Porcelain Tile Patio Ideas – 8 Beautiful Ways to Pave Your Outdoor Space
Whether you use yours for sitting and relaxing, housing the barbecue, entertaining friends or surrounding a pool, patios are a must-have in the garden. As the trend for outdoor spaces that feel like inside areas grows, so does our appetite for luxurious patio paving. Tiles that look beautiful, feel smooth underfoot, are easy to clean and can blend seamlessly from inside to out are high on every patio wishlist.
A more practical alternative to wooden decking, patios can add significant value to your home, making them a worthwhile investment, but with such a huge choice of outdoor paving materials, which is the best?
Keep reading as we uncover the many benefits of practical porcelain, one of the most sought-after patio paving solutions.
Image credit: @theonebespoke
Recommended Tile: Lavastone Ivory
Are porcelain tiles good for outdoor patios?
Put simply, porcelain tiles are one of the very best options for patios. Stronger than natural stone, porcelain is one of the hardest paving substances and it looks pretty impressive too. Here are the key reasons why porcelain is paving the way for patios:
- It’s durable – Porcelain tiles are made from a specific blend of materials which are fired at extremely high temperatures. The combination of materials and high heat vitrifies the tiles, producing a strong, dense, impermeable substance that can handle extreme temperatures and won’t crack or chip. Sounds ideal for paving a patio area? We think so!
- Porcelain is water resistant – One of the key benefits of porcelain is that, unlike concrete, it’s resistant to water. It’s not completely waterproof, but, unless it’s submerged in water continually, rainwater won’t pose a problem. This makes porcelain far less likely to stain or discolour than other patio surfaces.
- It’s extremely easy to clean – Because moisture can’t easily penetrate porcelain, the tiles won’t harbour mould, lichen and algae spores that can discolour them over time and are notoriously tricky to remove. You can simply sweep or hoover (yes, you read that right!) a porcelain patio and give it the odd mop with soapy water. There are specific stain removers for any stubborn stains. Porcelain tiles are an excellent option if you have pets, particularly dogs, as waste won’t penetrate the surface, avoiding unpleasant smells.
- It can look like stone (or marble, or wood…) – A huge benefit of porcelain lies in its printed textures. Whether you want your tiles to look like sandstone, limestone, wood or concrete, there’s a porcelain tile for every outdoor surface.
- It’s super low-maintenance – A porcelain patio won’t need to be sealed or jet washed and its low-maintenance requirements make it one of the most desirable paving options
- It’s non-slip – Porcelain tiles for patios will have a slightly rough surface or grip finish, also known as R11. Look for R11 porcelain tiles for patios and bathrooms as they provide the best slip resistance.
Porcelain Tile Patio Ideas
If you’re landscaping a brand-new garden or looking for tiles to replace existing patio slabs, porcelain patio tiles are one of the best options. Low maintenance, great looks and a huge range of designs to choose from make it easy to find the perfect porcelain for your outdoor patch.
Corner porcelain patio
Patios are traditionally seen as being attached to the house, but you can install a patio anywhere in your garden and a sunny corner is the perfect spot. Porcelain patio slabs are a more practical alternative to decking and, with the occasional mop over, they’ll always look as pristine as the day they were laid.
Professional tip: Porcelain tiles don’t have any flex, so they’ll need to be laid on a rigid concrete or mortar base to prevent movement.
Image credit: @cb_loves_interiors_20
Recommended Tile: Burlington Ivory
Porcelain patio and slab path
With their slick appearance, porcelain tiles are one of the most transformative patio paving options. They’re ideal for all types of property and are incredibly tough so they can easily handle the weight of bulky garden furniture and heavy footfall.
Most outdoor porcelain tiles are large, making them ideal for creating smart pathways as well as patios.
Image credit: @oaklands_garden
Recommended Tile: Riverstone Grigio
Wood-look porcelain patio
One of the many benefits of porcelain patio slabs is the huge choice you have when it comes to surface patterns. Most porcelain pavers are manufactured to closely resemble stone but you can also get realistic-looking wood-effect porcelain patio tiles for a beautiful, long-lasting and low-maintenance alternative to decking.
