For starters, let's define them. Patio is a Spanish word, which means a courtyard of a house or building. A courtyard is traditionally an open space surrounded by walls or buildings, or is an area of ground adjacent to a building. A patio differs from a courtyard in that it doesn't have to be surrounded by walls. It's similar to a courtyard in that it's an open space that can be situated directly on the ground.
Patios can be attached to a house, or detached. They are often designed and oriented with the landscape in mind. Patios are versatile: they can take on any shape and be built with a variety of materials, including concrete, pavers, stone, tile, brick, pebbles, rock or pea gravel. Most patios are set on a concrete slab or a sand and pebble base. Since patios are built at or around ground level, they don't require safety railings.
For outdoor living room and patio cover design ideas, please look at our gallery below.
