Create the Perfect Patio Plan

Think outside the rectangle, and other tips from our experts.

By Jenny Agee-Aldridge

Patios of the past: Rectangle concrete slabs laid outside a sliding glass door.

Today, your clients are more discerning, and you’ll increase your chances of winning projects if you offer creative options for designs, placement and materials.

Make the area functional.

“The big trend now for outdoor design is to take a space and divide it into several outdoor rooms,” says Scott Cohen, president and supervising designer for The Green Scene in Northridge, California, and author of several books including, Patio Covers, Pergolas and Pavilions.

Take advantage of large spaces by creating different outdoor “rooms,” which are ideal for entertaining.

 “For entertaining, it’s better to have several smaller patios than one large one. When socializing, people tend to break off into smaller groups. This lends itself to that idea.” (Read more on Cohen’s award-winning ideas in our March issue, page 24.)

As with any project, the first step is to gain an understanding of the client’s vision.

“I ask what they want to see, feel and experience, and for how many friends,” says Jan Gerrit-Bouwman, senior landscape architect and partner of Grant & Power Landscaping in West Chicago, Illinois, and a 2010 TLC Landscaper of the Year Finalist. (Pathways or stepping-stones can connect patios to encourage guests to circulate.) While one area may feature a fire pit, another may focus on dining or cooking.

Materials for each patio don’t have to match, just complement one another, as well as the home. “Think about your house. There could be tile in one room and carpet in another,” Cohen says. “The materials help define the space.” For example, one patio may use clay pavers while the second uses stone. The colors and themes may complement one another, but by laying different materials, each develops its own personality.

While several small patios may work well for entertaining, make sure each is large enough to be functional. For example, if the patio will host a dining table, calculate space for the table and an additional three feet behind chairs so there is adequate clearance for them to be pulled back.