Patios are more than a slab of concrete or area of brick pavers laid into the ground around your home. They should be treated as another room – an extension of your home which can add value as well as an area of enjoyment. Do you have a patio that is not being utilized outside your home? Why waste that space when you can enjoy it! If you are clueless as to how to create a new outdoor space, read on for your first important tip:
What You Want from your Patio
Perhaps the number one reason why your patio space is not being used is that you do not know what you want from it. Do you want a patio for home entertainment – perhaps a place to barbecue and eat outdoors with friends? Maybe an oasis of calm is what you want with plenty of plants, small trees and flowers and even a water fountain. How about a functional space to house pots in which to grow small vegetables and herbs? A quiet spot with some shade to hang a hammock or sit on a bench to savor a cup of coffee might be nice too.
You have to decide what you really want from your patio because it is certainly not living up to your expectations right now existing unused. A combination of several ideas listed above is certainly doable. Are you ready to invest some time, labor and money to create a functional patio that will suit your needs? If so, get ready for some patio ideas below:
1) Shade options – Regardless of how you plan to use your patio, you will need some shade to make your time out there more comfortable. You can extend the roof of your home to cover the patio area. Perhaps you could build a simple frame around and above the patio to install a fiberglass or tin roof. Pergolas add a nice touch as well. Of course, awnings or even open-sided pop-up tents are an option. Other shaded patio ideas include planting shrubbery or straight rooted trees around your patio so as they grow, they will provide natural shade.
2) Furniture options – Patio ideas regarding furniture is all a matter of taste and how you plan to utilize your space. For al fresco dining, choose a patio table with an umbrella attachment. Maybe a picnic table with benches would suffice. Wicker furniture is popular with weatherproof seat and bench cushions to provide some color. Wrought iron furniture with cushions are also possibilities.
3) Lighting options – You might have a light installed outside your door which shines onto the patio area. However, if you do not, you could choose festive lanterns and place them strategically around your patio. Most homes have outdoor electrical receptacles so why not actually utilize them and plug in some outdoor lighting? There is also solar lighting that can be installed easily without tools that push right into the ground.
4) Outside elements – Plants and flowers are great additions because they add texture, color and sometimes, a pleasant aroma. Landscaping around the patio perimeter is an option or use rustic whiskey barrels or pottery to house your favorite foliage. Choose your favorite flowers and plants that grow well within your region for easy upkeep.
There are countless patio ideas to ponder beyond the four listed above. Do you want to extend you patio area with more concrete or use pea gravel? How about a chimenea? Perhaps mosquito netting or a screen is needed for protection. See? The list could go on and on!
