The garden, your personal patch of paradise. Home to everything from a tranquil morning coffee spot to the stage for twilight dinners. At Baked Tiles, we believe your outdoor space deserves the same love and the same style treatment as your interiors do. As a design team with years of tile experience, we've worked on so many inspiring garden renovation projects and garden designs. So here are our top 3 designer-approved tips for transforming your garden using, you guessed it, tiles!
1. Choose The Right Tile: It’s Not Just a Pretty Surface
Let’s talk practicality first, because this is always an important element of choosing garden tiles. No one wants a slippery patio or cracked paving tiles halfway through summer!
Thickness matters: There are many tiles that can be used outside, but if they are being used as flooring, they will likely need a concrete base, which can incur extra cost. For outdoor areas without a solid concrete base, go for porcelain paving tiles with a thickness of at least 20mm. These thicker tiles are the most suitable for outdoor spaces, as they can take more weight and are frost proof, meaning that they won't crack during the colder weather. Porcelain paving from our Manor House collection is a great choice if you are looking a for a neutral stone effect. If you are looking for something more bold, our Alfresco paving collection is full of bright and timeless designs inspired by the med.
Durability and slip rating are crucial: Always check for a slip rating of Plus 36 PTV or higher. These tiles are the most suitable for outdoor surfaces, where slipping can be a risk. All the tiles we class as suitable for ‘external use on floors’ have been checked and tested, and they can all be used in this setting. This ensures that the tiles you buy stay safe when it’s wet, because glamour and grazed knees don’t mix!
Bonus tip: All the Baked Tiles outdoor collections are UV-resistant, so your beautiful patterns and colours won't fade with age.
2. Zone Your Garden: Style Meets Structure
A well-designed garden renovation flows, with different zones making way for different activities. Well selected tile pairings can give you the flow you need from one zone to another, offering visual interest without moving away from your chosen style.
Create “rooms” outdoors: Use different tile patterns or laying styles to define areas: perhaps a bold herringbone from our Nature Wood collection for your dining spot, characterful pattern from the Alfresco collection for the lounging zone, and soft neutral slabs for your pathways. Choosing tiles that share elements like colour or texture can help to improve the flow in your garden renovation project.
Frame your features: Want your firepit, water feature, or raised bed to pop? Use contrasting borders, geometric layouts, or bold tile colours (like the striking blue of our Elan tiles) to draw the eye. It's subtle, stylish, and oh-so-satisfying, creating more interest in your garden space.
Pro tip: Stick to a unified design style throughout your zones. This will ensure that the continuity feels intentional and serene. The Baked Design team can help you select tiles within the same style, with varying colours and detail to add interest and reinforce your preferred look.
3. Coordinate With Your Furniture: Harmony Is Hot Right Now
Let’s not forget the décor. Your garden tiles should sing in perfect harmony with your garden furniture and furnishings. Often the selection of your tiles precedes the purchasing of furniture etc, but if this is not the case for your project, consider your existing pieces when selecting your tiles. If you have wooden furniture in one zone, maybe match the tone of the that wood with a wood effect porcelain paver in another area.
Tone-on-tone is timeless: If your outdoor furniture leans into natural rattan, warm neutrals or earthy terracotta tiles will bring out its organic charm. Our Marrakesh collection is hugely popular, and whilst its only a small format tile, it can be used both indoors and outdoors for a beautiful effect.
Going sleek and modern? Pair neutral concrete effect, or large format stone effect tiles with metal-framed furniture and crisp upholstery. Punctuate with a pinch of contemporary pattern or the tactile finish of a rich wood, creating instant chic.
Worried about Injecting colour? Let your tiles be the calm canvas—think soft neutral, beiges, or muted greens—and then add colourful cushions to your furniture, pots, and plants to lift the scheme.
To Conclude...
Renovating your garden with tiles is more than just laying down a floor—it's about crafting a space that invites you to linger, laugh, and live a little. With the right tiles, clever zoning, and thoughtful styling, your garden can feel as beautifully curated as your living room.
And remember—should you need help picking the perfect tile for your garden renovation project, we happen to know a great place to start: Book A Free Design Appointment with us today!
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