Creative Ideas for Small Patios

Scale

• Scale is an important component to consider when planning for a small patio space. Those overstuffed chairs and large table that might have looked great on your last patio will likely dwarf the new one, making it feel cluttered rather than quaint. Choose items that are small enough to fit organically in the space, like a cafe-sized table and chairs. If everything you put out there is to scale, it will be the patio that shines.

Flooring

• Consider covering the patio floor with cobblestone, flagstone, or terracotta tile. Or, you could could have imprinted concrete poured. Imprinted concrete can be transformed to look like just about any stone out there. After it is styled, colored, embossed and imprinted, concrete can be made to resemble materials such as brick, slate and much more. As a patio choice, imprinted concrete is an affordable way to give that outdoor living area a warm look without the hassle of laying actual bricks or stones.

Color

• What you lack in space and furniture on your patio can be made up in bright punches of color. There is nothing more dramatic than a small area overflowing with vibrant color. Everything you choose--from small accessories to plants and flowers--can be a celebration of the outdoor experience. Because you have likely had to scale back on the amount and size of furniture on the patio, try mixing and matching complementing hues of fabric on seat cushions and throw pillows.

A Hanging Garden

• Rather than finding floor space for plants, consider a hanging garden suspended from the patio ceiling or a trellis. The roots are at the top of the plant in the hanging container, protected by a plastic covering that contains soil, while plants grow down in a wild, colorful profusion through a hole in the bottom.

A Fruit and Vegetable Garden

• Use a half-barrel about 2 feet in diameter to grow tomatoes, flowers and herbs. The half-barrel can be tucked in a non-traffic area and will add more life to your patio area.