There are plenty of basic outdoor patio designs that could work great in your yard, but if you want the space to be considered special to you, you should research some custom patio designs to see what you do and don’t like. The best place to start this process is by flipping through some outdoor magazines, going to local contractors who can show you work they have previously done, and talking to friends and neighbors to get a glimpse of their patios.

You will have to decide on the type of material you would like to construct your patio from.  That is to say, the ‘flooring’ of your patio space.  Brick patios are the most common choice – using any number of patio pavers – but you have other options too.  These include things like concrete bricks, stamped concrete forms, cobblestones and flagstone, just to name a few. You’ll also be able to add a custom patio cover to your outdoor space in order to protect your furniture and stay cool in the scorching sun. There are endless covered patio designs that you can choose from, and you should go about the same process to find a cover design that is best for you.

If you’d like, you can go above and beyond a standard patio by making it extravagant. Ways to do this include installing an outdoor kitchen, making the space more useful as if it was a room inside your home. You could also install a patio fireplace or fire pit, which would be a great way to warm up cool outdoor nights.

Once you have a general idea of what you would like the end product to be, you should start to make a rough plan of dimensions, locations of objects, and materials that will be needed to construct the patio. The best way to end up with a professional backyard patio design is to hire a builder or contractor to do the work for you.  The pros know what they’re doing and their expertise will save you a lot of stress and leave you with a marvelous outdoor space that will become the hallmark of your home.

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Submitted by your friends at yourpatiocovers.com!

This is not the best example of a simple patio cover - it is beautiful though!

Hopefully, by now, you’ve grown to understand just how important your patio space can be.  After all, life isn’t getting any less stressful and the patio is the perfect place to go and unwind from the day.  There was a time in our country’s history when the front porch was the place to rest and relax after a long day or spend time on the weekends.  There you’d be with the other neighbors, kids playing in the front yard and riding up and down the street.  Well, times have changed, but we still long for those restful evenings and weekends.  The question is, what type of covered patio designs can give you what you are after.

Let’s dive into some patio design ideas and see what works for you.  First of all, you should decide upon what type of patio you are looking for.  Do you want something that is more fully covered or are you thinking about going with something more like an open lattice roof?  Maybe you even have something like a more modern outdoor room idea in mind.  You can certainly make any of these a reality.  Photo credit

Covered patio ideas range from simple to complex.  If you are going to be doing the project yourself, opt for simple.  This doesn’t mean your patio structure will come out looking cheap, it will just be much more simple to accessorize and enhance later.  If you go with something that is very ornate or heavy on design and structure, you may not be able to modify it later without significant costs or help.  Unless you know exactly what you’d like to have a decade from now still standing, go with a more simple design. Think in terms of a simple pergola idea.  You can utilize this type of structure as the ‘bones’ of your patio and then make it as accessorized as you wish.

With the right patio cover plans, you can have your patio serve any number of functions.  Some homeowners are more entertainers while others prefer to lounge. Of course, you need not exclude one activity for the other, but certain designs make more sense depending upon how you use your space.  For example, the outdoor room concept mentioned above is going to work very well for an entertaining homeowner, one who enjoys hosting get-togethers.  This doesn’t mean that you can’t simply lounge and relax as well, it is just better suited to have a more ‘formal’ outdoor dinner party than it is for wet kids getting out of the pool and enjoying.  The idea is that your patio is really more of a reflection of the way you live your life.  Let your lifestyle guide the covered patio plans that are right for you.  Keep it simple and enjoy!

For some, the patio is a place where they can go to unwind from a long day or relax on the weekends.  It is more like a retreat and a place to kick up your heels.  And yet, to other homeowners, the patio is a place where they can host extravagant or exotic dinners and entertain guests.  These two ideas will likely need different covered patio designs.  It isn’t that a design couldn’t be found that could incorporate the two, it is just that you should consider these points and the way you plan to use your own patio prior to beginning your remodel or new patio construction.

While your covered patio plans may not be as detailed as an architect’s drawings, at least you’ll have some idea in mind as to what your next step will be.  That next step may be to create a material’s list if you plan on building your own patio cover.  If you plan on hiring a professional,  just make sure that your plans are clear.  What is obvious to you may not come across in your sketches or conversation.  Similarly, getting things in writing will always be your best bet if you hire out the work.

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Now, what about if you have a more formal patio space in mind?  In this case, you are not alone.  The trend in patio designs is to design and build them to be more like outdoor rooms.  It seems that patio covers are quickly becoming more like the ‘bones’ to create an outdoor space that resembles any space you might find inside your home.  This includes the creature comforts of television, heating, cooling, kitchens, patio furniture, you name it.  If you can find it indoors, then you can likely find its complement for your outdoor room.

You can tell that what was once considered just a simple area has really turned into a whole other animal.  Gone are the days of just using those white plastic lawn chairs for your furniture needs.  Those are fine for larger entertaining groups that will be broken down at the end of the evening.  However, for a more exotic and useful covered patio, keep the patio room concept in mind.

This downside to building new is more about cost and convenience.  It will take longer and will cost you much more, generally speaking, to build from the ground up or with no existing structure from which to build off from.  But, as mentioned, there are also limitations that come into play from a construction stand point if you have to modify an existing structure to create the new patio design.

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There are many covered patio plans available online as well.  You can do a simple search to find pictures and descriptions of some of the more popular options.  You will also quickly find that there are many ways to describe a patio cover, so this may require a bit more homework on your part.

If what you are looking for is truly a covered patio, then you will need to further clarify what type of cover or roof you are looking for.  An open patio roof style can still be considered a “covered patio”, even though the cover will allow you to see the stars through it or have vines growing all over it like is the case with the classic pergola.  A semi-closed or closed patio roof style would be something more along the lines of a gazebo or even an extended patio common with a ranch-style home.  Since you found our site here, let’s discuss what we feel a covered patio to be.

Covered patios, in our mind, conjure up the image of that old Ranch-style home.  Here, you typically have a single-story layout, with the patio being created by extending the roof line out and often having posts as support.  The floor of the patio area can consist of a variety of materials from concrete to tile to outdoor carpeting.  Many times, these types of patios are finished into additional rooms for the home.  Depending upon how they are positioned, they may be ideally suited as a sunroom or even a modified greenhouse type room for the avid gardener.

Making sure to get the right covered patio plans in place prior to construction makes a big difference.

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Other Covered Patio Designs

Having said this about these types of covered patio plans, it is also quite feasible to be talking about something else when referring to a covered patio.  We would be remiss if we didn’t include the more traditional types of patio covers and patio cover descriptions.  Brief mention was made to them above, but they are the pergola and gazebo.  Variations of these themes could also be included under this larger umbrella category – no pun intended.

Pergolas, because of their flexibility can provide much needed shade and added ambiance and character to your outdoor space.  In fact, more and more outdoor living rooms and spaces take advantage of the pergola’s unique features.  Some of these features include handsome and simple design, lending themselves to a variety of installations and home styles.  Additionally, they can be built to accommodate larger more grand structures or be more simple with craftsmanship details.

Pergolas, more than gazebos, can be finished in a variety of ways.  Finished, in this case, is referring to the type of patio roof that you may choose to have.  Classic pergolas have a post and beam design.  More contemporary styles have a roof more typical of a Mediterranean cabana or villa.  In these cases, they could be tiled.  In other instances, a metal patio cover is called for in the design phase.  These can be made of metals such as steel and copper.  Metal roof materials come in a variety of applications including sheeting, “standing seam” and even tiles or shingles.

Some other possible places to check for ideas other than where you are right now in front of your keyboard would include fine home magazines and trade journals.  Occasionally, taking one of those home tours in your areas where designer homes are showcased can give you some ideas regarding your patio.  You can also see samples or portfolios from contractors that you may contact to see what type of experience and ideas they may have.  What ever your covered patio plans call for, there is a design style that can suit your needs.