A separate courtyard, a kind of “patio”, can increasingly be found on our sites. Translated from Spanish, the word “patio” means “house without a roof” and is fully consistent with modern stylish home recreation areas. At the same time, the area can be designed in different ways, following your own preferences and the existing landscape design.
The patio is a kind of continuation of the house, another room, only in the open air
Patio design options, or what you should definitely know
It is worth understanding that a patio on your own property is a special area that stands out both visually and authentically. Everything here should be arranged so that family members and guests are comfortable. Therefore, you should listen to your own heart and our practical tips!
You can create a cozy place to relax even in a small area
A patio with a pergola or canopy will save you from the scorching sun
A cozy place to relax surrounded by a green garden
Pool and fountain
Projects and layout of country houses
Naturally, the design of reservoirs on the site must be trusted to specialists. But first of all, homeowners themselves decide in what place they would like to create a “water treatment” zone. Moreover, the justifications can be very different:
- Fans of baths and saunas set up a pool next to the steam room. Boardwalks around the pond are an excellent solution for jogging after a spa session.
- If a pool is created primarily for children, then it is located next to the house to make it easier to control children’s water games. The area around the reservoir is tiled, but the best option is wood, which does not heat up on a hot day (it is better to avoid metal and any such elements).
- Fans of sunbathing choose a well-lit area. An area with a sun canopy is being built nearby. It is paved with paving slabs to make it convenient to rearrange the sun loungers.
How to install a swimming pool near your home
The sight of living flowing water is a real paradise for romantic and sensual natures. A special advantage of the source is that you can choose a design that takes up very little space. Before choosing the size and shape of the fountain, you need to assess where the water deposits are located and where it is discharged. The best option is if these territories coincide. In this case, liquid recirculation is created and a device of any size is installed. In other cases, it is necessary to carefully consider the water drainage system.
Design idea: the beginning of the beginning
If you want to have a house with a stylish courtyard at your disposal, you don’t have to turn to professionals for a ready-made project. No, if the housing is a real palace and you want the same continuation - please. But it would be much wiser to invest your own soul and knowledge into the design and creation of a recreation area - and be delighted with the result.
A beautiful patio is a great alternative to a living room
In the warm season, it is much more pleasant to receive guests in the fresh air
The main thing is to choose the point around which the patio will be created. It could be:
- old spruce or oak/ensemble of perennial flowers;
- swimming pool or lily pond;
- back side of the house.
When locating a recreation area immediately behind the house, you should take a more careful approach to the design of the site. Here, imagination is no longer enough: in order for the courtyard to become part of the house, its area should be created from the same materials that were used to construct the building.
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You can hardly make a cozy courtyard with your own hands without preliminary preparation.
It is important to lay irrigation pipes in the location of the future courtyard; otherwise, any electrical or plumbing lines that need to run into the house later may require opening up the patio deck. In this example, the irrigation system is a series of connected pipes and an above-ground spring (irrigation to provide water to the plant will be installed later)
Once the ditches for the small pipes are dug, simply cover the laid pipes with a layer of soil, and do it so that the spring can break through this layer.
Briefly about the important or quality characteristics of the patio
When deciding to place a patio, you should pay attention to comfort and coziness. There are several rules that will help you arrange a courtyard with all the advantages:
- The location of the patio is away from drafts. Agree, relaxing in the wind is not very pleasant.
- Selecting a lighted area and the one with the most sun. It will be possible to create darkening artificially (with the help of mobile draperies or flowers on the arch), but “adding” the sun is problematic.
- Isolation, that is, distance from the fence and the neighbor’s house in order to be able to relax unhindered.
The patio must have at least 4.5 square meters of occupied area. The ideal option is 3.5 sq. m per vacationer, the average number of guests is 6-8 people.
Using these simple tips, you can decorate a “house without a roof” in one season. And enjoy the creations of your own hands.
The design of the patio is chosen in accordance with the capabilities of the territory and the preferences of all family members
In most cases, the recreation area is surrounded by shrubs, trees, flower beds or hedges
Video description
Landscaping of a country house site
External landscaping
A hedge separating a site from neighbors and from the road is external landscaping. It is ideal for quiet holiday villages, where there is no need to shield yourself from prying eyes with a “solid” fence. But areas with high fences are also often decorated with external landscaping. For this purpose, all kinds of climbing plants are used.
Hedge on the border of the siteSource tunwma.com
Indoor landscaping
This is planting plants in the residential area of the yard. This type of landscaping requires a serious approach, but at the same time allows the creative imagination of the owners to unfold. The living area is decorated with flower beds, flower beds, decorative bushes, and original trees.
Original interior landscapingSource houzz.com
Intermediate landscaping
These are, first of all, lawns necessary to beautifully fill the empty spaces on the site. And also in order to make the territory of the household more “live” and comfortable.
