Patios: 5 Practical Steps For Designing

The flux of innovations and technologies that have broken backyard barriers has brought about an onslaught of patio ideas from creative visionaries. The white picket fences and identical driveways of before have become dull and nightmarish. As homeowners aim for an increase in property value, they push for individuality in elegant yet practical patio designs.

The patios of today have diversified exponentially and choosing a design to fit your home can be overwhelming. The good news is almost anything goes and the sky is the limit when it comes to patio design.

Here are five practical steps to help you design your patio.

1. Set a budget and keep it in mind. Before starting on the design, set a limit. That way, you can let your imagination run wild while keeping your feet on the ground. Regardless of which detail in the patio design you are contemplating on, never lose sight of your budget. If money is tight, remember that an increase in one design aspect will mean a decrease in another. For example, going for the more expensive floor tiles might mean a roofless patio instead.

2. Pick a purpose and theme that complements your house. First, ask yourself what would be the main function of your patio. Accordingly, pick a theme to go with it. Make sure the patio you envisioned would blend in with everything else in the house. You might also want to think of a way to transition from the inside of the house to the patio.

3. Enumerate the parts of your patio. A patio has five main parts: the floor, roof, wall, furniture, and landscape. You don’t have to incorporate all of them into your design though. In fact, a minimalistic look would not only be economical, but elegant as well. Also think about having a centerpiece or highlight to accentuate your patio.

4. Go over the specifics of each part. Go into your local home improvement store and see what is available for each part of your patio design. Don’t forget to check the price range. Also explore swap meets and garage sales for design ideas and good finds for patio furniture. When making decisions, bear in mind the purpose and theme you had chosen for your patio.

5. Draw up the blueprints and plan the construction of your patio. Now that your design is more specific, put your vision onto paper. Start planning your patio’s assembly time frame. If you mean to put the patio together yourself, make sure to get the proper permits from your local building authority before starting. Otherwise, let the contractor handle that as well.

There isn’t really a cut and dry structure for patios and this is the best part about designing it. The most important thing is that you are happy with the outcome and are able to relax and enjoy your patio afterward.