A patio is an outdoor living space characterized by a flat surface surrounded by plants, usually at ground level and not significantly raised. It may be uncovered or covered, connected to a house or free-standing and made from a wide variety of materials. Patios can be paved with a number of surfaces, including natural stone, pavers and concrete.
When planning a patio, it’s important to consider the intended and future uses of the area. If you plan to entertain guests, you’ll want to make sure that there is enough room for the seating, dining and cooking areas. If you plan to use the patio mainly for relaxation and meditation, you may choose to have more room for lounge chairs or hammocks.
It’s also important to take privacy and screening into consideration. For example, if the patio is located close to your neighbor’s property lines or busy streets, you may wish to incorporate screening elements into the design such as fences, trellises, arbors and garden walls.
When determining the size of your patio, we recommend that you draw out some preliminary sketches using your yard dimensions to help visualize the space. This will allow you to allot areas for different activities while ensuring that there is sufficient room and a smooth flow of traffic. It’s helpful to mark the areas for your furniture, barbecue grill and fire pit as well as any other features that you may want to include in your patio design.