Better Homes And Gardens Brick Paving

A plot of patio or decking is an essential consideration in gardens both big and small, from city gardens to country idylls. A lawn is of course lovely, but patios provide a good spot for an outdoor seating area. Whether you prefer a lush, plant-filled oasis or a chic, minimal garden room, you can tailor your patio to reflect your lifestyle, whether that's with flagstones or decking. Clare Foster, our garden editor, shared her top tips for patios and decking.

Plan the Space

The first step towards your patio transformation is to tidy your existing space. Throw away old plant pots and broken containers, sweep the terrace and prune back overgrown shrubs or plants that overhang the space. Give yourself a blank canvas and then step back and imagine the elements you would like in your revamped space, from seating area to storage.

Outdoor furniture

Somewhere to sit will be top priority, and it's worth investing in a good quality set that can be folded away when not in use (try the stylish Fermob range) or a rattan conversation set with two chairs and a coffee table (such as the Sighni set from wayfair.co.uk). The Aldsworth Storage Box from gardentrading.co.uk can double up as a stool, or you might choose an outdoor cupboard such as the wooden Outsunny Garden Storage Unit from manomano.co.uk. For more ideas, visit our shopping gallery of garden furniture.

Benjamin Edwards

Pots and Containers

For neat minimal spaces, choose co-ordinating plant pots and containers in similar materials and colours. Long trough planters such as the Andes Corten Steel Trough Planters from getpotted.com provide efficient use of space. If you have a roof terrace, polyfibre troughs such as the Saxon Trough from capital-garden.com are lightweight and versatile. The tall, narrow-profile Brann pot from torcpots.com provides an elegant counterpoint to lower troughs. For a more traditional look, choose a range of different-sized and shaped pots in terracotta, galvanized zinc or wood.

Clever Planting

Don't be shy about planting large specimens on your patio. One or two large-scale plants can give an illusion of space, so choose bold, architectural evergreens for year-round, low-maintenance structure. The dwarf Pinus mugo is a good bet, or a spiky phormium such as 'Jester'. For a different look, choose clipped bay or Phillyrea angustifolia, or if you have a sheltered spot, try an olive tree. One of the best trees for a pot is the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) and the cultivar 'Sango-kaku' is a real winner, with coral-red young branches and finely dissected leaves that turn golden-yellow in autumn. Under-plant your tree with delicate epimediums if you're in shade, or erigeron if in sun; both will tumble over the edge of the pot to soften the edges.

Vertical Accents

Make use of every bit of space by utilizing walls and fences. Grow climbers such as Trachelospermum jasminoides which will thrive in most conditions including shade, or a Clematis montana which will grow swiftly to disguise boundaries. Vertical planting systems can be hung on walls to provide pockets for succulents, herbs or even trailing strawberries. Try the recycled plastic wall planters from wallygro.com in a range of colourways. Garden shelves can be hung on the wall to display delicate flowers like auriculas or small succulents. Rustic wooden auricula theatres designed for outdoor walls can be found at budtoseed.co.uk, or try the metal Barrington Plant Stand from gardentrading.co.uk.

Playing with Perspective

Make your patio or courtyard appear bigger than it really is by hanging a mirror to reflect the plants in your garden (we love the Gothic Stone Garden Mirror from nationaltrust.org.uk), or draw the eye to a borrowed view beyond the garden to give the illusion of space. Try and screen part of the garden to create a sense of mystery – surround a cosy seating area with plants grown up a trellis, or buy ready-made corten or metal screens from screenwithenvy.co.uk.

Accessorise

Finally, make your patio somewhere you truly want to be, by adding accessories such as outdoor cushions from amelfi.co.uk, parasols from eastlondonparasols.com, outdoor rugs from gomodern.co.uk and perhaps a cheerful line of bunting made from recycled sari silk from paperhigh.com. Now all you need to do is sit back and enjoy it.