The patio is usually the heart of a garden. It’s where we dine, entertain and make the most of sunny days.
A stylish outdoor space can even make your home feel bigger and more desirable, yet just as certain features can add value, others can have the opposite effect.
If you’re looking for patio ideas, it’s worth remembering that creating a well-thought-out outdoor space doesn’t necessarily require a complete overhaul. In fact, some of the best ways to make a patio more expensive are surprisingly simple and can be tackled on a budget.
From cracked paving to a lack of greenery, these common mistakes can make a garden feel smaller, darker and less welcoming. However, the good news is that most are easy fixes, and even small patios can feel brighter, softer and more considered with a few thoughtful tweaks.
Here’s what a few property experts say about the patio features that can decrease the value of your home and what you can do to easily make your patio feel more inviting, even if you’re not selling your home.
1. Cracked or stained paving
Few things make a patio feel tired faster than broken slabs or years of built-up grime. Even if the rest of your garden is beautifully maintained, damaged or stained paving can instantly make the whole space look and feel neglected.
‘Similarly to if you were greeted by a broken gate or chipped paint on doors and window frames, damaged or stained paving will instantly make prospective buyers feel as though there is work to be done and money to be spent,’ says Elaine Penhaul, founder and director of Lemon and Lime Interiors.
I’ve always found that a good clean can completely transform a patio, having tested a fair few of our best pressure washers in our guide. I can attest that they blast away grime in minutes and can completely transform tired-looking slabs. Investing in a reliable model like the Karcher K5 Full Control Premium from Argos, which we recently reviewed, means you’re far more likely to actually use it, especially when it makes such a visible difference so quickly.
Shop powerful pressure washers
Karcher K4 Full Control Home Pressure Washer
Nilfisk Excellent 160-10 PA Pressure Washer
Karcher K7 Premium Smart Control
However, more delicate materials, such as Indian Sandstone, do require a gentler approach.Alternatively, Ideal Home’s gardens editor, Sophie, has a game-changing patio cleaner recommendation. ‘For fast results, my mum and I absolutely love the Monty Miracle Complete Outdoor Cleaner, £29.99 at Amazon. It gets to work in just 10 minutes, removing black spots, algae and dirt, and you don’t even need a pressure washer!’ She also tested Wet & Forget Mould, Lichen & Algae Remover, which is currently £14.99 on Amazon, and loved its long-lasting results.
Helen Godsiff, brand manager at home improvement specialists Eurocell, agrees. ‘Attractive landscaping is one of the essentials that can improve the value of your home, and if a patio has been neglected with cracked or uneven paving, it can become quite an eyesore for potential homebuyers.’
Shop dirt-busting patio cleaners
Monty Miracle
Outdoor Cleaner, 5 Litre
Patio Magic!
2.5L concentrate
Wet & Forget
Mould, Lichen & Algae Remover, Outdoor Patio Cleaner, 2l
2. Weeds and moss between slabs
It doesn’t take long for weeds and moss to take over and make a patio feel uncared for. Left unchecked, especially in this wet, warm weather, they can make the entire garden look damp, neglected and less enjoyable to use.
‘While you’re tidying up the paving, it is also a quick and easy job to pull up any weeds on your patio that are making the space feel neglected and unkempt,’ advises Elaine. ‘Moss can be a slip hazard too and can reduce the appeal of wanting to make the most of your outdoor space.’
The good news is that this is one of the quickest patio refreshes you can tackle, especially if you have the right tools for the job. Slimline weeders like this electric weed sweeper from QVC, which our freelance writer, Lisa, tested, are perfect for making light work of an otherwise annoying job.
Crevice tools, like the set I tested and loved (the WORKPRO weed remover tool, £13.99 at Amazon), are ideal for getting right into the gaps between slabs and pulling weeds out at the root.
You can also pick up manual long-handled weed brushes like the one our gardens editor has (the Newman & Cole weed and moss remover brush, £9.97 at Amazon), which sweeps away dirt and grime while also tackling those stubborn weeds while it’s at it.
Shop tried and tested patio weeding tools
Newman and Cole
Weed Brush Long Handle
Thompson & Morgan
Weed Sweeper & Extra Brushes
3. A very dark patio
Dark paving can look sleek and contemporary, but in compact or shaded, north-facing gardens, it can have the unintended effect of making the space feel smaller and more enclosed, explains Elaine.
