Ideas for this patio please

FlorayG

Very old slabs and concrete and looks dismal. I don't think pressure washing would help much because there's a big concrete slab and obviously many years ago somebody added the smaller slabs ( there's a LOT of slapdash DIY been done previously in this house, but I can't complain because the rubbish 'conservatory' building stuck on the back meant they needed a cash buyer and I got a massive reduction on the asking price!).
What would you do to improve it, at the least cost for the best result? (I can't DIY at this level so will have to pay someone for the work)
It's 3m x 5m

ThisIsWeird

The good news is that it all appears to be in very good - and flat - order.

LOTS of options, including many expensive ones, but I suspect the two most affordable and transforming would be to lay on some areas of nice slabs surrounded by decorative gravel/shingle, or to 'deck' it.

For the former, it will require a raised edge to contain the shingle - that itself, in a nice edging brick, will add a lot to it. Then plan where you'd want the slabbed areas, perhaps even stepping slabs from the door, and then fill around with a contrasting shingle.

For decking, the sky's the limit, but the simplest would be decking 'tiles' simply sat on that surface. You can get real timber, or composite.

Then there's costly options such as resin.

Quick Google for 'making a concrete patio look good'

Cheap comp tile example (Amazon):

 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Depends what you want to spend, if you are looking to do it on a limited budget I'd clear the space completely, fresh paint on the walls, bleach and scrub the slabs with a stiff broom, then jet wash if you wish, get some pots to go along the wall with the door with some colourful plants that flower at various times of the year, pop a planter in front of the wall that doesn't have a door with some trellis for something to grow up and then buy (or make) a nice table to go in the middle, by the time you do this you won't spend much time looking at the floor  

Cherryfudge

It's a bit of a hotchpotch, isn't it? While pressure washing won't solve everything, it would cheer it up a bit and while all the furniture's on the lawn, you could then have a swap round.

Are the square slabs level? If so, could they be a base for a new surface? Though that would still leave the concrete: we have concrete and it doesn't look pretty so I sympathise. If you can create a visual break between the mis-matched surfaces, it will look better, so...

From the direction of the light, I think the seating may be in the shade some of the time, so perhaps the seat could go to the left of the top picture, next to the tub with the tree, which would give a sunny spot (unless you've tried that and it's too hot or bright?) and also help disguise the concrete. Or cover the concrete with planters?

A couple of wall baskets or hanging baskets with trailing flowers will temporarily give interest and take the eye away from ground level.

I'd capitalise on those white walls with a row of planters where the seat now is: maybe some with some height (trellis/climbers?), a few herbs and lots of bright flowers, and underplant with daffodils because in the spring they will make you happy.

Once you've lived with it for a winter and a summer, you will know what it already has to offer and what doesn't work, for instance, does the area get winter sun or should you be looking at an anti-slip surface if it ices over?

That's a fairly low-cost response I'm sure people will come up with things that give faster and more permanent results.

Bookworm105

is your objection to pressure washing simply that you don't want an expanse of clean concrete slab?
pressure washing and use of bleach would return the slabs to near pristine colour.

laying anything over the top of the existing slabs/concrete is going to raise the ground level too close to the damp proof course and therefore risk causing damp problems in the house 

FlorayG

Thanks all. I don't want plant pots, I just got rid of all those, I don't want the work of watering and feeding them.
The slabs aren't flat - there aren't any sticking up, but the line running under the table in the picture is definitely higher than the surrounding slabs- it looks like they laid the first 4 rows from the lawn level and flat then realised it wouldn't quite meet up with the concrete part so laid the inner two rows at a slight slope down 
I do plan to buy new garden furniture as well
As for pressure washing, I've done concrete before and it still looks awful, just not quite so awful as it does dirty

stuart45

There are stains you can buy for concrete and concrete paving slabs. Normally best to acid etch the area first. Depends how much your budget is.

Working_Mum

If you're looking for super low cost I'd say a really good clean would help freshen things up. You can buy large exterior rugs nowadays - you could buy one to cover a good chunk of the area - pop your furniture round it like a room and then fill in other gaps with pots etc. 

I had a fiend who spent a few days painting her badly match patio area and it looked great - lasted a few years whilst she saved for what she really wanted.

I think the reality is that you will need it fully replacing but it maybe worth a cheap and cheerful solution for this summer to see how you use the space so that when you plan the replacement you are getting what you want.

stuart45

Paints can look OK, but stains last for much longer as they sink into the concrete. Also they often give a more mottled effect. If you look at some of the polished concrete patios, floors, worktops,etc. you can see how good it can be.

FreeBear

Get an angle grinder with a diamond disk. Cut some grooves in to the concrete to give the appearance of slabs, and then stain the lot after attacking the whole area with a jetwash - A quick & cheap fix for the short term. Use the space for now, and think about what you want longer term.

Whilst a 3x5m area isn't huge, digging it out to lay a proper base is going to generate a fair amount of spoil - It will need some heavy duty equipment to break up the concrete unless it is a real bodge job with just a thin layer. Not much chance in getting a decent contractor in to do the work this summer, so you may as well wait until spring next year.

P.S. Cute kitty

Letsgetmoving

Paint the white wall, add some sort of decoration and a large outdoor rug to hide the join between the two surfaces. You can power hose them when they get dirty.