An outdoor patio has the ability to be an extension of your indoor living spaces no matter the size. If you’re clever with small patio design ideas, you can even set yourself up to be able to enjoy it year round. From the fresh spring mornings and warm summer days to cool fall and winter evenings, create a patio space you love and make the most of your outdoor area.
To help you get inspired, we’re giving you 6 small patio design ideas for all year round enjoyment. Read on, and start thinking about your ultimate patio space!
Small Patio Design Ideas
When it comes to small patio design ideas, sometimes homeowners need a little help seeing the potential of what it could be. Just because a space is small doesn’t mean it can’t be everything you want it to be! From water features and fire pits to outdoor kitchens and eating areas, there’s no reason your small patio ideas can’t have a big impact.
To help bring about these inspiring ideas for a patio installation, let’s look at some incredible ideas for small patio designs you’ll love like:
- Water features for a relaxing space
- Outdoor fire pit ideas or patio fireplaces
- Dining areas for small patios
- Small patio landscaping ideas
- Cozy patio seating
- All-season patios for year-round use
Patio Water Features for a Relaxing Space
Kicking off our list of small patio design ideas, we’re talking about water features! There are lots of different types of water features for backyard spaces, but the most popular ones for a small patio design are backyard fountains and pondless waterfalls. Both of these options give you the relaxing sounds of running water while bringing a touch of flair to your patio space. Whether you have your water feature on your patio or as part of the surrounding landscaping, it’ll transform your space and even add value to your home if you ever choose to sell.
While outdoor patio water features are relatively low-maintenance landscaping additions, be sure you’re up to speed with how to maintain a water feature after installation to keep it running perfectly year after year.
Outdoor Fire Pits and Patio Fireplaces
Another popular feature in small patio design ideas is a fire element. There are plenty of outdoor fire pit ideas that make even the smallest of patios a cozy space to gather with friends, family, and neighbors. Smokeless fire pits are ideal, especially for smaller spaces, to keep you and your guests from having to shift every time the wind blows! Fire pits give you a chance to enhance the look of your patio with beautiful hardscaping and make it user-friendly all year long. From brisk spring days to chilly fall and winter evenings, a fire pit can be a fantastic pairing with any small patio design ideas.
If fire pits aren’t your thing but you want to add some kind of fire feature in with your small patio ideas, outdoor fireplaces are other popular options. Even a small outdoor fireplace is enough to create a cozy vibe and add to the feeling of your outdoor living space.
Dining Areas for Small Patios
When you’re coming up with small patio design ideas, it’s important to think about seating for you and your guests. To bring indoor living to your outdoor space, consider creating an intimate dining area. Whether it’s a bistro table for two or a small table for four to six, having a dining area gives you the opportunity to build a patio space that’s usable and versatile. Sure, you can enjoy an afternoon picnic or evening dinner there, but you can also use your table area for playing games or just enjoying great conversation!
Small Patio Landscaping
Just because you’re dealing with a small patio design doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful. Even the smallest of patio design ideas can look absolutely stunning with professional landscaping. Working with professional landscape services providers (like us 👋), your patio space can be a low-maintenance jaw-dropper. No need to spend all your time keeping up your landscaping when you could be relaxing and enjoying it!
From landscaping around trees to raised flower beds, professional landscaping will transform your patio into a space you look forward to enjoying every day. As an added bonus, small patio design ideas allow you to get creative. If space isn’t your friend, think about going vertical with living garden walls!
Cozy Patio Seating
A dining table isn’t the only way to ensure you’ve got proper seating as part of your small patio design ideas. Small spaces can be great opportunities to create cozy patio seating areas for small gatherings or relaxing solo. A cute bench for two, a bistro setup, or even non-traditional seating like hanging chairs are all options you can choose from to build a space that fits your vibe. Combine cozy seating with an outdoor fire pit or water feature and you may even have the perfect little romantic getaway right outside your backdoor.
Glass Walls for All-Season Patios
While there are plenty of ways to add privacy to your small patio design ideas like vertical garden walls, pergolas, and privacy screens, what can you do to enjoy your patio during the cold winter months, too? A popular idea for small patio designs in Upstate NY is to add glass walls and ceilings to enclose your space for an all-seasons room. While it can still be the patio of your dreams, the enclosed space gives you an opportunity to use your patio all year long.
As you can see, there are tons of small patio design ideas for all year round enjoyment! We hope this guide inspired you and helped you start thinking about ideas for your patio installation. Kick things off with the NVS Project Planner to plan and budget your design. Save your plans or submit them to us and let’s get started giving you the outdoor patio space you’ve always wanted.
