For thousands of homeowners, the backyard patio is the focal point of the home. With unique and interesting layouts as well as thousands of different uses, homeowners who don’t have a functional patio are beginning to look toward construction. After all, an oasis like this is not only functional, it adds to the value of your home as well.
Form and Function
Two of the words that all designers take to heart are the words form and function. In order to create a backyard patio design that will be perfect for your home, you first need to figure out what you are going to be using the patio for. For instance, do you do a lot of entertaining outside? Then you would probably want a larger patio that is well equipped for entertaining. You would want a space for a grill as well as room for a table or two and plenty of seating. If you have children, you may want to plan out a place for them to play as well as room for you to sit down and enjoy watching them.
Moving with the Landscape
When you are trying to choose your backyard patio design, you should try to do your best to move with the flow of the land. Almost all land has curves and slopes, and if you try to move with them instead of bulldozing them, you can make a beautiful and truly distinctive design that will be very memorable. Is there any shade where you’d like your patio? Most designers try to incorporate shade into the design, as having a shady spot to sit on a hot afternoon is a wish of many homeowners, and it is easier to incorporate the shade that is already available than to build your own. Should you choose to construct artificial shade, though, you have many options. From constructing a grape trellis to adding a roof, there are hundreds of design options.
Pretty it Up!
In order to make your patio look different from every other one you see, decorate it distinctively. You can start this process by choosing which kind of design you want on the floor of your patio. You can buy expensive slate or stone, or you can use concrete and design it to have a specific pattern. Incorporating nature into your patio is always a good idea as well. Using a lot of green in your backyard is also a way to decorate your patio. Flowerbeds can help to bring some color into the yard, while green bushes can help you to separate one area from another. Consider adding potted plants and trees on the actual patio, as well, to help with your decorative scheme.
Many homeowners find that it is easier to install and design a patio than it is to build a deck, and as long as you have a door that is low to the ground or directly on the ground, a concrete patio may be just the way to go!
For more information on designing your own patio, please read these articles:
Good thoughts. Thinking about the ‘details’ of the patio is a great way to create/build one that is unique. You’ve got some good tips for that — flower beds (or custom raised planters), considering the ‘lay of the land’ — details make it just a little different.
I’ll note that if you’ve got patio furniture already, you could put all the furniture outside — where you’ll use it — to see if you’ve got enough space or if it will block the door, etc. Mark the edge of your proposed patio with a hose or landscaping paint — just make sure not to spray the house or furniture.