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We like to think that at Lazy Susan we know a thing or two about patios and garden design, so we thought we'd share our thoughts on what we think we should all be doing trend-wise in our gardens for 2011. The humble patio has become an essential component of any garden, providing you with a place to entertain, dine and relax during the summer months. They often form the transitional area between house and garden, so should be hardwearing, attractive and use materials that blend with their surroundings.

Patio Design & Materials

If you're planning a new patio for 2011, then the three critical elements you must consider when choosing what material to use are, its appearance, whether it will be a practical choice of surface and finally the total cost.The appearance of your finished patio should be your first priority. There are many choices of material available now, including natural stone flags, man made slabs, slate pavers, bricks, crazy paving, concrete pavers and granite sets. And to make your final decision even more difficult, all of these materials are also now available in a wide variety of colours and surface finishes too! Lazy Susan's advice is always choose a material that will complement the style and age of your house and garden. Also, if you want to be on trend for 2011, think about a combination of two materials as this looks fantastic and is very popular right now.

Making sure that your patio is in sync with the style of your home is so important though and Lazy Susan can't stress this point enough. For example, if your home is constructed from red brick, then ideally the surface of your patio should incorporate red brick. Not the entire patio, go for a lighter colour and edge with red break to pull the two elements of house and patio together. On the other hand, if you live in an period Victorian property, then you need to think about giving your patio a Victorian look and there are a variety of materials that lend themselves to this style, such as concrete, marble, brick, flagstone and sandstone.

While having a stylish and fashionable patio is key, the surface must also be a practical choice. That doesn't mean you have to compromise on style, just think about who's using the patio. For example, if the garden is used by young children or the elderly, build your patio with a material that has a textured finish to provide a little extra grip when wet.Uneven edges can be a little hazardous too, so while a professionally built natural stonepatio can look great, it is still likely to be a little uneven. Other than that, our only advice would be to try and ensure that the material you choose is easy to install and clean, especially if your patio has over hanging trees or large shrubs. The patio should be designed in such a way that it matches your home dAcortoo. If you have a modern home with a contemporary interior, then the ideal patio dAcor would be sleek in style, and likewise a classical patio design if your home is more traditionally finished.

Definitely long gone are the days of a slab of concrete with a few plastic chairs and for 2011 Lazy Susan wants to see people replace their tired poured concrete patios with stylish hand laid (by professionals!) stone and brick. And it is not just patio materials that are in need of an upgrade, people need to to be re-thinking about the size of their patio too, with many contemporary designs taking up a significantly greater proportion of your garden. Combining the availability ofbetter materials with a larger patio, more homes are also better equipping their patios for entertaining purposes. Fixed BBQ's, fire pits, stylish planters and other accessories (even the odd hot tub) have turned the humble patio from a place to keep a few chairs to a place for relaxation and entertainment.

There's a definite trend for making patios useable for extended periods of the year, not just the odd day of British sunshine we seem to get. Screening your patio and installing fire pits or outdoor heating units, is giving us the opportunity to enjoy our outdoor spaces when the temperature drops. Even without screening, the utilisation of modern awnings, patio furniture covers, and heating units can allow you to make use of your patio area well into early Autumn and from early Spring too.

Taking the time to upgrade your patio can be time consuming and expensive, but in the long run the time, effort and money you put into it will be paid back in terms of the value of your property and the use you'll get from it.How much your patio will cost to install depends on many factors. You will always have to prepare a base for any product, and this cost will remain constant. The price of each unit of paving will vary according to the quality of the product.Natural stone is the most hardwearing and will look good the longest and for this reason it is the most expensive. There are many immitation precast concrete slabs that look like natural stone on the market, and while they'll help you create the look, they are more susceptible to cracking, the colour will fade over time and the just don't 'age' like the real thing.

