Every garden is immediately given a boost when there’s a patio present. Patios give you some extra outdoor living space and will turn a garden from something relatively boring into a place you can relax and entertain guests. That being said, you need to know how to design the perfect outdoor patio space without making any mistakes or leaving some crucial features out.
So, what does every patio need? Regardless of its size, the perfect patio must have these integral features:
A Flat & Stable Surface
Set the ball rolling with the patio flooring; it needs to have four key features:
- Be flat
- Be stable
- Be weatherproof
- Be safe
You might think that’s asking a lot out of your outdoor flooring, but most patio materials are made to tick these boxes. Homeowners love to go for poured concrete or paving slabs because both are very stable, durable, weatherproof, and slip-resistant.
It’s the flatness that you need to be wary of most of all. Even the most suitable patio flooring material can be a problem if it’s not laid down flat. Ensure you work with a proper patio contractor to handle this for you – it could involve some extensive landscaping work to even out your garden and create the flat surface. If your patio isn’t flat, then everything you put on it will be balanced weirdly and it throws the whole thing off.
Some Type Of Cover
Unless you live in the middle of the Sahara desert, you’re going to witness different weather conditions throughout the year. The rain will come – and you may even see a touch of snow – which means you have to protect your patio from the elements with some type of cover or shelter.
You can approach this in two ways:
- Temporary cover
- Permanent cover
The temporary option involves things like awnings or large umbrellas that you can retract to leave your patio uncovered whenever you want. Some homeowners like this, but permanent cover can make more sense. A patio cover contractor can design a custom shelter for your patio that blocks both rain and harmful sun rays from beating down on you. The best permanent shelter normally uses glass panels so you can still see the sun, only the panels block any dangerous UV rays.
That’s something loads of people forget about when designing a patio; yes, you want protection from the rain, but sometimes the sun is just as bad. Having a permanent cover can give you all the protection you need – and it also elevates the patio space and makes it look more refined.
Outdoor Lighting Options
What’s the point of having a patio if you only use it during the day? Evenings are more entertaining when you’ve got a patio to sit out in while the sun sets and the stars pop out. It’s one of the best ways to spend summer nights, but this means you need to get your hands on outdoor lighting options to illuminate the patio space.
It’s a feature you can’t live without, or you’ll truly only get use out of your patio when it’s light outside. That being said, you should be careful when picking the lighting options because you want things that provide a sort of cozy illumination, rather than big, bright, white light.
Everyone’s entitled to their preferences, but you could consider some of the following ideas:
- Fairy lights
- Lanterns
- Hidden LED floor lights
- Outdoor candles
The goal is to give your patio enough light so everyone can see what they’re doing, yet without it being too blinding. That’s where some people go wrong, and it’s usually because they light their patios with a big light on the back of their houses. Some homes are built with lights like these (they’re normally more for security purposes) but they suck at creating the cozy vibes your patio needs. Turn the big light off and rely on lots of little ones for more visual warmth.
Something To Generate Warmth
Visual warmth is one thing, but actual warmth is another. When the sun goes down and you want to stay out on your patio, you’ll need more than warm lighting to keep you comfortable and cozy. There must be something to generate actual warmth, allowing everyone to chill outside without getting cold.
The fun thing about this feature is that it can also be used as a lighting option. There are normally two approaches to warming up a patio:
- Fire pits
- Electric heaters
Both ideas come with pros and cons, but why choose between them? There’s no reason you can’t have a fire pit and some electric heaters on your patio. Get a portable fire pit that you can move around the area depending on where you’re sitting, then incorporate some standing electric heater lights. You can turn the heater lights on when you can’t be bothered to set up a fire – and the fire is there whenever you need/want it.
Garden Furniture
You simply cannot have a patio without garden furniture to sit on or use. This is where your patio can start looking vastly different from someone else’s. The size of a patio determines what types of garden furniture are more suitable than others – though you should keep your thoughts on the following:
- Outdoor seating
- Outdoor tables/dining options
If you have a large patio, then you could get a nice big outdoor sofa, plus a small table and chairs to place in different areas of said patio. Those of you with smaller outdoor spaces may only have enough room for some outdoor lounging chairs or a little dining area. It’s up to you to decide what you prefer; think about how you’ll use your patio. For instance, if you want to eat outside as a family, then it makes more sense to opt for dining furniture arrangements.
Outdoor Storage Solutions
Every patio should have some storage solutions to keep things in when you’re not using them. E.g. your garden furniture won’t get a lot of use during the winter months, so you need a storage area to keep all of the cushions for additional weather protection.
Outdoor storage for a patio comes in multiple forms, though you might just need a small trunk or a mini shed-like structure. You can find all sorts of ideas at the usual places – like Ikea and Home Depot – so shop around until you find something suitable. If you don’t have a lot of space, then you could even consider some multi-purpose outdoor furniture that doubles up as storage.
Safety Elements
Last but not least, we come to the most important feature for any patio: the safety elements. This is going to be a big section because there are multiple things to talk about, so buckle up!
Safety is paramount when you have a patio because you want to prevent people from falling over and hurting themselves. It’s especially problematic when you consider that:
- Patio flooring is very hard and can cause severe injuries
- Patios are often raised, meaning anyone can fall off them
With those two things in mind, you must look into a series of safety features to protect everyone on your patio and prevent serious accidents. Many ideas can spring to mind, though it’s best to focus on these three safety elements:
- Railings/Fences:Is your patio raised above ground? Most will be – even if it’s a tiny bit – and this causes problems for any little ones in the house. A small drop for an adult is a huge drop for a toddler or baby. As such, you should install railings or a fence around your patio to prevent people from falling off. It could come in handy for adults too; especially after a few drinks if someone’s stumbling about or leaning back on their chair!
- Slip Resistance:Patios can become slippery when wet, despite your shelter doing its best to protect the concrete or paving stones. Therefore, you should make your patio more slip-resistant by applying a non-slip sealer to the material. This will make the surface more abrasive and rough, giving you more grip when walking around. You could also consider some anti-slip rugs or mats – just make sure they’re suitable for outdoor use.
- Stairs:Railings and fences will prevent people from falling off your patio, but you still need to get down from there at some point. Maybe you want to wander down into the garden or nip to your shed to fetch something. In any case, a patio should have stairs to allow for safe access; it stops people from hopping down from a ledge, which will easily raise the risk of slipping and falling.
Safety should always be a top priority, but don’t forget about the other six features when designing the perfect patio. You want to create an outdoor sanctity that looks beautiful, provides plenty of practical functions, and can be used during the day or night. Some homeowners think that simply having a patio is enough, but there are many things you should add or do to yours to make it the perfect outdoor space.
