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Top 5 Grey Patio Ideas For The Summer

Harriet Goodacre

July 05, 2021

Creating an outdoor space to be proud of is fast becoming a priority for homeowners across the UK but if you’ve got no landscaping or gardening skills it can be hard to know where to start! Our advice would be to start with a neutral base, like a grey porcelain patio tiles, and add to it over time to achieve your desired finish.

Unless you’ve got an endless budget or are a participant in the Chelsea Flower Show, a garden does not grow overnight! In this article, we take you through some patio ideas, how to plant around it and furnish it in style.

So, let’s get styling!

Modern Architecture

Structural Elegance

Whatever the size of your garden, you can create a contemporary space with some streamlined architecture in the form of a pergola. If you’re working with a small courtyard space, the structure can act as an extension of your living area by joining to the exterior of your home. If you’ve got a larger garden, opt for a separate area at the bottom of the garden as a retreat away from the world.

Whether you want a wooden structure or a metal one, we’d recommend attaching some form of shade, not only is this pleasant on the hottest days of the year, it will also act as a protectant for your patio and furniture; particularly important if your garden is surrounded by trees, tree sap and bird poo are furniture destroyers!

Tiled Sophistication

Crafting a contemporary outdoor space demands the right outdoor tiles for your patio, and grey stands out for its modern versatility. The Everscape range comes with lots of benefits overall traditional paving options but the finish of the grey Sandstone in the range is the perfect blend of contemporary styling and nature.

The subtle striped effect, reminiscent of real sandstone, provides movement and depth to your space whilst feeling sleek and clean.

Black Accents

Black is an important component in a contemporary outdoor garden, it gels well with the tonal greys of your structures and patio, but it also makes greenery pop like nothing else.

Opt for a black horizontally slatted fence for a more modern vibe or tile a wall for some added texture.

Year-Round Drama

Planting structural grasses to break up the landscaping gives you year-round drama with minimal upkeep, but you can also introduce a few pots with various textures and colours throughout the spring and summer months.

For some guaranteed greenery, we adore artificial plants like olive trees but it’s also important to have some real foliage too for the wildlife (read our blog post on how to make your newly landscaped garden wildlife-friendly).

Furniture

The choice of furniture really depends on how you’re using the space, but we personally love a boxy day bed with lots of plump cushions, it takes your comfy wintry sofa days outside into the fresh air and sunshine.

A black or espresso brown rattan will provide additional texture to the space whilst remaining in keeping with the minimalist style.

Practical Decking

Practical Perfection

Thanks to the likes of Alan Titchmarsh, decking became revolutionary in the early noughties and has lived on ever since, but we bet if you have decking you secretly hate it. A nightmare to upkeep against the British weather and usually a death trap in the wet, although it’s quick and quite cheap to lay there are better ways of achieving a patio area for your new garden.

Enter Everscape Wood, a porcelain tile expertly emulating wooden planks. Even better, it's outdoor-friendly, usable all year round, and versatile in installation (on grass, gravel, cement or pedestals). Unlike traditional wood requiring staining for a grey patio, Everscape Wood is ready to go–no sealing or maintenance is needed.

Although it feels contemporary, with the right planting and accessories, we think it suits a country-style patio too.

Stylish Sanctuary

Pair your patio with some light grey string patio chairs, sage green fencing, and some white and green planting, and you're away! Florals are your biggest accessory here but be careful what you plant where, partial shade is best for wild planting and big blousy blooms like hydrangeas.

Ambient Evenings

If you’re creating a courtyard, think about lighting as sitting outside in the evening for dinner is a great use of the space. We love a rustic style wall light; the weathered metal tones work perfectly with the overall theme.

Playful Patterns

MonoGeo Magic

Elevate your outdoor space with a grey porcelain patio, providing an ideal neutral canvas for a vibrant and culturally inspired setting. Taking inspiration from a floor cushion-style daybed, an exotic theme works well in an urban courtyard.

Introduce a splash of personality to your garden patio with bold patterns. Our patterned tile ranges with modern shapes in various tones, making it very easy to use. Not only do they exude modern elegance but also boast high slip resistance, ensuring durability for both floors and walls.

We love the idea of mixing textures, one wall can be painted brick, or faked with a brick effect tile if all you’ve got are breeze blocks.

Creative Planting

Get creative with your planting from bold shades of Calla Lilies to deep sultry hues of Cosmos, burnt oranges and deep purples that will work well with shades of grey. Make sure to break up the walls with a climbing plant like Jasmine, it will add a subtle fragrance to your evening dinner parties.

Moroccan Comfort

The furniture should be low, chunky, and comfy like the typical style of Moroccan design. The use of two or three colours will keep the look simple and celebrate the furniture’s shape and design.

Garden Bar

Tiles of Tranquility

A recent trend has been to create a bar in your backyard, typically from recycled palettes for an industrial style look, however unless expertly built and protected, it can look worn quickly. So why not upgrade your DIY bar to a professional-looking set-up.

Create a step into the bar area using a cement substrate and cut tiles with outdoor suitable trims to create a dedicated zone. You can then tile this in a modern-looking patio tile like Everscape Inara, the concrete shade is our favourite from the range. The grey patio will work brilliantly with a sleek off-white painted bar set in the middle with seating around the outside.

Cheers to Colour

To add a little pizzazz, create a tiled wall feature behind the bar, something colourful like Berkeley Essence would work well. You can then take colour inspiration from that to accessorise your bar area.

Warmth in Every Detail

By adding in some natural materials and textures, you’ll keep the area looking more homely and in keeping with the rest of your garden. Linen blankets, embroidered cushions and terracotta plant pots will all help to warm up the grey tiles. We particularly love a woven sofa for seating away from the bar itself. All it needs is some plush cushions and a fire pit!

How can I make my patio look nice?

To elevate the overall appeal of your patio, start with the foundation. Invest in high-quality outdoor flooring such as porcelain tiles or decking. This not only enhances visual aesthetics but also ensures durability for long-lasting charm.

When selecting outdoor furniture, prioritise comfort without compromising style. Whether it's chic lounge chairs, cosy sofas, or a charming bistro set, comfortable seating is paramount for creating an inviting atmosphere where you and your guests can unwind.

Harmonise your patio's look by choosing a coordinated colour scheme. Introduce lush greenery to breathe life into your patio, and enhance the ambience with thoughtfully placed outdoor lighting.

What is the best material to use for a patio?

Choosing the right material for your patio is crucial. There are plenty of material options for laying a patio, from sophisticated options like patio porcelain tiles and ceramic outdoor tiles, as well as robust paving slabs. Oh, and don't forget, you'll need some outdoor adhesive for the perfect finish.

Each material has its unique advantages, allowing you to tailor your patio to both aesthetic preferences and practical needs. Whether it's the timeless charm of porcelain, or the durability of paving slabs, Topps Tiles provides a versatile palette of garden patio tiles to help you choose the best material for your patio.

Ready to elevate your outdoor oasis?

Explore our stunning collection of outdoor tiles for patio perfection, incorporating the chic versatility of grey patio tiles.

Spoilt for choice? Discover your ideal outdoor aesthetic effortlessly with our visualisation tool and bring your outdoor sanctuary to life with confidence.

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