Lawn in the landscape of the siteSource pinterest.ch
Landscape gardening can also be divided into styles. The most convenient and effective styles today:
- rustic;
- Japanese;
- English;
- geometric.
Rustic landscaping style
This style involves the use of non-exotic plants, mostly perennial and unpretentious. They are distributed throughout the yard so that it looks like a well-groomed, but natural corner of wildlife.
Rustic landscapingSource newstangle.com
Japanese landscaping style
Japanese style is characterized by the use of wide lawns and neat shrubs. A low exotic tree can become the center of a landscape composition. A Chinese yard does not require planting large flower beds, but the existing bushes and lawns should always be well-groomed. Landscaping the area of a country house in the Chinese style allows you to visually increase the area of the yard.
Japanese style landscapingSource ideaboz.com
English style of landscaping
To recreate this style, you need to plant a lot of different flowers on the site. They can be located on flower beds, in flowerpots and tubs. It is advisable to give the flower beds the correct shape. It is better to arrange them symmetrically. To separate zones, you need to lay out smooth paths.
Garden patio furniture: which one to choose
Patio furniture is a harmonious tandem of coziness, comfort, convenience and mobility. In this area, monumental folding sofas or similar options are rarely used. The ideal solution is to choose light furniture that can be easily hidden indoors from rain or one that is not afraid of rain and bad weather.
Round table with ceramic coating and folding chairs on an English style patio
Comfortable rattan furniture with soft cushions that can be easily brought under the canopy
When planning and arranging furniture on the patio, it is worth setting aside a place for both gatherings and active entertainment. Only by alternating these 2 types of leisure can you fully relax. In the meantime, all that remains is to choose patio furniture. It can be created from the following materials:
- Solid wood. This option is expensive and bulky, although majestic.
- Plastic. Budget models of tables, chairs, armchairs are presented in a large assortment. However, it is worth remembering the fragility of such pieces of furniture and the rapid change in color.
- Wicker, natural, artificial rattan. This set will be light, practical and will last for many years. In addition, it will fit perfectly into any interior.
It's a good idea to create your own patio furniture. This can be done using old furniture and decoupage techniques, choosing wooden pallets from the wholesale market or recently cut birch as the material. There are many options on the Internet, so if you want, you can find an interesting one.
Features of winter garden projects in the house
The winter garden has the appearance of a transparent structure that can visually expand the boundaries of a given room. The glass structure is equipped with an additional heating system in winter, ventilation and watering of plants. The simplicity of the construction contributes to the arrangement of even a balcony in a city apartment.
In a private house, you can make a winter garden in the attic or organize it on a glazed and insulated veranda if the house is one-story.
Special glass is special energy-saving double glazed windows. They consist of two or three glasses, inside of which there is an air cushion that saves heat inside the attic.
Double-glazed windows not only save you in winter, but also help in summer. In summer, they prevent the room from heating up too much, which has a positive effect on plants and people. The sun's rays penetrating into the glass greenhouse contribute to the creation of a greenhouse effect. This effect is used for the growth of vegetation indoors.
You will find all the information about the types of siding for cladding a house.
The presence of a heating system is not a mandatory element, because its main purpose is to create a microclimate and a certain temperature. If the attic is constructed of double or triple glass, then heating is often not required.
But, when building an extension from single glass, the presence of a system is mandatory so that the flora does not freeze in winter, because some plants do not survive at temperatures below +15 degrees.
A single-glazed attic must be equipped with an additional shading device. The dimmer is designed to prevent the room from overheating above +30 degrees, which will negatively affect their growth or even kill them.
Creating a sealed room is an important point, because cracks can allow cold air to penetrate into the extension
Having an automatic watering system is optional, but it is important to water almost daily. An automatic watering system will make human work easier
It is also necessary to provide a lighting system.
In winter, the sun does not always shine often, and the days are short at this time of year. Therefore, it is necessary to have additional lighting - artificial. These are the main features of arranging a house with a winter garden
It is also important to provide for the availability of auxiliary equipment for plant development
Popular decorative elements, or when there is no end to imagination
A patio without flowers and plants is not a patio. They contain the main message: outdoor recreation near home. That is why you will have to landscape both the site and the area nearby with taste, choosing perennial and annual flowers, shrubs and even trees.
- Columnar fruit trees. They will become a powerful hedge and allow you to enjoy your favorite fruits.
- Fruit bushes - raspberries or black currants. It is worth considering that for each bush it is worth leaving a sufficient amount for growth and constantly taking care of it.
- Evergreen shrubs such as boxwood, from which you can create a “fence” of different heights.
Miniature patio in green surroundings - for big nature lovers
A small recreation area surrounded by coniferous plants
A country option for arranging a mini-patio on a small area
But this applies to long-term arrangement. And today you can make your patio bright, interesting and different from others with the help of the following plants:
- Healing, spicy herbs sown around. They will provide aroma and become indispensable in the household.
