The outdoor living trend is now a way of life for many private homeowners in Bergen County, New Jersey. Outdoor patios are beautiful extensions of the home, the bridge between the indoors and the backyard living space. They can create fantastic entertainment options for homeowners and their guests, or can act as a private “getaway” from the stresses of daily life.
If you’re interested in building an outdoor patio, there are several things you should consider during the planning process. Rushing into a home-construction project could be dangerous and it’s best to let experienced landscape design firm help with the patio of your dreams.
Know Your Space
It’s important that you know how much space you have to work with. Outdoor patio areas fill up quickly so you should go bigger than you expect to. Think of how much furniture you will have and how you would like it arranged when making your plans.
The last thing you want is to have your perfect patio and then realize it’s too small to be what you wanted. When in doubt, it’s better to have more room than not enough.
Plan for Everything
Consider if you’ll have separate areas for cooking, dining and entertainment. Ask yourself how these areas and features will be laid out and where.
You can create a grilling area with a multi-level patio tied together with retaining walls used as seat walls. Separate spaces can allow you to define each area and can also be more multi-functional and allow you to reorganize the layout after construction.
If you have an outdoor kitchen already, make sure a multi-level patio can tie in with the design of the kitchen.
Also, consider breaking up the space with a planting bed to separate the areas as well, even if the outdoor patio space is not multi-tiered.
Location, Location, Location!
Where is the patio in relation to the home, sunlight and the rest of the property? A patio’s position in your yard can influence a number of things, so it’s important to ask yourself several questions.
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How does the homeowner want to exit the home?
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Will the project be a multi-level patio or will it lead to a pool?
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How will the rising and setting sun alter visibility when out on your new patio?
If you’re concerned about sunlight and don’t have the tree cover other houses may have, you can talk to an experienced Bergen County landscaping firm about designing pergolas that filter sunlight and provide great architectural interest.
You can also add vines for more coverage and an additional aesthetic appeal.
Additional Considerations and Conclusions
To add an additional dimension to a patio, you should consider how the use of water features and lighting can influence the atmosphere you want to create. Exterior lighting is very important for multi-level patios, but whether you plan on multi-levels or just one, mood lighting is key to a great patio.
Water features also add a soothing effect and are very natural. Water can attract a variety of birds and butterflies and ties in the wildlife with the plant materials. If possible, adding some fish to the water features can be both great for the atmosphere of the patio as well as a fantastic conversation topic for when you hold outdoor parties during the warm summer months.
Building an outdoor patio is a great way to step up your outdoor living space and give you and your guests a place to relax and have fun. There are many things you should consider when planning a patio but the most important piece of advice is to reach out to a local landscaping and design firm to see what kind of patio is best for you and your yard.