Building Your Own Patio
Planning and designing a patio for your garden area allows you to make the space uniquely yours, and express your personality while offering comfort and charm. The size and position of your garden and your planned patio area are important. Some prefer a patio closer to the home, while others plan a patio area based on the sunlight or views offered. Either way, the idea is to transform your garden area into an outside room or space that you will enjoy spending time in. There are a few guidelines that can help you achieve this, but there are no hard and fast rules for designing your patio area.
Proportional design is critical to creating a patio space that is in harmony with your existing home and garden. In addition, the size of the patio will also be influenced by its function. If you plan on setting furniture on your new patio, consider the type you will use. It is even a good idea to select the pieces that you will purchase to make sure the size of the patio will accommodate the size of the furniture. For the basic table and chairs, a space of about 3m x 3m should be adequate. However, with the addition of barbeque grills or sun loungers, the size of the patio will need to increase.
Shape is another factor of your design to consider. A traditional rectangular patio is fine, but there are several other shapes, such as curved edges and geometric patterns that will give your patio and a more unique look. Marking your planned design with string line or hose pipe will help you visualize the finished effect. Get a second opinion before actually starting any of the actual work because changing the shape or size once you have started can be a real pain to do.
After settling on the size and shape for your new patio, it will be time to consider color – an attribute that is often neglected by homeowners when designing their patio. Some people like the patio to blend in with the exterior wall color of their home, while others prefer a more contrasting effect. Contrast within the materials of the patio itself is another option. For example, you can create a pattern on the floor with the use of contrasting colors of stone. This can be an incredibly effective use of color that creates a striking visual. If using contrasting colors, be careful to use colors that still coordinate well together.
The overall design of the patio will be greatly influenced by the choice of materials used along the perimeter. A popular choice that creates a professional and finished appearance is the incorporation of a small stone or brick wall around the edge of the patio. The design and planning stage is the critical point to bring all of these elements together – such as choosing the type of material to use, the height of the wall, and the finishing technique, which can range from including planting beds on the top or making use of a coped stone to smooth off the edges.
