Patio Design - How to Expand Your Home Outdoors

Extend you home into the outdoors with a backyard patio...

Adding a patio can be like adding another room to your house. Effective patio design can increase the floor space of your home, by creating an outside room. where you can entertain, barbecue or just enly the weather. A patio can be as simple as a rectangular slab of cement with some plastic chairs and grill, but it can also be so much more!

What picture comes to your mind when you think of a patio?

With a good patio design you can build an outside living area - an expansion of your house - for celebrating or relaxing all year round. For instance, people who like to entertain may want to construct a patio with an undercover kitchen and dining area. Or just try adding a barbecue grill, an apartment (small) fridge and some quality outdoor furniture.

Consider textures, colors, and materials before starting

When designing a new patio, keep in mind that your new outdoor entertaining area does not need to be expensive. There are a variety of different patio surfaces to fit a particular style or budget, including concrete pavers (a kind of interlocking tile), natural clay stones and bricks. You can vary the type of paving or surface - to create different vidual effects. Pebbles, gravels, bricks and tiles, can all be incorporated. A contrasting brick edge can also be effective, creating boundary lines and divisions within the patio area. Similarly, patio shades need not be extensive, just enough to cover the main cooking and eating areas; after all, why spoil the view of your gorgeous garden in the midday sun or block out the stars in the sky on a clear night.

Another important element in patio design is landscaping. Plants help to soften the hard surface of a patio floor by providing color, texture and fragrance. The right plants can set the mood for your outdoor living space. Consider placing potted plants that are an extension or a contrast to your garden. Additionally, think about rotating plants on your patio that fit the season of the year or reflect a Holiday or special occassions.

Another way to affect the atmosphere or mood of your patio is by adding a water feature. This can be an eleborate fountain or one of those small portable water falls where a tiny pump splashes water over a bowl of rocks. Maybe a bird bath on one corner of the patio? Lighting, too, should be incoroporated. Some soft low voltage lighting, Chinese Lanterns or candles, can create a stunning patio setting for night time entertaining.

Enjoy Your Patio!

Finally, selecting the right furniture is the final key to the perfect patio design. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on the right setting. Concentrate on selecting furniture that is durable, basic in color and rich in style and sophistication. Check out resin coated wicker or rattan pieces that can be dressed up with different cushions and throw rugs. For more suggestions about buying furniture check out this in-the-garden.org article:  Easy Ways to Get the Best Discount Patio Furniture.

About the author":  Nicholas webb is the owner of  http://www.allabout-patio.com a site that provides user-friendly patio furniture and patio accessories consumer tips and buying advice for the outdoor lover. 

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