Article Highlights
Planning a new patio is exciting. You've got the yard, the vision and probably a few ideas saved on your phone. But between inspiration and installation, there are some common patio design mistakes that can turn a great project into an expensive headache. After over 25 years working with Perth homeowners, our team at Great Aussie Patios has seen them all. Here's what to watch out for before you get started.
Common Patio Design Mistakes Around Size and Layout
One of the biggest mistakes is underestimating how much space you actually need. A patio that looks generous on paper can feel cramped the moment you add a dining table, a few chairs and a BBQ. For a comfortable outdoor dining setup, you need enough clearance around the table for people to move freely, pull chairs back and pass through without squeezing past each other.
The same goes for your outdoor seating layout. Think about how you'll actually use the space. Will you host family gatherings? Do the kids need room to move around? Will you eventually add a fire pit or outdoor kitchen? It's much easier to plan for these from the start than to try and fix it later.
A well-designed patio gives your outdoor living area the breathing room to feel like a genuine extension of your home, not a cluttered afterthought.
Ignoring Orientation and Sun Exposure
Perth's sun is relentless, especially from the west in the afternoon during summer. A patio that faces the wrong direction, or one that hasn't accounted for shade at the right times of day, will sit empty during the warmest months of the year.
A north or north-east facing patio can capture lovely winter sun, which sounds appealing, but it also needs adjustable shade to manage the harsh afternoon glare in December and January. Pergola infills, café blinds or a well-positioned gable roof can all help, but only if they're designed in from the beginning.
Choosing the Wrong Roofing Material
Roofing is one area where homeowners often make a decision based on upfront cost without thinking about long-term comfort. Clear or tinted polycarbonate panels are a popular choice because they let light through, but in Perth's climate they can turn your patio into a heat trap during summer. The temperature under an uninsulated polycarbonate roof on a hot day can become genuinely unbearable.
Insulated panel options like SolarSpan® are worth considering if you want a patio you can actually use year-round. They keep the space cooler in summer and more comfortable in winter.
COLORBOND® steel is another reliable option. It's built to handle WA's UV exposure and coastal conditions, which matters a lot if you're in a suburb closer to the coast like Hillarys, Rockingham or Fremantle. These areas sit in higher wind categories, and choosing materials that aren't rated appropriately is both a safety and a compliance risk.
Forgetting Drainage and Future-Proofing
Poor drainage is one of those outdoor patio design mistakes that only reveals itself after the first decent winter rain. If your patio slab doesn't have the right fall or the downpipes aren't connected correctly, water will pool near your footings and potentially stain or damage your paving. In Perth's south-east, where clay soils are common around Armadale and Gosnells, this is a particularly important consideration.
While you're at it, think about future-proofing. If there's any chance you might want to enclose your patio down the track, it's much easier to include extra footing pads during the original build than to retrofit them later. The same applies to wiring for lighting and power points. Running conduit during installation costs very little; doing it after the fact costs considerably more.
Cluttering Your Outdoor Space With Too Many Plants and Bulky Furniture
It's tempting to decorate a new patio to the hilt, and there's nothing wrong with wanting it to look inviting. The issue is that too many plants, especially large potted plants, and oversized furniture can quickly eat into usable floor space.
A few considered pieces work far better than a crowded arrangement. Vertical gardens and wall-mounted planter troughs are a good way to bring greenery in without losing floor area. When it comes to furniture, choose pieces that suit the actual scale of your patio. If you're still in the planning stage, it helps to look at styling your patio with scale in mind from the beginning.
Lighting is another element people tend to leave as an afterthought. Extension cords draped across paving aren't just visually untidy; they're a safety hazard. Planning for built-in lighting, particularly task lighting over a BBQ or dining area, makes the space more functional and more enjoyable to use after dark.
Skipping Council Approval and Overlooking Style Cohesion
Failing to get the right council approvals is one of the most common and costly outdoor patio design mistakes Perth homeowners make. Most local councils require a building permit for a patio, and setback requirements from boundaries need to be factored into your design from day one. Getting this wrong can mean costly redesigns, delays or fines, none of which are worth the shortcut.
The same attention to detail applies to style cohesion. Your patio should complement your home, not clash with it. That means taking your existing roof colour, render tone and architectural style into account when selecting COLORBOND® colours and structural finishes. A patio that feels like it belongs to the house it's attached to will always look better and add more value than one that was built without that consideration.
At Great Aussie Patios, we manage the full council approval process on your behalf and work through a 3D design walkthrough with you before anything is built, so there are no surprises when installation day arrives.
Ready to Get Your Patio Design Right the First Time?
Avoiding these mistakes comes down to planning properly before the build begins. If you'd like expert guidance from a Perth team with over 25 years of experience and 15,000+ completed projects across WA, we'd be happy to help. Request a free measure and quote or get in contact with us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need council approval for a patio in Perth?
Yes, in most cases you do. Most Perth councils require a building permit for a new patio. Setback requirements from side and rear boundaries also apply, so it's important to check with your local shire before you start. We handle this process on behalf of our customers.
What is the best roof type to keep a patio cool in WA summers?
Insulated panel roofing, such as SolarSpan®, is one of the most effective options for managing Perth's summer heat. It significantly reduces the temperature under the roof compared to standard polycarbonate or uninsulated steel. Adding a ceiling fan further improves airflow on hot days.
How much space should I allow per person for patio seating?
As a general guide, allow enough clearance around your dining table for people to comfortably pull out chairs and move around without bumping into walls, posts or garden features. The total patio size should reflect how many people you typically entertain, with room left over for circulation.
Which materials last longest near the Perth coast?
COLORBOND® steel is well suited to coastal conditions in WA. It's designed to resist corrosion from salt air and handle high UV exposure. Fixings and fasteners should also be selected with corrosion resistance in mind, as standard hardware can deteriorate quickly in coastal suburbs.
How can I fix drainage problems under an existing patio?
It depends on the cause and severity. In some cases, adding or re-routing downpipes can resolve the issue. In others, re-grading the surface or adding drainage channels may be needed. If you're experiencing ongoing pooling or slab damage, it's worth getting a professional assessment before the problem worsens.