Best DIY Patio Ideas (With Material Options Guide)

DIY Patio Ideas – As the season get warmer, we tend to spend our time outdoors. A public park or garden can be a great option for family time. But why don’t we just employ our backyard and garden into something new and wow? We don’t have to go far to feel refreshed, right? Let’s just turn our unused space into a beautiful patio that can relax our souls and mind.

Read also: Pool Deck Ideas

Most of the time, a patio is the forgotten part of the house that remains untouched.  How does your veranda look? Do you put a small chair with an old table there? put some potted plants, or just left it empty?

Read Also: Deck Railing Ideas

The unused space can be turned into a small beautiful place where you can sip your morning coffee, be busy with your newspaper, or family gathering, talk with friends, or just sit and relax on your own.

What to Have on Your Patio?

Besides a sofa, chair, or table, you can also add more properties to the space to give more value to your patio. You can try a fire table, fireplace, fire pit, kitchen, grilled station, garden, or pond near the patio.

Adding a fireplace or fire pit on your patio will ensure the warmth of the place. The sweet talking won’t be distracted by the chill of the outside weather. Besides, a kitchen or grilled station is a perfect option when you have a larger space. Hence, the space can be used to do family gathering while have BBQ parties. The gathering will be flat if you don’t have a hot meal, right?

Small gardens and extra ponds will bring a fresh look to your space. Imagine you work all day seeing the traffic and all the crowded stuff. After work time, you need to refresh your eyes and relax before doing another activity.

You may also want to separate your patio from the rest of your outdoor space with decorative metal railings to carve a special spot for relaxing, intimate gatherings, and family activities.

Read also: Retaining Wall Ideas

Choose the Right Material for your Patio

When talking about materials, there are at least five basic materials for your patio design. They are concrete, brick, flagstone, pavers, tile, cut stone, and loose and mixed materials. The materials will be determined mostly by personal preference which includes the location of the patio, budget, and the space size. It will represent your taste and personal expression.

1. Concrete Patios

Of all the materials presented, concrete might be the most common and easiest to install material. Furthermore, It is a durable, long-lasting, and versatile material available for your patio. Moreover, it is also more economical compared to the other material presented here, especially when you do it yourself. Thus, most DIYers will go to concrete material as it is easier to do. We can choose any design and color because it is cut and dyed easily.

If you are unsure of how to DIY the concrete to your patio, here is Bob guide for you to DIY your floor.

Get the Guide

2. Brick Patios

Brick materials is a little more expensive than concrete, but it is still affordable. Compared to concrete, brick will hold longer through the test of time. On the downside, since it is hard to cut, it might not be a friendly project for DIYers.

But if you are a challenge seeker, it is still possible to do it by yourself. Here is the perfect guide from family handyman for you

Get the guide

3. Flagstone Patios

backyard patio ideas on a budget
Photo by Ketron Custom Builders

Flagstone is a perfect material option if you want to have a natural look on your patio. It can be installed on the surface of a sand and gravel dry bed or just mounted to an existing concrete slab.

Before starting the project, you must know it is a heavy-duty job that might not suit everyone.

Kyle Ingham portrays his flagstone project as a “childbirth birth”. The process was like hell yet after the installation process is done, it is satisfying as hell.

If you are interested in DIY a flagstone project, here a guide by Brandon Tran for you.

4. Pavers Patios

inexpensive patio ideas
Photo by Coates Design Architects Seattle

Another material to consider for your patio is pavers. Paving stones or brick pavers are individual units made from several materials such as natural stone, concrete, or brick. These pieces are joined together, which makes a flexible system that is extremely sturdy.

Some people might confused about whether to add sealer or just leave it without sealer. A sealer is a good addition to prevent unintended stuff such as stains, mold, ant colonies, weeds, or loose joint sand.

5. Other Loose and Mixed Materials Patios

small patio ideas on a budget
Photo by Patina Home Design

Once you are working with a relatively small space, loose materials are the right choice for you. The materials used can consist of single materials or a mixture of several materials. Some materials that can be used for the flooring include Pea gravel or crushed stone, Aggregate stone, Bark mulch, Rubber mulch, Decomposed granite, and Sand.

When you consider to mix the materials, in order to create a visually attractive flooring object, you must combine them wisely. The combinations are endless, but they must be well-planned and organized although should be well-planned. Aside from the materials mentioned above, you can also add brick, concrete, flagstone, pavers, and tile.

More DIY Patio Ideas

Do you still need more ideas regarding the patio design? Rest assured. We have rounded up several DIY patio images that will be useful to arouse your creative mind

1. DIY Outdoor Patio Ideas

cheap patio ideas for do it yourself
Photo by VGC NYC Inc.
diy patio ideas on a small budget
Photo by Abigail’s Gardens
patio designs for small yards
Photo by a Blade of Grass

If you are living in a city, having a small garden in the backyard is a great idea. Not only it will provide you with fresh air, but also gives a green look that will refresh your mind. Consider the patio is Oases in your house.

2. DIY Back Patio

do it yourself patio
Photo by Notting Hill Gardens | Design Build Construction
diy back patio
Photo by Alvarez Homes
diy garden ideas
Photo by GLR Arquitectos / Gilberto L. Rodriguez

It is always tempting to maximize our small outdoor space. One of the options is having a small patio.

3. Covered Patio Pictures

covered patio pictures
Photo by KDL Architects
outdoor patio designs
Photo by Kikuchi + Kankel Design Group
family backyard design
Photo by Tanner Consulting LLC- Landscape Architecture

When you are wondering about the sun heat, having cover for patio is a great option. It will enable you to stay outdoors even on summer hot days.

4. Small Patio Ideas

cheap outdoor patio ideas
Photo by Jacalyn Gould Landscape Architect
diy outdoor patio ideas
Photo by Gunn Landscape Architecture
Photo by Elayne Barre Photography
Photo by Jacalyn Gould Landscape Architect

Urban people sometimes have problems managing their stress levels. Then Patio, as a leisure space can be a little remedy to cure the problems. Investing a small budget in your space won’t be a big matter right?

5. Stone Patio Ideas

Photo by Kovet Design Group
Photo by Cavanaugh Home Staging And Redesign
Photo by Outdoor Dreams

Stone patio has a good reputation for bringing a natural look due to its organic material and natural color. While installing it by yourself can be hard work, calling a professional to do the job will be great option too. Having a stone patio is a great choice for natural lovers – DIY Patio Ideas

Kevin Darabont
I am a freelance writer who loves to craft, home decor improvement, and active DIYers. I am happy to share my knowledge and experience to the world and learn new things everyday.