The Costs of Backyard Patio Landscaping Designs

Small Patios

• You could probably build a small patio yourself using the simplest methods and purchasing plants on sale. A few bags of concrete mix at about $12 per bag, and several dozen bricks at about 50 cents each, will lay and edge a 4-by-5-foot area, resulting in a 20-square-foot patio. Add several $2 annuals to hang or put them in inexpensive pots. Place two chairs atop your patio and you've spent under $250. Costs begin to rise as soon as you add more square footage, pavers, tiles, flagstone, landscape timber and trees.

Large Patios

• The larger and more ornate the patio, the higher the costs will climb. For example, placing a geometric design of stone over a 30-by-50-foot patio will likely require a designer and stone mason, and depending upon the materials used -- tiles, stones and wood -- costs could be anywhere from a few thousand to ten thousand dollars. That may or may not include trees, shrubbery, flower beds or planter boxes. Add a $500 fountain and outdoor lighting and the costs for plumbing and electrical add hundreds more.

Patios and Water

• Some home owners want, and can afford, to add a water feature adjacent to or as part of their patio. Grand designs will cost tens of thousands to build a pool, marble slabs, lighting, columns and pillars. The design alone may cost a couple thousand, unless you were to use landscape software to create your own. The more formal and elegant the design, the higher the quality and cost of materials. Costs for imported, hand-painted ceramic tiles by recognized artists are much higher than those bought in bulk from the local building store.

Budgeting

• When you are ready to budget your own patio landscape design, you'll need to consider costs for all the materials, and fees for designers and laborers. Set a budget limit and stick to it, asking that the materials selected be only what's necessary. Ideally, visit your local landscape supply stores to get and compare costs, and list what materials you truly want. A large, built-up outdoor brick fire pit costs much more than a barbecue on wheels. Look at design ideas in magazines or play with design software. Once it's built, you can relax.