Thankfully, you don’t necessarily need to replace the paving as you can now buy patio paint, like Siramico coatings, The Patio Paint, £49.99 from Amazon, to brighten paving. Adding lighter outdoor furniture, decorative planters, and festoon lights can also help lift the space and make it feel more welcoming. I have these warm white Habitat festoon lights, £35 at Argos, in my own garden and love them for adding a little magic when the sun goes down.
Sara, Ideal Home‘s Room Decor Editor, adds that, ‘Whether you’re decorating a room inside your home or your outdoor space (like a patio), many of the same principles apply. So if you happen to have a dark patio, the best approach is similar to when decorating, say, a dark, north-facing living room.’
‘And that’s by adding light colours through anything from furniture to accessories, as these lighter shades will brighten up the space and reflect the little light your space does receive. Getting light-coloured patio furniture is an easier way to brighten a dark outdoor space compared to something like painting any of the patio’s features. Which is also an option, just a more intrusive one,’ she explains.
Elaine also suggests using mirrors to bounce light around the garden and create the illusion of more space. A large, classic-style garden mirror, like this arched garden mirror, £69.99 from B&Q, is a great choice for more light and to create the illusion of more space.
Shop these pale patio furniture picks
Argos
Habitat Global Accent Chair and Footstool
John Lewis Sahara 4-Seater Modular Corner Garden Lounge Set
Grand patio
Folding Bistro Set 3 Pieces (yellow)
4. Dark or dated fence and wall colours
A fresh lick of paint can completely transform a garden, but colour choice is everything. In fact, the colours you choose for your fence can boost or decrease the value of your home more than you think. And if you have a small patio, the right colour can make the space feel and look bigger.
‘In smaller paved gardens, you want to create the illusion of space,’ explains Elaine. ‘Avoid dark colours on fences and walls and instead opt for lighter alternatives such as white or light grey that give a light and airy feel.’
That said, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Helen points out that charcoal greys can look striking in modern gardens, while soft blues and pastel shades suit cottage-style schemes beautifully. The trick is choosing colours that complement your garden rather than overwhelm it.
Shop my favourite garden paint shades
Rust-Oleum
Mould Resistant Garden Paint in Matt Finish – Chalk Green 750ml
Cuprinol
Pale jasmine matt multi-surface exterior paint, 5L
THE ONE
All-In-One Paint & Primer – Yellow Satin, 250ml
5. A lack of greenery
Even the most beautifully laid patio can feel stark if it’s surrounded by hard landscaping.
‘Paved gardens are at risk of feeling dull and drab, making it hard for buyers to picture themselves in the space,’ says Elaine. ‘It’s a great idea to add some potted plants of different shapes and sizes, or even some raised beds to add a new dimension to the space, as well as colour and interest.’
Helen agrees, adding that without greenery, a garden can resemble ‘a concrete jungle.’
‘An abundance of hard-edged patio can feel clinical and won’t necessarily add value to your home,’ adds Aisling Rusk, director of Studio Idir. ‘To truly enhance your living space and property value, aim to design a patio that’s lively, varied and soft around the edges.’
Aisling also recommends steering clear of a monotone look. Instead, she suggests introducing ‘variety through greenery and pops of colour in your garden furniture and planters, to make the space feel vibrant.’
A few oversized pots, some climbing plants scrambling up a fence or simple border planting around the edges can completely transform the feel of the space.
It’s proof that you don’t need a huge budget or sprawling borders to make a patio feel expensive. Even a handful of pots in different sizes can soften hard landscaping and make the whole space welcoming.
I love Aisling’s advice to break up large expanses of paving with planting and gravel. She also recommends softening the transition between patios, lawns and borders, rather than creating rigid, straight lines.
Shop these stylish planters
Crocus
Terracotta Strawberry Pot
URBNLIVING
Tall Rectangle Planter Floor Standing Indoor Outdoor Patio Plant Pot Trough (anthracite)
Habitat
Scalloped 21cm Clay Planter – Small
So there you have it. From cleaning your paving to adding some well-placed planting, a few simple changes can make your patio look more stylish, expensive, and help sell your home.
Even if you’re not putting your house on the market, adding these tweaks will help your garden feel like an extension of your home rather than just somewhere to sit outside.
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