Designing Your Patio

Think of your patio as a small garden and ask yourself two questions: what should you use instead of grass for the floor, and what can you use for the walls?

Fixing the Style

Most design gurus agree that the look of a patio should be determined by the style of the house. So the patio of a period house needs paving or gravel and stone walls, while decking and trellis suit a modern home. The plants you choose —leafy and jungly, minimalist or colorful — also affect the look, so think before you buy.