How to Design a Backyard Patio

Most homeowners are endowed with some form of pride of ownership. When guests walk in the front door we hope that our visitors will be pleased with what they view – but ultimately, we provide ourselves an abode to live and relax in.

More often the landscape is put on the back burner until the inside of the home satisfies our basic needs. Once the perfect curtains are fitted and the pictures are precisely hung, we soon get tired of the bare moonscape in the backyard and decide to apply creative thought beyond the interior of the home. Whether it is through the professional help of a designer, or you’re planning to tackle the job yourself – the following should help you design your backyard patio.

The size of your patio is extremely important. Make sure it’s large enough if you plan to pour concrete. If not and you need to add on later – it most likely won’t match. After you have your design on paper, check the size before you start the concrete forms. With a can of surveying paint you can get a realistic idea of the future space. Allow for patio tables, chairs, fireplace, BBQ and any other possible features.

Get creative with the design. Flowing curves are much more relaxed than the formal straight lined patio (unless you’re planning a strict formal garden). By weaving the patio in and out you can create planting spots in the indented margins, by pulling the lawn outward there with an opposite flowing curve. A small, deep rooted tree could be planted there or provide a spot to show off a fountain or birdbath and some colorful perennials.

Concrete installation has come a long way in the last ten years. No longer are we limited to the conventional cold grey slab. It can be poured in a shade to match the earth tone color of the home with creatively scored expansion joints. It can be finished as an exposed and hand-seeded aggregate, stamped, or stained to look like marble or granite. There are concrete artists to suit your wildest dreams. Flagstone, slate, brick and pavers are also great choices for the patio; however they are more costly – unless you are a do-it-yourselfer.

Often the architecture of the home will dictate or hint which way to go with the patio. A Spanish style with a heavy tile roof would look great with pavers. A Tudor style with a lot of brick would look nice with Arizona Red hand -seeded aggregate with brick inlay ribbons. However, a mountain home on a hillside might need a wood (or better fabricated) deck.

If you will be connecting a walkway from the garage around to the patio, think about an extra pad for garbage can storage, firewood and shed. And finally, remember to stub all service lines under patio areas before you pour concrete or lay flagstone. These include drain lines for gutter downspouts, irrigation and electrical lines.