Finding the Right Design for Your Backyard Patio

Designing an outdoor living space for your home can be an exciting and exhilarating project.  A professional landscape architect would certainly do an excellent job of considering your wants and needs while creating a truly unique and custom patio design or you could tackle it on your own as I do believe everyone has a little bit of “designer” in them. 

Start by making a list of what features are most essential to you.  Determine what your budget is.   Do you like cooking and entertaining outdoors?  Would you use this area to entertain friends?  Would you be using the space in the winter as well as summer?  Is the yard to be child friendly?  Using the answers to these questions, you can now start sketching the outdoor living space you want.  The possibilities are endless. 

As far as greenery, I prefer heavily landscaped property lines for privacy with up lighting and path lights to various areas and grass areas between decks and berms to play ball etc.  One of the most important factors to keep in mind when planning an alluring and practical outdoor living space is sun exposure in your outdoor living space.  Does it face north, south, east or west?  Species of plants and shading trees should be planted accordingly.

Also, keep in mind, it’s very important to make sure what you do to the backyard and patio, compliments the style of your house. Traditional or formal looking homes will look nice with an older look, classic brick patio and aged looking furniture. A cottage garden home would be inviting with a small rounded patio ringed with a decorative picket fence. While a contemporary styled house might have a patio with smooth, simple clean lines. The shape of your patio is also important.  Rounded patios, surrounded by gardens will soften the hard edges of a house and create a private feeling, almost a secret garden effect.  A wide patio works well for a large garden or lawn area and gives a more stylized look. If your yard is small blend the patio off from your porch or deck and make use of your small space breaking it up with sections with colorful slim planters or in containers.