When considering patio design ideas do not be limited by convention, think about how you use the outdoor space and how you would like to transform the area to fully utilise the needs of your family. Sophisticated fun or family play are all easily achieved with a little imagination.
If you are contemplating family patio designs, ideas may be limited by what you have seen, but why not create an area dedicated to the young children? If you have an awning or deck canopy covering your patio or yard, you could use this to create a whole play house for the little ones. They will be safely screened from the suns harmful rays and occupied in a safe environment whilst you are a moment away doing the endless chores indoors. Use outdoor wall mirrors to create the illusion of windows and pop on curtains, you can then place the play kitchen underneath, the dressing up box in the corner, a small table and chairs for creative and picnic play in the middle and you have created a whole safe area for the little ones to play house in.
Small patio design ideas can really be enhanced by a sheet of Acrylic glass; it is an impact resistant material suitable for environments where glass mirrors are a safety hazard. At about 10 times stronger than glass, it can double the impact of your area by giving the illusion of twice the space. It also doubles the impact of your garden decoration, meaning your plants or wall art are duplicated and you get full view of your purchases from other angles. Acrylic can be easily cut to any size and is inexpensive to buy, it is also lightweight, so easy to handle and fit.
There are so many ideas for patio design and not everyone wants the same thing, you may want a touch of sophistication with flower urns and planters to display large structural plants and lattice screening woven with scented climbers to give you some privacy from the neighbours prying eyes, or perhaps large folding screens to shield the wind and create a contemporary outdoor dining area to entertain your friends on balmy city evenings. You could bring a touch of Morocco onto your patio by using rattan furniture with deep blues and oranges for rugs and floor cushions and adding terracotta pots and wall mounted candle sconces to throw flickering light around.