Part of the joy of owning a home comes from the ability to enjoy entertaining friends in the backyard when the weather is good. The patio is the main hub for backyard activities. It deserves serious design attention as well as materials that can stand up to frequent heavy use. Here are some inspiring patio design ideas so you can plan to bring your entertainment outside with a large paver patio in Grosse Ile, MI.
The Perfect Size for Your Entertaining Needs
Even if your backyard is small, which many modern backyards are, it makes sense to devote maximum space to what is most important to you. If you entertain often and don’t need a large lawn for kids and pets to play on, landscapers will recommend sacrificing some backyard lawn in favor of a patio where everyone can comfortably spread out. In fact, this can make the backyard more beautiful as the patio is surrounded by lush native flowers, shrubs, and trees.
Essentials: an Outdoor Fireplace, Outdoor Kitchen, and Pavilion
People naturally want to gather around a fire so if entertaining is your priority, a fire feature is a must. Summer entertaining on the patio is typically comfortable, but even the balmiest summer night can be made cozier with the addition of an outdoor fireplace. This large and exquisite masonry feature will provide long lasting warmth, beautiful fire light, vertical interest, the permanence of masonry, and a sense of community. You can even include an outdoor fireplace in your outdoor kitchen design to craft delicious pizzas and more.
An outdoor fireplace can be positioned in a prominent location or tucked into a cozy corner. The same can be done with a fire pit, which has the added advantage of allowing a greater number of people to gather around. Which one you choose depends on aesthetics, since the look is very different: more formal with an outdoor fireplace, and more casual with a fire pit.
Another important piece of keeping your friends and family comfortable on your backyard patio is making sure they have enough food and drink. Include an outdoor kitchen in your paver patio design in order to keep the fun outside and put some of that delicious outdoor flavor to your cooking. Customize your outdoor cooking space with the appliances you will use most. Include plenty of seating, whether it’s bar seating, a dining table, a fire table, or a combination. And be sure to shelter your outdoor kitchen with a pavilion to keep the fun outside even if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Even if there’s not a single cloud in the sky or drop of rain in the forecast and you think it’s a perfect day for a backyard BBQ, the patio might just be too sunny and hot for comfort. The ideal solution for all-weather entertaining is the pavilion. Pavilions are defined by a closed roof and open walls to protect from the worst of the weather while keeping the breezes flowing. You can include almost any of your outdoor living features inside the pavilion, such as the outdoor fireplace, lounge area, or outdoor kitchen.
Zones
A large patio can become a chaotic space if it’s not zoned. High-activity zones such as the outdoor kitchen should be placed conveniently to the house. Low-activity zones such as a fireside seating area should be placed out of the flow of traffic, in a spot that favors relaxed activities. On a large patio, you could make excellent use of the patio corners: for example, as you exit the home, the right-hand corner closest to you could house the outdoor kitchen; the corner beyond the outdoor kitchen could be a great location for a dining space. On the left-hand side of the patio, you could put a pergola-covered seating area or a hot tub, and a fireside seating area. The space between these zones can be used for casual mingling and as a transitional space.
Related: 5 FAMILY-FRIENDLY IDEAS FOR A PAVER PATIO THAT WILL BE USED OFTEN IN GROSSE ILE AND FLAT ROCK, MI
