If garden beds and borders exist for plants, a patio or terrace is created with people in mind. The patio is a dynamic part of the garden, and the style we set here is a reflection of our lifestyle and taste as much as our skill as a gardener.

No matter what size back garden you have, the patio shares some aspects of both the indoor and the outdoor environment. Increasingly people think of such an area as an extension of the house. Paving or decking, table and chairs, awnings and even heaters mean that it can function like an additional room, an extra living space that is especially suitable for entertaining, eating and relaxing. But it can also be the setting for the gardens most spectacular and precious plants.

The patio deserves, and receives, as much care and thought when it comes to selecting materials and furnishings as we give to sitting rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms. A perfect patio is just like any other room in the house.

From House To Garden
Ideally, there should be a smooth transition from house to garden. A lot of people have the perfect image of a beautiful house with full length windows flung open and leading on to a spacious terrace, which, in turn, overlooks a manicured lawn and an immaculate garden.

That image and feeling of escape can be created in every garden no matter what size it is but is important for gardeners to balance the wish to have a patio or terrace with a desire for a lawn, for a herb or vegetable garden, for beds and borders for flowers or shrubs or for a hothouse or shed. It may not be possible to have everything so you need to remember this when you design your perfect patio area.

Deciding how much space can be allocated to any or all of the different functions of a garden is part of the planning process. In addition, designing and building the patio must take into account the style of the remainder of the garden, just as its surface and decoration must reflect the interior and exterior style of the house.

Patios and terraces usually adjoin the house, keeping them warm and sheltered, and within easy reach of the kitchen and other living areas.

However, there is no reason why a paved area or deck cannot be created at a distance from the house, linked to it by a path. A large garden might accommodate a second patio, on which could be built a summerhouse providing a sheltered place to sit in summer, when you can feel you are in the heart of the country rather than a stones throw from your back door.

Enjoying Your Patio
Increasingly the patio or terrace has become associated with relaxation, and it should be a peaceful place to unwind and forget the strains of modern living.

Food always seems to taste better in the open air, and summer cooking outside is a pleasure even for those who show little enthusiasm in the kitchen. Nowadays barbeques can be fitted into the smallest spaces and the patio has become a place for dining and entertaining.

Making this space a pleasant, sheltered outdoor room can be achieved by the addition of permanent structures, such as pergolas and screens, or by thoughtful planting, to create shade, colour and fragrance in summer but to allow all the available natural light to reach the windows of the house in winter.

A sympathetic choice of materials, and furniture that is both comfortable and appropriate to the patio in size and scale, will increase your enjoyment. Such is the lure of the outdoors that, once you have created your perfect patio, it will be the centre of your home all summer long.