Garden Accessories

I don't want to go into too much detail here as this is a blog post all of its own, however, I will stress the importance of accessories for the patio. They are a vital part of the overall styling and to not only the finished dAcor, but also add to the functionality of your patio as an extension of your home. For the modern patio, the concept of outdoor living is key and there are various accessories that you can incorporate into your final design. Depending on budget, you can go for water fountains, a fire pit, solar lighting, sandpit for the kids, integrated seating etc Apart from enhancing the look, these accessories will make your patio an outdoor 'living' area and basically a more comfortable place to spend time.

Planting

Again with planting, this is another blog altogether and Lazy Susan could talk all day about trends. As with accessories, planting is essential and it is extremely important to give your patio a natural touch. Apart from having lush plants, flowers, grass and trees in the garden, you can also adorn the patio with plants in stylish containers. Our general rule is, if you've got the space, place several plant containers of different heights in a group always grouping the containers in odd numbers and this will enhance the look of the patio further.

Garden Furniture

Gone are the days of plastic furniture, the garden furniture consumer is a much more discerning animal. Teak, cast aluminium, rattan and wicker are just some of the materials being used to create truly on trend garden furniture. High end cushions and parasols that can hold up against the elements with contemporary patterns, colours and designs are making patio furniture something to enhance the look of your home, they're a permanent feature, rather than just hiding them in a shed until needed.Couple this with furniture coming out from some of your top designers of indoor furniture, and it's no surprise that the increase of furniture styles often associated with indoors are becoming increasingly popular for the patio too, including chaise lounge style sun loungers, large outdoor sofas, and big comfy rocking and swivel chairs.

When it comes to furniture trends, there are few key aspects that at Lazy Susan we always ask our customers to consider before making a purchase. First off, as with your patio materials, it should match the overall look and style of your home and patio. For example, if your patio has been done in a Victorian style, the furniture should reflect the period and you need to keep it classic and make sure that the furniture you choose complements the overall dAcor. Another key aspect for the UK is to ensure that the furniture is weatherproof and easy to clean.

One of the big patio furniture trends is the new concept of deep seating. Gone are the days of a simple picnic table and an infrequent meal on the patio. Today's homeowners want to entertain on their patio in comfort as well as style. They view their patio or deck as an outdoor living space. There are now options available that truly mimic indoor furniture. Outdoor sofas, club style/look chairs, ottoman benches, modern sectional outdoor sofas are just a few of the growing trends.Patio furniture is constantly evolving and over a relatively short period of time the materials used has taken massive strides forward.Technology has produced materials which allow for greater outdoor durability and that is being coupled with indoor style.

Outdoor fabrics are now soft and come in a wide variety of colors, patterns and textures with the durability to withstand the British elements. Synthetic rattan gives the timeless look of natural wicker while resisting damp and UV damage. Cast aluminium garden furniture, rather than cast or wrought iron garden furniture gives you that timeless look but it does not rust. Detailed powder-coating processes can now give the look of wood with the durability of aluminum. Not to be forgotten are the traditional hardwoods such as teak, which have been proven to withstand decades of use whilst still retaining their natural beauty. With all of these materials available, there has been a raft of new designs and styles of patio furniture.

With so much choice now available, another trend has developed and it is one that Lazy Susan is at the forefront. Online shopping for patio furniture is one of the biggest growing trends in today's garden furniture market. Online shopping provides consumers with the most current styles and the most competitive prices. Consumers are no longer limited by their geographical location or the current season. Long gone are the days of a quick stop at the local garden center in the summer to choose from the limited choice of materials and styles on offer. The internet now provides you with year-round access to fashionable, high quality garden furniture at affordable prices.Today's homeowner wants to have their personal style reflected in the garden furniture they choose to place on their deck or patio.

These are just a few of the patio and garden trends Lazy Susan is predicting (or should that be pushing) for 2011. That's not to say that these are all the trends you'll see next year, and patio trends definitely vary from place to place depending on climate. Just don't forget that you can always set your own trends too. Making your patio furniture an extension of your home instead of just a slab taking up space in your garden is a great way to increase the value of your home, both for you living and using the home and to any potential buyers if you choose to sell your property further down the line.

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