Patio Design Projects

Adding a patio to your back yard can make your home more enjoyable by giving you an outdoor living space. Patios are ideal for outdoor entertaining, family barbecues or quiet relaxation. There are a variety of features you can add to make the patio functional for your family. You can complete many of these patio projects in a single afternoon or weekend. Don't be surprised if your patio project significantly increases your property value, too.

Whether you prefer your patio to be rustic or modern, simple or chic, natural or synthetic, there is a type and style of patio floor finish for you. If you want to maintain natural elements on your patio, opt for wood or stone like flagstone. A tile or brick paver patio may be best if you want modern appeal. If you're looking for a quick update to a concrete pad, interlocking deck tiles can be a good choice. These tiles are easy enough for the novice DIYer to assemble because they lock into place, requiring no nails or grout. You can find them in natural or faux wood or stone. If you have the space, liven up your patio by avoiding a plain square shape. Build a rounded patio, or add one round section that juts out from the main area of the patio.

Consider the ways in which you will use your patio before selecting the seating. You may need several seating areas for different activities. Conversation patio sets, usually consisting of two chairs or a bench and a low table, are perfect for sharing morning coffee among friends. If your family likes to barbecue or take meals outside, you need a dining table and chair set; look for one with an umbrella to protect you from the sun's rays. If your patio is well-landscaped, draw attention to your gardening labor with concrete garden benches around the edges of the patio. If you want a hands-on project, you can construct a set of built-in benches in a single weekend.

In areas where lots are small and you have many neighbors, privacy is critical if you want to get the most enjoyment out of your patio. Foldable room dividers are fun and mobile solutions for privacy. You can move these screens to block other neighbors who are outside or to keep the sun out of your eyes. For a permanent solution, you can add a trellis to your patio; an inexpensive lattice trellis goes a long way to block your patio from view. A gazebo or pergola provides privacy overhead, which is especially important if you have a neighbor with a deck that looks down into your yard. Many gazebos also come with curtains that you can tie back or let down to form a privacy wall.

A patio just wouldn't be complete without a space to grill, and a built-in grill lets you customize your cooking space. You can choose charcoal or gas grills; just make sure the grill is far enough from your home so that the smoke will not discolor the siding or pose a fire threat. Frame the base in stone or firebricks, and mount the grill on top. Be sure to leave plenty of room in your design for setting plates and cooking supplies. A fire pit is an ideal addition for stimulating conversation and extending your outdoor time when autumn sets in. You can design the fire pit to be set into the patio floor or opt for a pit above ground for existing patios. Another popular option is the outdoor fireplace, which has the added benefit of a chimney to draw smoke up and away from you and your guests.

Adding plants helps take a patio from a flat pad with a few chairs to an outdoor oasis. Your family can work together to add stunning ornamental plants to accent your patio. Create a focal point right off your patio with a flower bed full of annual and perennial flowers as well as shrubs. Be sure to plant an assortment of flowers so you have blooms in spring, summer and autumn. Soften your patio by adding potted plants to corners and around seating areas. Go for tropical plants that you can't grow in your flowerbeds; bring them inside to dress up your home in winter.

Water adds a relaxing element to your patio area. Add koi ponds or fountains to flower beds around the patio. Carve a creek bed to flow around the patio; a small bridge completes the effect. If your patio butts up against a retaining wall, use a few plumbing supplies to turn that eyesore into a cascading waterfall that is the focal point of your patio. This looks best with a natural wall, such as a flagstone or granite; the water sparkles like a sheet of glass on top of the rocks.

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