The following article was submitted by Kristin Lucas, our landscape designer.
The rooms inside our homes provide useable, functional spaces. We have spaces for eating, spaces for relaxing, spaces for working, and spaces for sleeping. Whether these spaces are large or small, divided by walls or defined by furniture and rugs, they make our living easier.
Just like the rooms inside the home, outdoor space can be divided into functional, beautiful “rooms.” With some planning, even the tiniest yard can provide space for eating, entertaining, relaxing and recreation. Spaces can be clearly divided with hedges, garden beds or fences. Or they can be defined with different surface materials and furniture.
One of the best ways to define a space is with the creation of a patio. Like adding an area rug to a room, a patio defines a space. Unlike a rug, a patio can also provide many other great functions, such as:
Relaxing. A small patio close to the house is a great space for morning coffee or evening wine. It can become an intimate space for reading or conversation, or a small perch from which to enjoy a beautiful view.
Entertaining. Larger patios can provide solid surface for a dining table, a grill or outdoor kitchen, and seating. They can lend enough space for guests to mix and mingle comfortably.
Traffic Flow. A patio can provide surface area for traffic flow between buildings, and can help direct visitors to main doors or gathering areas.
Destination. A patio tucked into a garden or a corner of the yard becomes a welcoming destination. Just add a couple of chairs or a bench, and you have a little get-away within your own yard.
Recreation. Patios can include many built-in recreation features as well. Firepits, benches, sand boxes, ponds, pergolas, hot tubs and fireplaces can all be built right into the patio, adding many recreational possibilities.
If creating outdoor rooms in your yard appeals to you, but you don’t know where to begin, give us a call. We’ll be happy to help you create a beautiful, functional outdoor living space.
