Programs to Design a Patio

To Pay or Not to Pay

• The first decision to make in choosing patio design software is whether or not you want to pay for it. Free online design tools offer limited features, while consumer-level landscape design packages usually provide a wider array of design options, as well as flexibility for file importing and exporting, and printing. Expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $100 for a consumer-grade design package; some programs offer both a free version and an upgraded paid version that adds features.

Landscape-Specific Tools

• Although you can use just about any 2-D or 3-D design program to plan and lay out a patio design, landscape-specific programs include tools that make it easier to design and visualize patios, decks and other outdoor spaces. Most landscape design programs include plant libraries, so you can see how particular plantings will fit into your patio design, and many of them also include premade 3-D models of common patio features you might want to add, including chairs, tables and barbecue grills.

Professional-Level Tools

• Professional landscape designers use much more robust software tools than those included in consumer-level landscape packages. For most homeowners, these programs are overkill, but if your project is especially complex and you already have experience working with professional design tools, the increased design flexibility and compatibility of design software with professional tools may help you achieve your vision. The power of these programs comes at a price, though -- the most feature-rich professional tools can cost well over $1,000 at time of publication.

Designing by Hand

• Some landscape designers are critical of the idea of using software to design patios. They argue that landscape design programs encourage you to create needlessly complex designs that may not be the best use of your available space and that require you to spend more on building materials than necessary. Other designers argue that design programs, as opposed to hand-drawn designs, give you the ability to make changes more easily and help you save time and money.