You could try a traditional wooden auricula theatre designed for outdoor walls or something more modern, like the metal Barrington Plant Stand from gardentrading.co.uk.
Playing with perspective
When weighing up patio ideas, consider making your space appear bigger than it really is by hanging a mirror to reflect the plants, or draw the eye to a borrowed view beyond the patio or courtyard to give the illusion of space. You could also 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 andrewmartin.co.uk, parasols from shadecentre.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 Horwood1/54The 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 Massey2/54A director’s chair in a Basque stripe, bought in St Tropez, partners 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 Massey3/54A 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 Massey4/54The 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 – 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 Lopez5/54In 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 James6/54In this house designed by Sarah Peake of Studio Peake, the Mosaic Factory tiles in the kitchen continue 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 to the sense of being on holiday.
Paul Massey7/54In 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 make the space feel informal, as though it has evolved over time.
Mark Anthony Fox8/54At 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 Horwood9/54Old 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.
10/54The 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 Baldwin11/54Even 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 Gale12/54Tom 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.
Christopher Horwood13/54In 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 Massey14/54Well 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 Watson15/54A 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 Sinclair16/54Designer 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 Photography17/54Travels 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 Horwood18/54The 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 Smart19/54Behind 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 Massey20/54At 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 Edwards21/54With 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 Massey22/54On 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 Massey23/54At 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 Massey24/54The raised terrace at the same house, which is softened by self-seeding Alchemilla mollis.
