Laying a patio is a fairly large project so it's important to plan well. Get to know the characteristics of your garden before choosing the area you want to pave. Your decision can be influenced by considering which parts of the garden are sheltered from the elements, which parts are not overlooked, where the sun falls during the day etc. When designing your patio it is important to remember that these days there are many designs and techniques to choose from and you don't have to restrict yourself to boring grey slabs. Laying it yourself can save a lot of money and with good planning can look very professional in the end.