Homeowners eyeing a new outdoor stone patio don’t have to settle on the typical and traditional design. Instead, incorporate your personality, hobbies, or even your family into the design of this outdoor space.

Here are 10 unique and crazy stone patio ideas that will elevate the look of your patio and create an amazing backdrop for barbecues, parties, or relaxed family time.

1.   Choose Mosaic Accents or Centerpieces

Break up the monotony and monotone hues of stone by incorporating mosaic accent borders or a mosaic central design on your patio.

Mosaics can be incredibly colorful or designed with toned down color schemes. Create a mandala, nature patterns or use mosaics to create borders around or near landscapes.

2.   Mix In Tiles

A stone patio doesn’t necessarily need to be composed completely of stone. Mix in colorful tiles or add painted tiles created by children. Scatter these accents throughout the patio or designate a central area of the patio to exhibit them.

3.   Draw Designs With Stones

Don’t just place stones side by side in usual schematic patterns or arrangements. Use stones to create pictures in your patio. This is similar to incorporating mosaics, except the stones you use may all be a similar hue. However, the artistic arrangement draws the eye to these landscape pictures. Create a monogram, figural design, abstract figures, or something else entirely. You may even add the mascot of a favorite sports team.

4.   Add Pressed Handprints or Footprints

Sections of cement can be added within the patio and used to present pressed handprints or footprints. This is a cute and clever way to preserve little prints of young children. Add initials or dates.

Keep in mind, though, that you’ll probably want to amend these accent pieces before you sell your home. Not only will parents not want to lose the prints, but parents also could want to hold onto them for privacy reasons, too.

5.   Create a Garden Space

Set aside a section of the patio for a lush garden, greenery or floral accents. You may even create a central garden that the stone patio surrounds, mixing rugged structures with earthy greenery.

6.   Build in a Grill

Stone grills can be built as a part of the patio. This creates a seamless appearance that favors a more natural design aesthetic. An outdoor grill and cooking space blends into the patio design. You may even consider having a stone table and benches designed to match the outdoor cooking area to create a complementary entertainment space.

7.   Add a Koi Pond

Koi ponds create amazing and peaceful features to stone patios. Water elements also can be accented with a sand or rock garden to create a serene design and relaxing space. Koi ponds require upkeep, however. Do It Yourself explains that homeowners will need to clean the ponds, make sure Koi are fed daily, invest in a pump system and ensure temps don’t dip too low.

8.   Install a Fountain

No time to care for Koi or other fish? Add a fountain to the patio instead. Fountains can be extraordinarily elaborate—and expensive—or just streamlined and basic. Choose a fountain that fits your budget and your maintenance ability. When budgeting, plan for installation costs!

9.   Incorporate a Hot Tub  or Small Pool

Outdoor patios are the perfect spaces to build in a hot tub or small pool. In-ground options look best; be sure you understand maintenance needs and safety/insurance issues as well.  Also, be mindful to keep your pool space as energy-efficient as possible.

10.   Design a Natural Playground

Want to have fun with those stones? Have a designer create a cool (and safe) natural playground that blends with the patio. You can incorporate small climbing structures like stone animals. Or design tunnels built into rocks. Add slides that naturally blend into the stone hues. A sandbox also can be a fun addition to a backyard patio.

Create a unique outdoor stone patio space that goes beyond the ordinary and typical design. Incorporate mosaics, personalized and colorful tiles, handprints or even stone designs. However, these spaces also can add elements beyond simple design details; koi ponds, built-in grills, pools and even playgrounds can elevate the basic patio into an amazing entertainment space. Lush green spaces also can be mixed into the stone elements to soften the rugged or more contemporary look of a stone patio. Think beyond basic and choose a stone patio design that reflects your personality, your passions and your family’s needs for the space, too.