Designing your terrace: the complete guide

Theterraceis, as soon as the nice weather arrives, the room we inhabit the most — and yet the one we design the least well. We place a table, a few chairs, and hope that the atmosphere will come by itself. It never comes by itself. A successful terrace is the result of a series of decisions made in the right order: the uses, the material, the structure, the comfort, the plants. This guide reviews them all, just as a landscape architect would.

The terrace, a true living space

Before delving into the choices, we must agree on what a terrace is. It is not just a simple platform against the house: it is the link between the interior world and the garden landscape. It is, almost always, the first space seen from the living areas, a viewpoint of the garden, and a multifunctional place — dining, relaxing, playing, remote working, entertaining.

Designing it means thinking at the same time about three things: the architecture of the house it extends, the uses we expect from it, and the nature it opens up to. It is this triple perspective that distinguishes a lived terrace from a simply tiled terrace.

Step 1 — Define the brief before any choice

This is the step that is most often skipped, and it is the most important. Before choosing a material or a style, we must answer a few questions.

How do we move between the interior and the garden?Where are the openings — sliding doors, side doors? Are steps needed, a gentle slope, a level threshold? A successful terrace fits into the natural path of the inhabitants.

What will it be used for?Family meals, drinks with friends, sun loungers, summer office? Are distinct areas needed — a dining corner and a lounge area — or a single space? The uses determine the size and shape much more than the reverse.

What is its exposure?Burning sun in the afternoon, shade from a wall, frequent wind? The orientation dictates the shading, windbreak, and even the choice of covering.

What style do you want to express?Contemporary, rustic, Mediterranean, Japanese-inspired? The terrace should echo the materials of the house and the spirit of the garden — not tell a separate story.

As long as these answers are not clear, any choice of material is premature.

Step 2 — Choose the covering

The floor is what you see and touch constantly: it deserves to be chosen, not endured. The main categories are: wood (warm, lively, but requires maintenance), natural stone — in Belgium, blue stone is a safe bet —, smooth or architectural concrete, and ceramic stoneware (ceramic), increasingly present for its stability and ease of maintenance.bois (chaleureux, vivant, mais à entretenir), la pierre naturelle — en Belgique, la pierre bleue est une valeur sûre —, le béton lissé ou architectonique, et le grès cérame (céramique), de plus en plus présent pour sa stabilité et sa facilité d'entretien.

The right material is chosen based on several criteria at the same time: slip resistance (a real safety point in our humid climate), heat retention in full sun, maintenance, durability, budget — and above all, coherence with the house. A surface that extends the shades and lines of the façade visually 'enlarges' the interior towards the exterior.

To compare materials in detail — wood, stone, concrete, ceramics — see our dedicated article on terrace coverings.

Step 3 — Consider the structure and technique

This is the part that is least visible, and which causes the most problems when neglected.

At ground level, raised or on pedestals?A ground-level terrace erases the boundary with the garden; a pedestal terrace makes installation and water drainage easier; a raised terrace creates a viewpoint but requires a proper structure.

The slope and drainage.A terrace must always have a slight drainage slope, directed towards the right place. In the Belgian climate, a terrace that drains poorly leads to stagnant water, moss, frost that works on the joints, and ultimately damage.

The load.On a slab terrace, a balcony or a roof terrace, the weight — covering, structure, planted containers, furniture — must be considered in advance and, at the slightest doubt, checked. This is not a technical detail: it is a matter of safety.

The joints and fixings.Flexible joints, invisible fixings, edge finishes: these are the details that ensure a terrace ages well.

Step 4 — Shade, wind and lighting

A terrace can only be fully enjoyed if it is comfortable — and comfort can be designed.

Shadecan come from a pergola (which structures the space and supports climbing plants), a stretched sail, or a tree with light foliage like aGleditsia, which filters light without extinguishing it.The wind, often underestimated, can render a beautiful terrace unusable: a well-placed plant screen or trellis makes all the difference.

Lighting, finally, extends use into the evening: recessed lights, indirect lighting, low lines along pathways. The goal is not to illuminate as in broad daylight, but to create soft and adaptable atmospheres.

Step 5 — The plants, on and around the terrace

A terrace without plants remains a slab. Greenery is what makes it a living space — and a simple principle guides everything: plan for plants at the base of every hard surface.

Plants can be invited at the edges (a planted strip that softens the transition to the garden), in embedded flower beds, or — especially when there is no soil — in pots and planters. One combines evergreens for structure, seasonal plants for rhythm, herbs near the summer kitchen, and grasses for lightness.

To learn everything about landscaping with pots and planters — composing in threes, greening a mineral courtyard, and technical points (load, drainage, wind) — see our dedicated guide.

Step 6 — Composing uses and furniture

The final step is that of composition. A successful terrace distinguishes its uses — dining, relaxing — without partitioning them with walls: it is the levels, materials, and plants that mark the transitions while maintaining fluidity.

The furniture, on the other hand, often benefits from being designed with the terrace rather than added afterwards: a built-in bench, a seat that extends a planter, a low wall-bench structure the space much better than simply placed furniture, and free up surface area.

See also our article on integrated furniture for cohesive outdoor spaces.

Frequently asked questions

What material should I choose for my terrace?

There is no single answer: wood brings warmth but requires maintenance, natural stone (with Belgian blue stone at the forefront) offers great durability, concrete and porcelain stoneware appeal due to their stability and ease of maintenance. The right choice depends on exposure, use, budget, and especially coherence with your house.

Should the terrace be at ground level or raised?

A ground-level terrace blurs the boundary between the house and the garden and facilitates movement; a raised terrace creates a viewpoint, a 'belvedere' effect, but requires a more substantial structure. The choice depends on the topography of the land and the height of the living spaces in relation to the garden.

How can I integrate plants on a terrace?

At the edges, in built-in flower beds, or in pots and planters when there is no soil. The principle: always have greenery at the base of hard surfaces. On a terrace, the containers must also be considered technically — load, drainage, wind resistance.

What budget should I plan for landscaping a terrace?

The budget varies greatly depending on the area, the material, the complexity of the structure (single-storey, elevated, on stilts) and the additional features (shading, lighting, planting). Rather than a misleading range, the most reliable option is a personalised study: this is what a detailed quote allows.

Is a landscape architect needed to design a terrace?

It is not mandatory, but this is where the difference lies between a 'laid' terrace and a lived-in terrace. The landscape architect brings everything together — circulation, levels, materials, technique, planting, light — into a coherent project, and anticipates the issues (drainage, load, exposure) that can be costly when discovered too late.

In summary

Designing a terrace is not just about choosing a surface and garden furniture: it is about conducting a small architectural project, in order — defining the uses, choosing the material, mastering the technique, ensuring comfort, incorporating planting, composing the spaces. When well designed, the terrace becomes what it should always be: the beating heart of the garden, and the most vibrant extension of the home.

Want a terrace designed as a real project? Request your free quote— we design your terrace with you, in Brabant Wallon and Brussels.