Alternative options to patio

[Nonky]

Hello :-)
We have just bought our new house and for the first time have a lovely big garden which we are very excited about! Due to various reasons we have a very short amount of time (and money!) to redo kitchen/bathroom etc.

Outside the sitting room double doors is a very old and broken patio. We don’t have the time to replace it with like for like due to all the other jobs. We’ve thought about decking -
Too slippy? And gravel - no good for bare feet? But is there any other alternative???

Many thanks

How broken? Just some or all? Hard to say without a picture.

Most of it!

Is there anything that can be placed over the top or is this wishful thinking!!!!

You could level it with sand and buy some fake grass until you have time to do it.

Thanks. Was hoping to avoid fake grass but it may be the only option. 😀

Bark chippings with weed suppressant membrane underneath?

What kind of depth is there - is there a step down to the patio?

I’m thinking:

Membrane on patio, fine gravel in top. In the middle make a ‘raft’ of railway sleepers for a seating area (with maybe half sleepers as ‘stepping stones’ to it)

Lots of lovely grasses and prairie type plants in the gravel and some pots with taller grasses in them. The sort of plants that live by the seaside would work. (Sea buckthorn, thrift, marram grass, sea cabbage) it would be grand

If you look at Detek Jarman’s garden - which is in Dungemess you’ll see what I mean

www.gardenvisit.com/gardens/derek_jarman_garden_prospect_cottage_dungeness

And here is RHS advice on how to make a ‘gravel garden’

www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=500

What trill said: