How to Design the Perfect Outdoor Space and Patio
When designing an outdoor living space both landscape architecture and interior design principles play a role in creating an ideal outdoor retreat. Landscape architect, David Pfeiffer and professional Interior Designer, Lisa Moody both offer sound advice on how to design a beautiful, inviting and perfectly useable outdoor living space. The first question they both say needs to be considered is how will the space be used?
How will the space be used?
How will the space be used? Lounging, dining, entertaining, all of the above. When designing an outdoor space, landscape architect, David Pfeiffer suggests using the same thoughtfulness as if you were designing the floor plan of a new house. Each outdoor area should have a logical and functional connection to the inside of the house, like locating the outdoor dining area near the kitchen. When evenings are cool, don’t move the party inside. Extend your outdoor entertaining season by creating a fire pit or fireplace area with comfortable seating. Enjoy evenings being warmed by the fire year-round in milder climates. Incorporate storage areas for blankets and marshmallow-roasting supplies.
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“Your outdoor space should feel like an extension of your home’s interior. It doesn’t have to be identical, but you should make sure that your home’s style flows from inside to outside.”
Consider square footage and the shape of the covered area
When designing an outdoor space, landscape architect, David Pfeiffer suggests, treat it as if you were designing the floor plan of a new house. Each outdoor area should have a logical and functional connection to the inside of the house, like locating the outdoor dining area near the kitchen. Whether you’re working with what you’ve got or planning to buy all sorts of new décor, you can still do some layout planning early in the process. Knowing how much space you have will help you ensure that you’re buying furniture, decorations, and fixtures that are going to fit.
Create a seamless design from the interior
Your outdoor space should feel like an extension of your home’s interior. It doesn’t have to be identical, but you should make sure that your home’s style flows from inside to outside.
Let’s say you’ve decorated the inside of your home in a rustic, throwback style, Lisa Moody, Interior Designer, advises you might not want to use an ultramodern minimalist design for your patio. When you walk out into your outdoor living space, you don’t want to feel like you’re walking into someone else’s backyard.
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Furniture placement, consider paths for movement
Lisa strongly recommends considering how people are going to be moving through the space. Think about how people will move from the door to the seating area or barbecue, or from the barbecue to the dining area. Make sure you leave pathways that allow for movement — imagine that you’re creating traffic patterns.
From the entrance to the patio or deck (usually the door into the house), make sure that people can easily flow to the different zones of the outdoor space as well as the backyard beyond, if you’ve got one.
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Scenery and Sight-lines
Make the most of the views your property has to offer — arrange a small sitting area to enjoy a cup of coffee and watch the sunrise or a table and chairs for hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at sunset. If you don’t have much of a view, or anything else you care to look at, you can create a focal point for your outdoor space and orient your layout around that. A fire table, a garden, or even your outdoor kitchen could all make good focal points. You can also make use hedges or screens to block out unsightly eyesores.
If you’ve got an outdoor pool or a beautiful view, you probably want to orient your seating space so that you can enjoy the sights while you relax. If you have a firepit or fire table, make sure there’s seating around it so people can enjoy it.
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Protection from the elements
If you want to experience the maximum use of your outdoor space, you need to protect it.
A covered outdoor space gives you more flexibility than a wide-open one. If your outdoor space has a roof and a wall or two, you might be able to get away with indoor-only furniture or even large electronics like a television. If you are using outdoor heaters an enclosed area will prevent heat loss in the cold months and reduce your electrical bill.
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Create Ambience
Make your outdoor space a true extension of your home by incorporating lighting. Illuminate outdoor cooking areas to allow more meal prep to be done outside. Create visual interest and expand the feel of the space by up-lighting trees or fencing farther out in the yard. For safety, add decorative lighting to brighten steps and pathways.
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