PATIO DESIGN
A bridge between the house and garden
A patio serves as a bridge between the house and the garden, seamlessly blending indoor comfort with the beauty of the outdoors. More than just a paved surface, it extends your living space, blurring the line between inside and out. Like any room, it has its defining planes—a floor of stone, brick, or wood; walls formed by hedges, screens, or planters; and a ceiling created by pergolas, umbrellas, or the sheltering canopy of a tree. This transition zone invites you to step outside, relax, and engage with nature while still feeling connected to the home’s architecture and design.
....
This month we'll focus on the five key elements that shape a well-designed patio: function, so it can adapt to different needs; privacy, to create a sense of retreat; comfort, so people want to linger; safety, ensuring easy movement and secure footing; and aesthetics, bringing it all together with style and thoughtful details.
.....
Let's get started!
GOODNESS FOR YOU THIS MONTH
Below you will find several items to help you learn more about PATIO DESIGN. From written words to video to applied activities to our Design Library resources to group discussions. Explore our topic from different angles and gain a new perspective. Click on the images below to download a PDF of your Garden Design Guide and view a landing page that further describes our Activity. Further down you will find a video and links to our community, one bonus live session, plus a Q+A too!
GARDEN ROOM FUNCTION WORKBOOK
We recently created this workbook to help plan any outdoor space in your garden, but it's the perfect tool to get you started on your patio in particular. Use it to start thinking through how you might use this outdoor space. Click the button below to download a copy.
VIDEO: Patio Design Drawing Demo
This video shows how I explore a variety of concepts for a patio space. This is also our activity for this month. Click here to learn more.
RESOURCES in our DESIGN LIBRARY
The resources below are a wonderful way to help expand your skills in PATIO DESIGN.
GARDEN ROOMS
Garden rooms are the basic unit of landscape design and an important concept to understand as you make connections between indoor and outdoor spaces.
LINES OF FORCE
This Garden Design Guide explains a technique to build strong geometry and lines in your landscape, while also unifying it with existing architecture.
OVERVIEW of DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A great foundation for organizing the elements in any garden is understanding the basic principles of design. This Garden Design Guide will give you an overview of the seven principles.
CONVERSATION GARDENS
This book, written by Lynn Kuhn, is a wonderful way to look at designing outdoor spaces...with a focus on encouraging conversations. Below is a link to her book and a video of her discussion with our group.
UNIT PAVERS
This is a special material that can serve many functional needs, while also having endless pattern options...from herringbone to basketweave to running bond.
TEMPLATE LIBRARY
This special bonus is tucked into our membership's main page. It includes templates - for furniture, plants, paving and much more - that you can trace directly or simply use them as inspiration.
OUR COMMUNITY
Don't forget to hang out with us this month.
Check in to share your activity. Try it yourself and/or learn from the submissions of your peers. No need to stress. Just enjoy!
PATIO DESIGN ACTIVITIES
We have two activities this month. Choose one, both or simply learn from your peer submissions.
.....
ACTIVITY ONE: Patio Design Inspiration
.....
ACTIVITY TWO: Create a conceptual patio design for the McCabe family in Truro, Massachusetts
Do you have a question?
Do you have a question on this month's topic or another design question? Let's all learn together!
.....
Click below to add it to our community.
Share a win!
What have you accomplished in the last month that makes you super happy? Let us celebrate with you!
.....
Click below to add it to our community.
LIVE SESSIONS
We have two this month: our normal Q+A, plus the second discussion of our book club. These will be recorded in case you can't make it (then posted right back here). Check out all UPCOMING MEETUPS here. I can't wait to see you!
BOOK CLUB: Resilient Garden by Tom Massey
Our Discussion:
Chapter Five | Resilient Plant Guide (pages 156-205)
Chapter Six | Sustainable Materials (pages 206-239)
.....
Tuesday, March 11
8 AM PT | 9 AM MT | 10 AM CT | 11 AM ET
London: 3 PM GMT
Sydney: March 12 at 2 AM AEDT
Monthly MeetUp
Let's catch up on this month's topic, plus share our activities. I can't wait to see you!
Thursday, March 27
2 PM PT | 3 PM MT | 4 PM CT | 5 PM ET
London: 9 PM GMT
Sydney: March 28 at 8 AM AEDT
I'd love your feedback once you've devoured all this goodness.
Drop me a note at the email below and let me know what you loved and what could be improved. Thank you!
Please contact me at [email protected]
