These simple patio designs are great for small spaces and large spaces alike. DIY these patio ideas to fit your budget!
It’s almost time to break out the marshmallows for summer nights filled with s’mores and conversations around the fire. (Don’t have a fire pit? Check out how to make your own fire table!) But before you get to making memories, you need a space to make them.
First step: creating a patio that fits your style and budget. Where to begin? We’ve got you covered with 5 simple patio design ideas to get your gears turning!
1. Pea Gravel Patio
If you are looking for a way to create a patio on a budget, look no further than pea gravel. It’s by far the most economical option for a patio and it’s simple to maintain. Line your pea gravel patio with pavers for an even more defined patio space.
Interested in creating your own patio on a budget? Check out The Handyman’s Daughter’s pea gravel patio tutorial. She’ll walk you through all the steps to make your own patio. Hers only cost $100!
2. Pavers
Pavers are one of the most common patio options. Whether you lay brick pavers or concrete pavers, there is a lot of flexibility with the look and feel of the completed patio. Lay brick pavers in a herringbone pattern to add more character or keep it classic by using concrete pavers that alternate in sizes.
You can also use pavers to define a landscaping bed on the side of your patio like H2O Bungalow did.
3. Floating Deck
If you’re looking to make a statement with your new patio, check out The Handmade Haven’s full reveal and tutorial on how to create your own floating deck. Sure, this option is a little more pricey (hers cost approximately $3000), but you can’t beat the look of a wood deck.
4. Concrete
Concrete is another economical solution for a patio, but let’s take it up a notch. I’m not just talking about your typical, builder-grade concrete slab of a patio. I’m talking about using concrete and molds to create the look of stones or patterned pavers. You can either use WalkMaker molds which come in a variety of different patterns, or you can stamp your concrete as you are pouring a normal slab. Both options will give you more interest than a simple slab without incurring significantly more costs.
Check out Charleston Crafted’s post on how to make a WalkMaker patio. You’ll be surprised that their “stone” patio is really just concrete!
5. Porcelain Pavers
After weeks of analyzing every potential option for our patio, we finally decided to use porcelain pavers. They aren’t the most common patio option, but they provide a clean, modern look without completely breaking the budget. In fact, we did some price comparisons between the porcelain pavers we used and several concrete and brick paver options. In almost every case, the porcelain pavers ended up being slightly cheaper when you factored in all of the required materials.
If you want to give your patio an even more modern look, you can leave larger gaps between your pavers and fill them with grass.
The full tutorial on how to create a patio using porcelain pavers is right here!
5 Simple Patio Designs
There you have it: 5 simple patio design that you can do yourself. Ultimately the patio that you choose will come down to your personal design preferences and cost. Here are 5 great ideas to consider:
- Pea Gravel
- Brick or Concrete Pavers
- Floating Deck
- Concrete
- Porcelain Pavers
If you’re looking for more outdoor inspiration, be sure to check out 5 ways to make your front porch more inviting on a budget and 5 cost-effective ways to update your outdoor living space.
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