A patio is not just the setting for outdoor living. It’s the place where amazing memories are made. If your patio is not meeting your needs - if it’s too small, too cramped, or even too big and disjointed, updating your patio to high modern standards can completely transform your landscape and your outdoor lifestyle. Here are five ways patios define outdoor spaces in the Riverhead, NY area.
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The Hub of Outdoor Activity
The patio is the central hub of all backyard activity. It’s the place where people come to relax; or to grab a refreshment; or entertain; or play; or even work. In some respects it’s like the home itself, filled with comfortable furnishings but with the sky for a ceiling. In some respects it’s like being in nature, especially if you’ve surrounded your patio with greenery. However you like to enjoy your backyard, a well-designed patio could be its crown jewel.
There are plenty of options to consider regarding the size and shape of a patio.
A Single Central Patio
The majority of backyards feature a single central patio by the back door. It serves as the hub of backyard living and a pleasing transition between the home and the natural landscape, whether that landscape is wild and natural or carefully manicured. With a single central patio, it’s easy to consider this outdoor space as another room in the home: a sitting area, dining area, and outdoor kitchen all in one.
Multiple Smaller Patios
More and more homeowners and landscape designers are turning their heads towards adopting a set of multiple smaller patios as the defining feature of a backyard. While a single central patio may bring everyone together during a gathering, multiple smaller patios can let individuals or small groups branch off and enjoy the backyard in their own way. Using a network of multiple smaller patios will give each activity its own space, much like individual rooms in the house. This approach adds incredible interest to a backyard. It also gives more opportunities for decoration using gorgeous plantings and utilizes much more of the backyard: instead of a large lawn, your backyard could be much more interesting - and much easier to maintain.
Making the Most of the Land
Not all landscapes feature perfectly level land that allows for fairly simple landscaping projects. In fact, many landscape designers work with the challenges of a sloped and varied landscape by getting creative with elevation changes. Your patio can be separated by slight elevation changes. These transitions are marked by sitting walls and steps separated by a single step up or down. You could even adopt these slight elevation changes into fairly level backyards to add dimension.
Elevation changes can be further separated by plantings and wider spaces between smaller patios. This takes advantage of the challenges created by a varied landscape to make a gorgeous backyard defined by terraced outdoor living spaces. It’s a great way to carve out a unique landscape that honors the natural world and makes best use of your land.
A Healthier Lifestyle
Spending time outside when the weather allows is proven to have many physical and mental benefits. With a well constructed patio that fits into your landscape and home, you and your family can enjoy all the benefits of spending more time outdoors.
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