Beautiful patio tile ideas to transform a lifeless space into a magnificent outdoor living and entertaining area.

Designing and building a patio in your backyard is a very simple and satisfying home improvement project which just about anyone can accomplish, even DIY beginners. Patio tiles and bricks are very easy to lay yourself, and come in a fantastic variety of sizes, shapes and colors, to suit every architectural style and every budget.

To get you started, you’ll find lots of great patio tile ideas on this site. With a few willing helpers and a spare weekend or two, you’ll have your brand new patio ready for entertaining family and friends, or just for quiet, relaxing weekends enjoying the open air.

Patio design tips.

Before you begin planning and designing your patio, you should give some thought to what you’ll primarily be using the patio for. The size of the patio will of course be determined by the amount of free space you have in the backyard, but also on the number of people you envisage using it. If you plan to do a lot of entertaining, the larger the patio the better.

The position of the patio is also very important. You may need the patio to be adjacent to the house, perhaps with access from the kitchen or the living room, or you may prefer the patio to be situated in a quiet, secluded space in the back garden, as far away from the house as possible.

Choosing pavers, bricks or tiles for your patio also depends on a number of factors. Naturally, it’s important to choose patio pavers and tiles which suit the architectural style of your home, and which fit within your budget. You should also choose tiles which are appropriate to the climate in your area. Some patio pavers and tiles resist cracking and warping when exposed to extremes of heat and cold better than others.

Tiles in light colors, particularly when they are made from materials with a hard shiny surface, will tend to reflect a lot of glare under strong, direct sunlight. Dark colored tiles made from dense materials will tend to absorb a lot of heat, and may become too hot to walk on in very warm climates.