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A raised patio is a useful extension to your home a place where you can arrange a few chairs, hold a barbecue, doze in the sun, or just enjoy being outdoors.

Ideal for impromptu meals outside and convenient as a place for small children to play under supervision, a patio is an invaluable part of even the smallest garden. A raised paved area forms a transitional space between your house and garden, so don't plan it in isolation. Spend time working out what activities you want to enjoy on the patio, and consider how its site, shape, size and materials relate to both the indoor and outdoor spaces.

For instance, a patio sited close to a dining area provides a superb opportunity to move the meal outside, whereas a patio situated at the bottom of the garden may be just the right location for relaxing in the afternoon sun or the evening shade. Generously sized patios break up an expanse of bare lawn and are also ideal for larger social gatherings. A small patio can look lost if the garden is spacious, but a paved area may prove the perfect substitute for grass if the garden is very small.

You also need to think about paths and walkways that connect different areas of the garden. Paved areas help to anchor the basic layout of the garden and provide textural contrast with lawns and flowerbeds. Hard surfacing is equally important where space is tight; in these cases, container gardening can more than compensate for the loss of growing space.

The natural place for a patio is immediately next to the house, close to everyday living. The advantages are obvious; access is easy and the shift between house the garden is smoother. If you plan to cook or eat outdoors as often as the weather allows, it is more convenient to stay quite close to the house. A patio adjacent to a conservatory or French windows helps visually extend your house into the garden.

It is equally important to ensure that the site you choose is a comfortable place to relax in. Sunny locations are best, out of the wind, and with some shade during the hottest parts of the day. You can supply the shade yourself, if need be, in the form of awnings, pergolas or vine-covered trellis, but you can't transform a dark, chilly corner into a suntrap. If conditions close to your house aren't right, it's better to position the patio in a more favourable location perhaps at the end of a garden, connected to the house by a path.

Another vital aspect to consider is the view. Gazing out from a patio on to a line of your neighbour's

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