A backyard patio can be a gentle oasis in a chaotic world. It can be a place where your family gathers and a place where you can read a book uninterrupted. Backyard patios can be used to entertain your guests, barbecue on the grill, and have an evening cocktail.
Designed correctly, patios can become an extension of your home and are a natural way to bring your indoor living spaces to the outdoors. Here are some patio design ideas that will improve your backyard and make it more welcoming and useable for your family.
Build a Concrete Patio
There are many types of materials that you can use for your patio, but concrete is one of the easiest to use and maintain. Using some methods to make concrete more decorative, like stenciling, stamping, and dyeing, you can create impressive patios that integrate other design themes from your backyard.
If you are interested in a high-quality concrete patio, contact a professional concrete contractor in Marion, IN to assist you with designing and building a patio that will last for decades. Concrete is a versatile building material, and the options are endless.
Add a Water Feature
You can add a stunning concrete water feature to your backyard patio to make it more inviting and relaxing.
Depending on your skill level and creativity, you can try to DIY a concrete water feature, but if you are using a professional to build a patio, why not ask them to build a water feature, too? Professionals with decades of experience in working with concrete can help you build a truly stunning water feature that blends in with the rest of your backyard.
Please Be Seated
Outdoor seating is a must; there are several ways you can create great spots to relax and have a seat. Here are a few considerations:
- Choose materials that will hold up to outdoor weather extremes.
- Consider built-in seating for your patio.
- Integrate seating with planter boxes.
- Use various materials, like iron bistro tables, that complement each other.
- Use bench seating with handy storage for outdoor tools and supplies.
Depending on how your patio is used, you may need to invest in a recliner or two for those times when you just want to kick back and read a book or enjoy a cocktail.
Patio Lighting For a Touch of Elegance
Lighting can sometimes be an afterthought regarding landscaping in general, but it will make your outdoor living areas much more usable. However, there are many lighting products on the market today that you can use to light up your backyard patio without electricity.
There are five main types of patio lighting, and no matter how you use your patio, you can get creative with all of them to make big improvements to your backyard living spaces.
- Hanging lights
- Lamp post-style lights
- In-ground lights
- Directional lights
- Decorative lights
You can use different combinations of lighting types in various ways to create just the look you want for your patio.
Different Ways to Add Color to Your Patio
There are many ways to add color to your patio, and you should feel free to try as many as you like to make your backyard reflect your personal style.
While some people prefer to stick with subtle earth tones and let nature do the work of adding color in their backyards, many people love to add splashes of color when they decorate freely. Depending on your personal sense of style, it can be a good idea to start slowly and add a little bit of color at a time, using colors that go well with your home’s exterior.
If you have a concrete slab patio, you can dye it, seal it to add color, and then use outdoor furniture that brings out the subtle tones in your concrete. Potted plants can be a great way to add color. You can also choose to add a brightly colored outdoor rug, paint a mural on a wall or fence or paint the door to your house.
Use the area surrounding your patio to add perennial flowers that add bright pops of color throughout your growing season. Shrubs and trees with fall foliage can also be a great way to get color in your patio area.
Make Your Patio More Comfortable With Shade
As humans, we naturally like to control the elements, and being outdoors in your yard is a way to enjoy the benefit of being outdoors and still control some of the elements to make yourself comfortable. A great way to do this is by adding shade.
Typically, when we think of adding shade, we think about planting trees, but there are many different ways to add shade to your patio, and you won’t have to wait for your tree to grow. Awnings, umbrellas, pergolas, and pop-up canopies can be a great way to make your backyard patio more usable on hot summer days. You can also hang curtains in various ways, capitalizing on the opportunity to add more color and other design elements to support the rest of your décor.
These are just a few ideas of hundreds of design ideas that you can use to improve your backyard patio. So let your imagination run free and take the opportunity to get creative to make your backyard an amazing haven for you, your guests, and your family.
