It is a time honored tradition, one that families and friends across the country engage in on a regular basis during the summertime: gathering outside on the patio for food and fellowship. Of course for some people, the patio is an underlooked area, especially in places where the winter months are particularly harsh. Even here in Tennessee, patios can become dirty, cold, unforgiving places to be forgotten, with the living room or dining room taking that place. It doesn’t have to be this way. With a few changes, the patio can be the great bridge between the inside and the outside, the place where all the hard work you put into your landscape can be appreciated and mixed with the comfort of your home. We at the Parke Company are specialists when it comes to designing something that looks nice while also being useful, so here are some tips to spruce up your patio area.
What you are looking for
When it comes to sprucing up your patio area, incorporating it into the design of your landscape is one of the best options, instead of treating it as a separate entity. Part of that is thinking about the boundaries of the area. Do you want there to be a wall separating the two? Or maybe you want the material the patio is made of to blend seamlessly into the grass. These are the kinds of questions you need to think about before setting out to rework the area. Both have their pros and cons; having a wall gives a sort of vertical variety – something to look at and it opens up a lot of design options, including the ability to hang plants. However, a more casual blending means less work, so the patio can be anywhere. Another idea is to make a path through a garden leading to a sort of enclosed area. This allows for guests to see the flowers you’ve been working on while also providing a sense of privacy your neighbors might appreciate.
Patio purpose
What are you looking for in your patio? Being able to answer that question might make it easier to picture what your patio can look like. If you want a place where people can gather and have a nice time late into the night, a fire pit might be the spark you’re looking for. Add a selection of comfortable chairs gathered around and you’re looking at an intimate night with friends. Of course, if your patio is on the larger side, one way to break things up is through the use of large potted plants and chairs to create “rooms” nearby, something perfect for extended family gatherings. If you want the best of both worlds, incorporate a mix of formal and informal furniture, with something like a clean grill in the background.
The truth is that the patio can be whatever you want it to be. Once you’ve narrowed down what you want from the area, give the professionals here at the Parke Company a call and we will provide you with a variety of plant and structure options that will take your patio from an afterthought to the main idea.