Patio Ideas for Irish Gardens
A good patio is about much more than choosing paving.
Where you position it, how large you make it, how it connects to the house and how much planting surrounds it will have a much bigger impact on how enjoyable the space eventually becomes.
There are a number of principles we return to again and again when planning patios for Irish gardens.
Position the Patio for the Sun
Follow the sunlight through the day
Before deciding where the main seating area should go, look at how sunlight moves through the garden during the day.
For many families, afternoon and evening sunlight is particularly important because that is when the garden is most likely to be used.
In some gardens the best solution is a terrace adjoining the house.
In others, a patio further down the garden can provide considerably better sunlight and create a reason to move through and enjoy the whole garden.
Create More Than One Place to Sit
Two seating areas can work better than one
If the garden is large enough, consider having two seating areas rather than making one patio.
A dining area close to the house may be convenient for meals, while a smaller area elsewhere can capture evening sunlight or create a quieter place to sit.
These areas don't necessarily need to use completely different materials.
Repeating paving, stone or planting details helps connect them visually.
Make Sure the Patio Is the Right Size
Balanced with lawn, trees and planting
The patio needs enough space for furniture and comfortable movement around it, but it should still be balanced with lawn, trees and planting.
Leaving more room for planting can often make the seating area itself feel more attractive and private.
Surround the Patio with Planting
Soften paving, walls and boundaries
This is probably one of the most important elements of a successful patio.
Planting softens paving, walls and boundaries and makes a seating area feel part of a garden rather than an outdoor room made entirely from hard materials.
Where privacy is an issue, planting can also help screen neighbouring properties without making the patio feel completely enclosed.
Add a Tree Close to the Seating Area
Height, structure and privacy
A well positioned tree can completely change a patio.
It adds height and structure, provides a canopy over the space and can help create privacy from neighbouring houses.
In a contemporary garden, one carefully chosen specimen tree can also become an important focal point.
The eventual size and position of the tree need to be considered at the design stage so it has adequate room to develop.
Use Levels to Create Interest
Subtle changes in level add depth
A completely flat garden doesn't always need to remain completely flat.
A subtle change in level can help define different areas and make the garden feel larger.
Steps down from a terrace, a raised planting bed or a slightly elevated seating area can all add depth.
Where natural level changes already exist, working with them can often produce a much more interesting garden than trying to make everything one level.
Keep the Material Palette Simple
Fewer, good quality materials repeated
Using lots of different paving colours, wall finishes and edging materials can quickly make a garden feel busy.
We generally prefer to work with a smaller number of good quality materials and repeat them throughout the design.
For example, one main paving material might be combined with granite setts or stone detailing on steps and edges.
This creates variation without making the garden look disconnected.
For more information on porcelain, granite and limestone, see our Patio Materials Guide.
Think About the View From Inside
Planned for the view from the house
In Ireland, your patio and garden are probably viewed from inside the house for more months of the year than they are used outside.
That makes the view from the kitchen or living space particularly important.
Trees, planting, walls and focal points can be positioned so that the garden looks good from inside throughout the year.
Lighting can also make the garden visible after dark rather than leaving the windows looking onto a black space.
Include Garden Lighting
Highlight selected elements
A small amount of well positioned garden lighting can completely change how the patio feels in the evening.
Rather than flooding the whole area with light, we generally prefer to highlight selected elements.
This could include:
- A specimen tree
- Steps or level changes
- A textured wall
- Planting
- A route through the garden
Lighting the garden beyond the patio can also create a greater sense of depth when viewed from the seating area.
Consider Privacy at the Design Stage
Solve it at the layout stage
Privacy is a major consideration in many Irish suburban gardens.
A patio positioned directly beside a boundary or overlooked by neighbouring windows may not feel comfortable, even if it receives plenty of sun.
Trees, hedging, pleached trees and carefully positioned planting can help create screening while remaining part of the overall garden design.
It is much easier to solve this during the initial layout stage than to try to add screening after the patio has been built.
Patio Ideas for Small Gardens
Proportion becomes even more important
The same principles apply to smaller gardens, but proportion becomes even more important.
Keeping the paving simple, using planting vertically and introducing one or two strong focal points can make a compact garden feel much more considered.
Patio Ideas FAQs
Position, privacy and design
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Where is the best place for a patio?
The best location depends on sunlight, shelter, privacy and how the patio connects to the house.
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How can I make a patio more private?
Trees, hedging, pleached trees and layered planting can all help provide privacy.
The best solution depends on where the overlooking is coming from and how much screening is needed.
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How do you soften a large patio?
Introducing planting around and where appropriate, within the paved area can make a significant difference.
Trees provide height, while shrubs, grasses and perennial planting soften the edges of the paving.
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Can a garden have two patios?
Yes.
Two seating areas can sometimes work better than one patio, particularly where different parts of the garden receive sun at different times.
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How do I make a patio look more expensive?
The overall design and detailing usually make a bigger difference than simply choosing an expensive paving material.
Good proportions, restrained materials, carefully constructed steps and edges, mature planting and considered lighting can create a much more refined finished garden.
Planning Your Garden
Designed as part of the entire garden
A patio works best when it is designed as part of the entire garden rather than treated as a separate project.
Get Small Garden Design Advice
Tell us about your garden and how you'd like to use it. One of our Senior Designers will meet you on site to assess the space and talk through your options.
