Prioritising patio layouts over material selection is necessary when designating space for structures. Anticipating usage and flow possibilities is critical when considering how to incorporate a pergola, vestibule, or other architectural feature into a patio section. Focus on functionality when placing structures to avoid Workflow clashes.
Order of Operations
Functionality is the primary step when determining designing, and paving, a patio. While it sounds obvious, this step is necessary so other steps in the design process do not have to be revisited. Design your patio to meet your ideal, primary functionality.
Spaces for outdoor dining are the most commonly underestimated in most patio designs. Patio layouts do not provide enough room for the movement associated with the added space of the dining components (additional tables, chairs, walking space, etc.) to be included in patio design. Outdoor tables of six require a minimum 3 meter square space to allow for comfortable movement when dining. Improper spacing dwarfs tables to provide room for seating and proper movement.
Depending on if the seating area section of the patio is meant for lounging or dining should change how you approach the configuration. For instance, if there’s a need for a pair of armchairs with a side table, that arrangement takes up less space but needs to be positioned well so that there’s a nice view and you’re not just looking at the neighbor’s garage.
Sun and shade patterns need to be considered in patio planning more than most people realise. For instance, while it might be nice to be sitting in full sun in the spring, come July it will be blazing hot and you will likely be looking for some shade. In the same way, a nice shaded spot in the summer might be the most inviting place for a patio in April but could be effectively be a damp and miserable place in April. Because of these variables, its necessary to plan the sun at different times of the day and year before setting the layout in place.
Working Around Structures
A pergola or veranda will dictate a lot about your patio layout. For instance, the covered area should be fit with the rest of the patio’s decor, and should not just stand alone.
One option is extending the patio more than the structure on top, allowing you to have both covered and uncovered areas that flow together. This is a good option if you are looking for versatility. You can have covered space for when the weather is iffy, and an open space for when the weather is nice. You should continue the patio surface the whole way through, and not change it to a different material even if the structure ends somewhere, otherwise it can look disjointed.
For an alternative, you can make the patio to the same size of the structure that is made of, giving it more of a garden room effect. This arrangement is better for smaller areas and spaces since you are focusing on maximising the covered area. This makes the structure feel more roomed, which is an experience that some prefer.
Door access definitely will make an impact on the layout. For example, if you are coming out of bifold doors, it is best for the patio to be leveled out to the same height as the internal floor, or as close as possible. Having steps that lead outside the doors right away is awkward and can be dangerous, especially if you are carrying large or heavy objects. Most pergolas and verandas are attached to the house, which means you will have to work with the existing door placements.
Levels and Drainage
Since a patio needs to drain, there needs to be a slight fall away from the house. About a 1 in 60 slope fall is standard. It is small enough that you won’t notice it, but it is enough to move rainwater away from the house. If you don’t remain aware of the drainage, you will have puddles and standing water. Water damage is a big issue that comes from standing water in the patio and from water pooling where the patio meets the house wall.
Split-level patios can work particularly well on sites that are sloping. Instead of one large flat area at a weird angle, you divvy up the space into different zones and create unique levels. This has the potential to look good, but it also takes away from the usable flat space.
If your garden slopes down away from the house, raised patios are a good option. They allow you to create a flat outdoor room that is level with the house. This gives you a good area that is usable, rather than just a narrow strip that is attached to the house wall with the rest of the garden disappearing down the sloped area.
Size and Proportion
While there are no laws pertaining to what size a patio should be, proportionality is important. A small patio next to a large looking house appears unpleasant, while a large looking house patio in a small garden is overshadowed by all of the other elements there are. Overall, the patio garden should be of a size, proportionate to the whole garden, and should not overshadow the whole garden while also being useful and serving its purpose.
For a decent outdoor dining and seating area, you will be looking for ~20-25 square meters, at the minimum. For this size, people will be able to properly fit a table for dining with a few additional seats, and even have room to move around the set up freely. If you plan to add a pergola or a veranda, remember to take the posts thickness into account as they will take up space as well. Consider at least 300mm of clearance around the furniture so your guests aren’t constantly bumping into the supports.
Your patio’s shape will also affect the size and space of the patio. SAs a whole, rectangular patios are easier to work with, and are more manageable to furnish than odd diverse patterns and shapes – with their structure and furnishing. Detailing and Cushions are one of the best ways to furnish and provision the patio.
The border between patio and garden requires some thinking. If there’s a plain line where the paving ends and the lawn starts, it can look quite sharp. To soften the border between the two areas, planting beds on the edges and low-level planting within the paving joints help.The surrounding area, especially, matters a lot with pergolas. You want the structure to be integrated into the garden and not just plonked on top.
Future-Proofing
One notable thing to think about it how complicated making changes in the future will be. If the paving is to be placed in a grout, you will make future changes far more complicated. If the paving is placed loosely on a bed of sand, it can be popped up and placed down with much more ease. If you think you might want to add utilities, it is far less complicated to just leave ducts under the patio. It makes the whole process much more painless down the line.
