Patio Ideas

Rummer

Hello

We have a reasonably ugly patio at the back of our house that I would like to make into a relaxing oasis

It is a concreted rectangle running along the full width of the house and then it becomes slabs for a meter or so before a step down to the rest of the garden. Sadly we can't afford to change the concrete or the slabs which make it appear grey and drab. However we are going to paint the back of the house to lighten it (the house is grey too!)

We want to add pots, furniture and other bits and pieces to make it look better but everything we have tried to date just looks a bit rubbish

Good ideas and pictures would be fabulous to help us make it a nicer place to be

Daz2009

You could try something like this to hide the concrete as a starting point

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Outdoor-Flooring-Artificial-Grass-Carpet-Green-Blue-Cheap-Rolls-2-4-Wide-/161050765872

lostinrates

Grey concrete and flags seems to be a wonderful and pretty cheap way to entertain a little one with a packet of chalk in the next few years rummer, . Drawing round each other, doing pictures, and even working out letters, numbers. . It will certainly look brighter too! And it all washes a way in the rain.

Rummer

Thank you for the suggestions

We are not lacking in concrete so plenty of places for Rumlet to draw and water paint. I used to love drawing in chalk on the pavement when I was wee and I am sure he will love it too!

I_have_spoken

One trick I found is that anything that looks like a face really catches the eye and can detract for drab/incomplete planting. I have this Moai (£20 from Homebase) and it really made a difference to a 'problem area'



Can you remove just 2 or 3 of the slabs and the hardcore and put in some gritty soil and plant ground-cover/creeping plants to give some relief from all concrete? I'm thinking houseleeks, sedum, thyme, chamomile, Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' etc.

wallbash

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REEN

My patio is horrible concrete and I've never been able to afford to replace it in the 21years I've been here! Drawing the eye upwards helps. Hanging baskets, an arch, raised pots etc distract from the grotty paving. Buy the biggest containers you can, or at least group them together. Sweet peas grown up canes in an old chimney pot have been effective this year. Pinterest is good for ideas.