Patio inspiration: gorgeous outdoor living ideas for any garden

We all love outdoor living (when the weather allows), and, today, people are designing and curating their outdoor spaces with the same care they invest in the interiors of their homes. We’ve got the lowdown on the latest patio trends to inspire you – whatever the size of your outdoor space.

Outdoor rooms

A key contemporary trend for patios is creating distinct, well-defined outdoor ‘rooms’, whether that’s an outdoor dining room, relaxing area—an outdoor living room, in effect—or even an outdoor kitchen.

Or, as Rikke Blaeside from JYSK points out, we can make our outdoor space multifunctional, “Over the last few years, our outside spaces have been working harder than ever and are often used as an extension of our homes, being occupied for socialising, living, working, and entertaining. This has meant that how we style the space and the furniture we choose needs to be adaptable to suit various purposes.”

You can use structural elements like trellis or dividers to enclose the space, define it with a distinct area of tiles, or simply use an outdoor rug to signal ‘room’.

If you have a bigger budget, an awning will provide shelter from the elements, as will a pergola, which will also give a definite shape to your outdoor room.

When it comes to furnishing these outdoor rooms, the days of white plastic garden chairs are long gone. There are so many design-led, sophisticated and stylish outdoor furniture pieces to choose from these days. Mix and match rather than buying off-the-peg sets to get the most interesting look.

Molly Woodward-Moor, interior designer and creative director at Stone Superstore, says, “From patterned rugs and trendy cushions to decorative lighting or lounge chairs, the separation between furniture being suitable for sole indoor or outdoor use is diminishing.”

And don’t forget about heat for your outdoor ‘room’, using a patio heater to match the look you’re going for.

Terrace edibles

Growing food in the smallest of outdoor spaces is a trend that started in lockdown that has shown no signs of going away. Companies have responded with all kinds of stylish planters so you can now grow your own on your patio and still use it for socialising – without having to sit amongst grow bags and ugly plastic plant pots.

Nelly Hall, from glasshouse company Alitex, says, “Growing your own fruit and vegetables is a rewarding and efficient way to start reducing your personal carbon footprint. The journey from farm to supermarket often involves lorries, planes, and ships emitting greenhouse gases, along with the production of plastic packaging materials that only further contribute to global warming. By tending to your own garden and having a constant supply of fresh food right on your doorstep, you’re bypassing this carbon-intensive supply chain.

“Plus, the benefits extend far beyond just reducing your personal carbon emissions. Homegrown produce nurtures biodiversity by diversifying the amount of plant varieties and supporting your local ecosystems. When you grow a wide variety of crops in your garden, you’re creating a haven for pollinators like bees and butterflies, essential for the reproduction of countless plant species. What’s more, by avoiding the use of harmful pesticides and fertilisers commonly used in industrial agriculture, you’re protecting soil health, water quality and preserving our fragile ecosystems.”

Sustainable design

There are many other ways to embrace sustainability in your patio design. Pay attention to the materials you choose for everything from paving stones to patio furniture. Look for sustainable timber products that are FSC certified. There’s lots of great patio furniture – and accessories – made from recycled plastic too. Priyanshi Jain, architect and interior designer at Pixels and Spaces, says, “People are more inclined towards natural materials like bamboo and rattan due to their durability and sturdiness. Furniture made from recycled plastic bottles is also in style for its chic and stylish appearance and eco-conscious approach.”

It’s important to think about how your patio will drain too. Priyanshi Jain recommends using permeable paving or pavers with gaps between them. Stepping stones are a fashionable way to achieve permeable paving.

Or you can choose a purpose-made permeable surface. This can contribute to a sustainable drainage system, which will divert rain away from the drainage system and help prevent flash flooding.

Drought-resistant and wild-style planting are at the forefront of garden design at the moment. Take inspiration from these wild-style gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show and think wildlife-friendly when planning the planting around your patio.

And could you set up a water butt to collect the rainwater from your roof to water the pots on your patio?

Molly Woodward-Moor says, “Ideal for low-maintenance gardeners, the rewilding trend is a sustainable gardening approach that encourages wildlife and pollinators to thrive, immersing our space with nature in a grounding and authentic way. From growing flowers, incorporating shelter for wildlife to using natural stone materials, it’s about making smart design choices that benefits wildlife within your outdoor space. This trend encourages scattering native wildflower seeds into your planting beds to benefit local wildlife, that in turn creates a vibrant and romantic ambience to your garden that is also very low maintenance. Additionally, reducing lawn mowing and introducing home composting works well here to enrich the soil with valuable nutrients in an easy way.”

Minimalism

The minimal look remains as fashionable as ever outside as well as indoors. Extra large white, light coloured, or faux concrete porcelain tiles work well with this look. Team with industrial or mid-Century-style furnishings and simple, clean cylindrical or cube-shaped lights, firepits and fountains. Sculptural planting works as a great counterpoint to the simple forms.

Or maximalism

If your tastes lean towards colour and pattern, don’t worry, there’s a trend that will work for you too. Maximalism is fashionable in interiors as people tire of the clean lines of minimalism and yearn for more colour, pattern, ornament and  texture. And that look can be seen on the patio too.

You can paint structural elements like fences bright colours and fill your planters with bright flowers to create a vibrant, multicoloured look. Add an eclectic selection of furniture and accessories to complete the look rather than a matching set of patio furniture.

Upcycled pieces can add to this mix really well: almost anything will make a planter. And furniture that is no longer fit for the front room can have a great second life outdoors with a fresh coat of paint.

Small urban spaces

We don’t all have large gardens, but there are so many things you can do with even the smallest of balconies or roof terraces Molly Woodward-Moor says, “More people are seeking to transform their outdoor space into a sanctuary where they can nurture plants and grow-home produce, and relax. The key to designing an urban terrace or balcony is to maximise the space you have available. Most people tend to overlook exterior walls however, creating a vertical garden will allow you to incorporate colour and nature into a small space. You can use exterior walls with the use of hanging planters, wall-mounted shelving, and even using patterned tiling to add colour and dimension to the space. Additionally, outdoor mirrors work particularly well for this trend, giving the illusion of a larger area whilst also brightening up your space.”

Lovely lighting

No matter what size your patio or what style you’ve gone for, one of the best ways to make your space come alive is with the right lighting. The functionality of solar-powered lights has improved a lot in recent years, meanwhile smart lighting offers so many options. Kate Baker, from 4lite says, “When you’re planning your patio lighting, first ask what you want it to achieve. Do you want to simply increase illumination to enhance security or to introduce low-level lighting for a relaxing ambience? Do you have different zones, such as dining or seating areas, flower beds, or pathways, that need different lighting approaches? Map out your vision and then seek the right products for the job.

“Layering your lighting isn’t just for your home interior but can create stunning looks in your garden too. There is no shortage of choice of garden lights from up and down wall lights, bollards, path lights, spike lights to lanterns, LED strip and festoons. By mixing and matching, you can make a special lighting scheme for your patio. Combine practical lights with secondary light sources to add points of visual interest, texture and the right ambience. Not every light has to be a source of illumination, they can just be used for effect such adding a subtle glow or splash of colour.”

Whether you prefer fairy lights or pendants, the industrial look or something more traditional, lighting is the final touch you need to create your dream outdoor space.