Create a beautiful getaway by installing a new patio in your home’s yard. Creating a space for your friends and family to enjoy being outside is not only a great way to enjoy your yard during warmer months—but it is also a huge draw for prospective homebuyers. A bit of investment now will pay off in loads of enjoyment and added home value for years to come. And we’ve got the perfect guide to get you started: check out our easy-to-follow tips for a pain-free installation.
Getting Started
Patios are growing in popularity, thanks to their long-term value and the current trend toward outdoor living. We’ll outline the basic steps in planning a perfect patio for you and your family. Our tips ensure that the new outdoor living space is well-planned, beautiful, and practical.
Step 1: Pick Your Place
Most patios are adjacent to the house, but they need not be. A patio placed well away from the house can provide dry footing for a private retreat. On the other hand, if you plan to use your patio for dining, keep it as close to the kitchen as possible.
Step 2: Size It Right
A patio meant for the family can be small and intimate. But if large gatherings are in your home’s future, you’ll want to make sure your patio can handle a crowd. One way to figure the size is to set up tables and chairs on your lawn and see how much room you might need.
Step 3: Choose Your Materials
Brick, concrete, slate, and flagstone are among the most popular patio surfaces, either alone or in combination. When selecting a material, consider factors beyond just cost. It’s always a good idea to match your material options to the style of your home, if possible. And if you’ll be dining regularly, select a surface that is smooth enough to keep tables and chairs from wobbling.
Step 4: Select Your Details
A patio can be a simple slab of concrete or slate. But to make the most of your home’s outdoor living space, you’ll want to add amenities like low-voltage lighting, planters, fountains, or fireplaces. Let your lifestyle and needs dictate the details you choose to add.
Step 5: Select a Builder
The weight and hardness of patio materials can make building one a challenge for the novice. Still, if you want to try a small, forgiving project, consider building a sand-based patio yourself. More complex projects, especially those involving large concrete pours, should involve at least some experienced help.
Step 6: Plan Your Plantings
Trees, flowers, and shrubs help a patio blend into the rest of the garden, and should not be an afterthought. Whether complex or simple, patio plantings enhance your enjoyment of the time you spend outdoors.
5 Additional Bonus Tips:
1. Make Room for Plants
Give your patio a unique dimension by incorporating pockets of colorful, easy-care plants such as succulents and groundcovers that can handle heavy traffic while still maintaining their structure. Creeping thyme, in particular, is a great choice for sunny patios because it releases its lovely fragrance when stepped on.
2. Add Drama with Turf
Get creative with an outdoor space by finding ways to make your lawn part of the design. Here, the circular patch of grass adds to the flow of the landscape and softens the transition between hardscapes. It also acts as a design element, playing off the round heads of flowering hydrangeas, circular container gardens, and stepping-stones off the back door.
3. Create Separate Seating Areas
Make your patio as versatile as possible by offering different seating areas. Casual gatherings (or personal away-time!) call for relaxing in Adirondack chairs; more formal get-togethers are better suited with traditional lawn furniture or benches. If you have the space, create separate seating areas to accommodate any situation.
4. Don’t Forget the Shade
You won’t spend much time on your patio if it’s not enjoyable, so offer a shield from hot summer sun with a pergola, a trellis, or shade trees. With careful planning, you can create shade while putting on a show with a stunning pergola or bold, beautiful specimen trees.
5. Keep the Grill Close
Again, you’ll spend more time enjoying your space if it’s comfortable and handy. Keep seating areas near the grill or outdoor kitchen so you don't have to trek across the yard with platters of food. Plus, you can let elements of an outdoor kitchen do double duty—the screen shown here also helps block late-afternoon sun.
Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens. Used with permission. ©Meredith Corporation. http://www.meredith.com. All rights reserved.