Patios are attractive cornerstones of a landscape design. They serve as wonderful spaces for all kinds of uses, including simply sitting and relaxing in solitude, socializing and catching up with family or friends, or dining al fresco in gatherings both large and small. But if you’re thinking about adding amenities to your patio, chances are you may want additional entertaining options that allow you to enjoy your outdoor space even more. Here are three things to think about when considering patio amenities in the Riverhead and Long Island, NY, areas:
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1. Consider How You Want to Use Your Patio
As you think about adding amenities, allow yourself the freedom and time to consider how you want to use the space, not only in the short term but over the longer term as well. If you want to entertain more, are you thinking along the lines of casual entertaining in the form of barbecues with family and friends? Or do you also want the option of entertaining along the lines of more upscale, outdoor dinner parties?
Perhaps, you want an outdoor space that’s more versatile and able to suit both? There aren’t any right or wrong answers, but the kinds of uses you envision will influence atmosphere, scalability, and aesthetics. The good news is your landscape contractor can help you not only imagine what’s possible but they’re also able to help you to consider what’s doable.
2. Know How Much Space You Need
Once you’ve thought through various uses for your patio spaces, you’ll want to match your vision with the actual square footage you’ll need for the additions you want. One good rule of thumb for patio space is to make sure there is 25 square feet of floor area per person. So, while your patio may appear to be big enough for additional amenities, perhaps even with room to spare, your landscape contractor can help you think through the space needed for your additions.
If the amenities you envision take up too much space, you have several options to consider: Spread your amenities around to other patios in your outdoor space, prioritize which amenities are must-haves and which are nice-to-haves, or if your property allows, consider building out your patio to accommodate additional amenities. Keep in mind, if you do have more than one patio, you can consider them not only as spaces but also as stations for entertaining. For example, you might have one patio area for conversation and relaxing that has a fire pit and another for dining and bringing people together that has an outdoor kitchen.
3. Consider Aesthetics and Design Features
You’ve spent time thinking through the functional and practical aspects of what you need to bring your patio vision with new amenities to fruition. Before you move ahead, you’ll want to spend some time making sure you’ve got the aesthetic alignment that you want to make everything work together, not only practically but beautifully as well.
Think about how you'd like your patio to look. Make sure that your new amenities match or complement the style of pavers you already have installed. You may also want to consider the kind of lighting you want. With more entertaining and more guests, having a variety of well-apportioned lighting that helps with both visibility and style is crucial.