3 Tips for Planning Your Patio

Home & Garden Blog

Adding a patio to your garden gives you a place to sit and relax, socialise or dine during the summer months, but it should be planned out with care. It's going to be a main feature in your garden for years to come, so take the time to consider how to make the most of your available space. Here are three tips for planning your new patio:

Position Carefully

Observe where your garden gets most sun and which areas have several hours of shade throughout the day. Position your patio according to whether you enjoy basking in the sunshine or prefer to be tucked away from the sun's rays. Additionally, consider how much emphasis you want to place on convenience and privacy. Do you want to be able to step out of your house and directly onto your patio, or would you prefer being able to lounge in the corner of the garden out of your neighbour's sight?

Match the Size to the Use

Do you want to use the patio mostly for family meals or to entertain groups of friends? What you want to use your patio for is of utmost importance when deciding on its size.

For example, if you enjoy barbecuing with friends, you'll need to ensure you can fit your barbecue on the patio without it being a risk to your guests who are sitting around your patio table. They should be able to move freely between the table and barbecue without the risk of getting burned.

You'll also need to ensure the patio is not positioned near overhanging branches or your shed if you want to have a barbecue, heater or wood burner on it.

Choose Complementary Surface Material

There are a number of patio surface materials to choose from, but consider what material will complement the style of your garden and any existing features such as a pool or pond. Popular surface materials you may want to consider include:

  • Pavers—With a variety of textures and colours to choose from, pavers are practical and easy to fit. They can be cut into different shapes, so they're ideal if you want a circular or star-shaped patio.
  • Concrete—This is a minimalist, cost-effective option that's ideal if you already have concrete in your garden such as a path or drying area. You can stamp patterns into the concrete before it hardens, allowing you to liven up the look of your patio with minimal expense. Consider forest leaves, wooden planks, cobbled stones, or compass stamps.
  • Stone—This is an aesthetically pleasing option that looks natural and works well in gardens with lots of foliage, but it is a more expensive option. If you see your patio as an investment, stone can be a good choice as it's hardwearing.

Once you've thought through what your ideal patio would consist of, share your thoughts and ideas with contractors like Patioworld NSW Pty Ltd and utilise their experience. They'll bring anything you haven't thought of to your attention and can offer suggestions for working around potential problems.

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9 June 2015

Renovating Your House

Hello! Welcome to my blog! My name is Julie and I live in a large house in the suburbs of Perth, Australia. My husband and I moved into our current home a couple of years ago and since then we have been working to transform it into our dream place. The house itself is lovely, but the interior looked like something from the 1970s. When we started our renovation project we didn't have a clue what we were doing. However, with each job we completed and each mistake we made, we learnt a new skill. I decided I would like to share what we have learnt here.