As it’s so dense, porcelain is extremely heavy, so wood-look porcelain planks are easier to lay than large-format tiles if you’re taking on the job of laying the patio yourself.
Image credit: @justahome
Recommended Tile: Woodlands Natural
Porcelain patio tiles and decking
Porcelain is a superior flooring product so it does come at a cost but you can manage this by laying porcelain tiles alongside other paving materials like brick and wood. Porcelain is extremely versatile and you can choose from many different, realistic-looking stone effects to get the perfect look in your outdoor space.
Patio pool surround tiles
If you’re lucky enough to own an outdoor pool, large porcelain patio tiles will provide the perfect smooth surface and pristine appearance around it. Choose light, sand-coloured tiles to surround your pool for a Mediterranean vibe.
The superior strength, water tightness, high non-slip rating and low maintenance requirements of porcelain make it one of the very best options for use in and around swimming pools.
Image credit: @thepennrenovation
Recommended Tile: Quartz White
Contemporary grey porcelain paving
Grey is still having its moment in interior and exterior design and patio paving slabs are no exception. Slate or concrete-look porcelain tiles are perfect for cool, contemporary patio areas and they’re less forgiving than cream of buff-coloured porcelain, making them a more suitable option for busy households with children and pets.
We love how this homeowner has used grey porcelain tiles beneath the pergola area, to create an attractive, practical entertaining zone.
Image credit: @secret_garden_web
Recommended Tile: Mercury Grey
Patterned porcelain paving
Porcelain paving slabs are usually square or rectangular and their large size helps to create the illusion of more space. There’s no reason at all why you can’t think outside the box and use smaller tiles in your patio design. Porcelain tiles are incredibly dense and can be difficult to cut, but, with the right tools, anything is possible as this beautiful porcelain patio with inlaid herringbone design demonstrates.
Image credit: @home_with_the_buckinghams
Recommended Tile: Himalayan White
Indoor/outdoor tiles
One of the hottest interior trends, matching indoor/outdoor porcelain tiles create a seamless flow between your home and garden, providing a feeling of space and unity. They’re perfect for use with large bifold or sliding doors, with a minimal barrier separating the indoor and outdoor tiles.
Porcelain tiles make this seamless look a reality as many tile ranges offer the same tile style for indoor and outdoor use. Outdoor porcelain tiles are usually around a centimetre thicker than indoor ones to allow for the pressures of life outdoors.
Image credit: @atlasceramics
Recommended Tile: Basalt Series Bianco
Outdoor Porcelain Tile Patio Tips
If you’re keen to create a show-stopping outdoor patio area with porcelain tiles, here’s what to look out for when choosing your tiles:
Non-slip rating
Although it can be tempting to use indoor porcelain tiles for your garden, it’s important to choose tiles that have been manufactured for use outside. Look for tiles with a high non-slip or R11 rating and opt for tiles with a 20mm thickness as they’ll be able to withstand outdoor life and the weight of garden furniture.
Tile finish
The best quality porcelain tiles will be printed with images sourced from real stone, concrete and wood. Buy the best tiles you can afford as the range will include more variation than cheaper options. This is worthwhile over larger areas, like patios, because there will be several tile designs per pack, helping to avoid the telltale pattern repeats and making porcelain tiles indistinguishable from real stone or wood. It’s a good idea to get some tile samples before making your final decision.
Tile colour
Outdoor porcelain tiles are available in a surprisingly huge range of styles and colours, with tiles emulating everything from concrete to sandstone and wood. Light colours are perfect for sleek, contemporary gardens and use around pools where you want a crisp, clean-looking finish. Grey and darker tiles are a great choice too and can be beneficial if you have pets and don’t want to be regularly mopping up muddy footprints.
If you’re thinking about paving your garden, Atlas Ceramics has an excellent selection of outdoor tiles to choose from. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.