Brick Patio Design Ideas For A Beautiful Backyard Landscape

Welcome to our gallery of brick patio design ideas. We’ve put together a collection of backyard patios featuring brick, flagstone and pavers for ideas and inspiration. Building a brick patio in your yard can be a great way to design your own perfect backyard retreat without spending tons of time and money. Brick patios are perfect for those who want their own DIY project and are great for creating a flow from the interior to the exterior of your home.

How To  Design a Patio with Bricks: Essential Landscape Tips

A brick patio feels timeless because clay itself is one of the oldest hard-scape materials, yet the look you end up with can swing from traditional to contemporary depending on the pattern and bricks you use. Start off by matching the brick format to your design intent. Classic clay pavers (4 × 8 in., 2¼ in. thick) offer that deep russet color you may first think of, with their slight surface variation that reads historic. On the other hand, slimmer modern brick slips or concrete “bricks” are molded with crisp edges that push the look toward a sleek courtyard vibe. Another option is reclaimed building bricks that add instant character but arrive irregular in height, making you budget extra time for sorting and adding more sand to the bedding layer.

Pattern is what breathes visual movement into the surface, so think of it like textile weave underfoot. A running-bond layout is the simplest to install and visually elongates the patio, and this is ideal when you want to pull the eye toward a view. Herringbone (45° for a strong chevron, 90° for a parquet look) interlocks bricks tightly, making it the most stable choice for drivable patios or spots that handle heavy furniture. Basket-weave softens large expanses with its lattice symmetry and works well around cottage-style plantings. For a focal terrace, set up a circular or fan pattern in the center and frame it with a soldier-course border to prevent visual chaos.

Vary brick tones intentionally rather than relying on random mixing at the pallet. Blending two complementary colors, lets say, a dusky plum and a warm terracotta, creates depth that hides scuffs and efflorescence. If you crave crisp geometry, specify wire-cut bricks with sharp arrises and keep the palette within one manufacturer’s production run to minimize shade swing. Want an aged, lived-in feel? Choose tumbled bricks or lightly acid-wash new clay to mellow the edges; then scatter a handful of reclaimed pieces through each course as “accent stitches.”

Plan the patio like a tiny outdoor room before you excavate. Map out furniture groupings and traffic lanes on graph paper, allowing at least 3 ft of clearance behind dining chairs and 4 ft for a primary walkway that connects house to garden. Mark those outlines on the ground with marking paint and adjust curves until circulation feels natural; the brick pattern can then cue direction—herringbone arrows pointing to the firepit, for instance. If the patio meets a lawn, sink the brick surface ½ in. below turf level so the mower glides right over the edge.

Site prep is where a brick patio earns its longevity. Excavate 6–8 in. beyond the intended brick edge, sloping the sub-grade 1 in. per 4 ft away from structures for drainage. Compact 4–6 in. of graded base rock in two lifts, then top with 1 in. of screeded bedding sand. Geotextile fabric under the base keeps weeds out, while a hidden concrete haunch or steel edging holds the border course tight. In climates with freeze–thaw cycles, swap the bedding sand for polymeric jointing sand after laying to lock pavers while still allowing slight movement.

Don’t forget peripheral details that make the brick look intentional. A contrasting sailor-course (bricks laid lengthwise) or soldier-course (bricks on end) defines the patio perimeter and keeps field patterns from feeling adrift. Where the patio abuts planting beds, slip a 6-in. strip of decorative gravel between brick and mulch as a maintenance buffer. Integrate low-voltage lighting: bricks drilled to accept recessed LED puck lights around steps eliminate trip hazards and highlight pattern texture at night.

Maintenance is straightforward but needs to be done periodically. This entails sweeping polymeric sand into joints every few years, pressure-washing on a low setting to avoid blasting out sand, and sealing only if you want to deepen color or repel grease near an outdoor kitchen. For reclaimed or soft-mold bricks, choose a breathable silane-siloxane sealer rather than a film-forming acrylic to maintain their antique patina.

Brick Patio Ideas

The herringbone layout of these brick pavers gives this patio a more dynamic and interesting appeal. A large outdoor sectional couch maximizes the outdoor living space for entertaining and relaxation.

Brick patio design ideas that use different color bricks can be a creative way to add contrast and interest to a patio. The use of smaller, square bricks with various tones of color makes this covered patio look pixelated, giving it a very unique look. An outdoor kitchen overlooking the swimming pool with plenty of outdoor seating makes this patio perfect for outdoor living.

A round fire pit area which is covered with horizontally laid bricks and framed with a wraparound bench. A concrete flagstone path leads across the lawn from the patio toward a flower garden.

This is a fairly large patio area which uses perfectly-cut bricks in basket weave pattern with tie bond framing. A large brick fireplace makes this space a great spot for night time entertaining. Brick patio design ideas that utilize fire pits of outdoor fireplaces can help you get more enjoyment from your patio and are a great selling point for future home buyers.

A semi-circular patio area with gazebo and fireplace area which uses cobble stone bricks with tie bond framing.

Many brick patio design ideas use bricks arranged in a pattern to create an appealing style. Above dark red brick pavers arranged in a herringbone pattern with tie bond frame was the material of choice for this covered patio area.

This patio also uses dark red bricks in a variety of sizes, giving it an ashlar slate pattern. Mature trees and flowing potted plants give this backyard a pleasant and inviting atmosphere.

Related Outdoor Living & Home Design Galleries You May Like:

27 Fire Pit Ideas – Patio Design Ideas – Garden Water Feature Ideas