- Flowers in pots placed everywhere. Many can be borrowed from home for the summer.
- Climbing vines on arches and pergolas.
- Annual flowers that replace each other in bloom.
- Perennials that will delight the eye with bright colors starting in March.
- Sculptures and statues.
- Created lighting. Light in the evening is an important attribute of a recreation area, so it is worth using sconces, lanterns, LED strips and highlighting the living beauty!
Stone patio with an original fountain
Option for designing a patio on a site with an outdoor pool
The courtyard behind the house with a magnificent view of the artificial waterfall
Creating a patio is a creative process. It requires strength and imagination, knowledge and understanding of the location of all the elements involved. But you can do it easier - study examples of ready-made house designs for 2020 with an interior house with photos and create something similar or combine several unique ideas in one project. And then there will be a place to have summer tea parties and picnics with friends!
Landscaping the yard of a private house
After the space has been demarcated, and paths and functional places have been designated, landscaping should be done.
During this process, you need to choose the correct location of the plants, taking into account their size and flowering time. Initially, you need to place trees and large shrubs. It is better to plant the most spectacular and original plants separately, thus focusing attention on them, highlighting these elements from the gray mass. Under one of the large trees you can install a small bench or circular bench
Flowers of bright colors are often used for landscaping. From plant colonies you can create unique monochromatic or multi-colored canvases and flower beds. When planting flowers, you need to know their flowering period so that a single picture is created that can please the eye all year round.
If you are too lazy to constantly mow the lawn, then you can place flowerpots with various plants in the yard. In winter they will be put away in a warm room, and in the spring they will be taken outside again. By doing this, you can grow a heat-loving plant on your site: tangerine, lemon, cypress, and so on. You can also decorate the flowerbed with vegetables and berries.
Finally, the almost finished private courtyard is decorated with decorative elements, sculptures, fountains and other tempting things.
Photo ideas for decorating a patio
Paths
This is not only functional, but also a very important decorative element. They “collect” all areas of the landscape into a single composition. Today the market is filled with a variety of paving materials. On one site you can lay out paths using different technologies. For example, approaches and entrances to the house can be more even in shape and wear-resistant in quality than in the recreation area and garden. In relief areas, paths should be combined with steps and stairs designed to move from one level to another.
Calculate each section
Another popular strategy for successfully landscaping a small yard is to divide it into sections and design each section separately. For example, a site from Growsgreen Landscape Design: patio, platform and brick framing.
A bridge-shaped intersection surrounded by gravel is an equally worthy option.
A corner with a bench and many plants attracts attention as an example of an excellent garden layout on the site. (Debora Carl Landscape Design)
Stone slabs at the door, a green lawn, a place to spend time in nature. Gravel and vegetation create a modern setting. (Shades of Green Landscape Architecture)
Steps will not only delimit zones, but will also become an interesting addition to the design. This next landscaping idea is sure to be a blast. The view of grass on both sides is especially pleasing. (Growsgreen Landscape Design)
Who said you don't have enough space for a pool? This example proves that it can be there. Of course, it’s not big, but it’s there.
Part of the decision to allocate sections includes creating flower beds in each of them. The plastered retaining walls present their signature feature - three basalt towers on a bed of Mexican beach pebbles. (Land & Water Design)
Even if there is only one main section, you can delimit it by framing it in stone. The lawn will add richness to the atmosphere. (Despina Design)
In the next photo, the tiny patio contains tropical plants, grass, rocks and water! The result was a “layered” terrain. (Avalon Northwest Landscape)
Believe it or not, even a brick embedded in pebbles can divide a space! This option deserves serious attention, because this small detail will add individuality and depth to the entire setting. (Susanna Pagan Landscape Design)
Video description
Options for paths in landscape design
Rounded path on the siteSource zen.yandex.ru
Tile path
The most traditional material for a path on a site is paving slabs. It can be used to lay out platforms and paths of different shapes and colors. For example, a winding path with a pattern will be an excellent frame for flower beds.
Path made of paving slabsSource grand-trotuar.by
Path made of stone
Artificial and natural stone harmonizes perfectly with the nature on the site. This material is indispensable for laying paths between beds and flower beds.
Stone path on the siteSource pinterest.com
Path made of pebbles and cobblestones
An excellent option is a path with an expressive pattern made of small details. A decorative element of this type will make the site unique and memorable.
Path made of pebbles and cobblestonesSource pinterest.com
Walkway made of wooden planks
A board designed for laying out garden paths fits perfectly into any design style. Such structures look especially impressive next to buildings in a modern style.
Wooden path in site design Source liveinternet.ru
When designing a site, you can allow a combination of different styles. But the landscape design of a yard in a private house should be a harmonious artistic composition, in which there is nothing superfluous, and all elements are ideally combined with each other.
