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Alexander Korovaev 03/20/2020
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The backyard of a garden plot is ideal for arranging a cozy corner with an original fence, a dining area or a relaxation area. Moreover, to create a patio at the dacha with your own hands you will not need much time and money
What is a patio?
In Latin America and the Mediterranean, where there are almost no winters, a patio - an open paved seating area in the backyard of a house - is a common occurrence. Today, such corners are not uncommon in Russia.
In the summer, the patio becomes an ideal alternative to the living room - after all, it is much more pleasant to organize gatherings in nature, surrounded by greenery and flowers.
Classic backyard patio
To protect it from winds and prying eyes, it is surrounded by decorative or hedges, walls, partitions, and gratings. Patios may include small seating areas, grills or barbecues, dining areas, swimming pools, fountains, lawns or flower beds. Such sites are often equipped with light canopies.
Although the word patio translates from Spanish as “courtyard” without a roof, a small canopy to protect it from heavy rain or sun will not hurt.
How is a patio different from a terrace?
The patio is always a natural extension of the local area. Essentially, this is a decorated patio with a seating area, protected from prying eyes by a green fence or decorative lattice. It only visually stands out from the rest of the landscape.
The terrace always has a slight elevation, while the patio is a natural extension of the site
The terrace is most often a continuation of the house and is always located on a slight elevation, just above the ground.
Outwardly, it is very similar to an open or semi-open veranda, but does not have a foundation. It is erected only on supports or wooden flooring.
There is also a difference in landscaping. If only potted plants are placed on the terrace, then on the patio there are much more opportunities for creativity. The patio can be decorated with any types of flower beds with all kinds of plants.
Before you start building your patio, do a few projects and let them sit for a while. Do not forget that its design should be combined with the decoration of other elements of the site.
Finishing touches
After laying all the stones and marking the site, sand is poured on top. It is spread over the entire surface. It fills cracks and smoothes out uneven surfaces. After this, the site is filled with water.
The procedure is repeated three times. After some time, the recreation area will be ready for use. If one of the doors of the house does not open onto the patio, a path is brought to the site. It is better to make it from the same material that was used to decorate the coating.
Types of patios
There can be many options for this place to relax. The patio is often used as a dining area, a living room for entertaining friends, or a games room. You can allocate space for a sports corner, etc.
Types of patios
The most commonly used types are the following:
- dining patio with tables, armchairs and chairs
- patio – summer kitchen with dishwasher and work tables for cooking
- patio-living room: this type of recreation area will require a little more space
- as a replacement for a veranda
- patio-solarium with swimming pool and sunbathing area
Patio design
Currently, a garden patio is considered an additional part of landscape design, allowing you to create unusual in layout and unique in style recreation areas on any personal plot.
In order to minimize the cost of time and money, you should approach its construction in stages. Namely, choose the most suitable place for the patio, decide on its purpose and design.Decorative elements, such as furniture, accessories and other necessary cute things, are also important.
Patio shape
The main difficulty in creating such a site is determining its boundaries and shape. After all, the area behind the house may have a limited size. In this case, it seems to the owners that there is simply nowhere to turn around.
But there are no standards here. The patio area can have any shape and even additional tiers. It can be extended in length, made curved, U- or L-shaped, and placed along the perimeter of the building.
You can allocate a small plot of land for a patio or arrange a larger area that can easily accommodate a sufficient number of guests.
Round rest area
Be sure to provide a slight slope for wastewater on the site, away from residential buildings.
Feuerplatz, or fire pit with benches
A slightly simplified, but also interesting option from Sensorin. In addition, the speed of execution in one hand is much higher - several stages, and everything is ready.
Marked an area around the fire pit.
Removed the fertile layer.
I covered it with geotextiles, covered it with sand, compacted it, and made markings for the frame of the benches.
Racks made of a 20×40 mm profile pipe, about 1 meter long, hammered about 55 cm into the ground, leaving 45 cm above the ground. I welded crossbars and supports for the backs onto the racks.
The surface was covered with sand-cement mixture and tiles were laid, and sand-cement was also placed in the gaps. The brick neck of the fire pit was concreted.
I painted the boards for the benches, drilled holes and secured the cladding to the frame with thick self-tapping screws.
For night gatherings I made lighting under the seats.
Selecting a location
Traditionally, the patio is located behind the house and is a harmonious continuation of it . If such a recreation area is planned in advance, before the construction of the house, then an area is allocated for it, and an exit from the building is provided immediately to the site. Most often it is made from the kitchen or dining room, so that during summer gatherings it is convenient for the hostess to set the table.
If it is not possible to make a patio near the house, select the most convenient place for it, protected from the wind. For those who like to sit in the shade, you can give preference to an area in the shade of trees. If you love to bask in the rays of the sun, then, on the contrary, choose the most illuminated place.
Outdoor patio with fireplace
Often a patio is located next to an outdoor pool . It is desirable that this area is completely invisible from the street, so that vacationers have the opportunity to sit comfortably, without fear of prying eyes.
It is better to equip a country patio with a barbecue with a small canopy. In this case, even bad weather will not bother you.
Patio styles
To decorate the backyard at the dacha, you can use any of the modern design trends or a mixture of them:
- Mediterranean style : well-lit area with stone or wood flooring, natural finishes, flowers in terracotta-colored pots
- country : rustic ethnic style of old England and America with massive beams, wooden and stone decorative elements
- Provence (French country): with wicker or forged furniture and wood trim; since the Provence region is quite sunny, light, “cooling” colors are used, and they should be muted, natural
- restrained English style with strict symmetry in details; the decoration uses natural wood, stone, stained glass; the color scheme is in brown, rich green tones interspersed with golden ocher
- art deco : applicable mainly for decorating high-status areas; Expensive materials (leather, wood, glass) and contrasting colors are used for finishing
- Italian style , which can be described in two words: grace and simplicity; wood, bronze, marble combined with sunny colors form a delightful and luxurious tandem
- bright Moorish style : a miniature copy of the Alhamra gardens can be achieved using a combination of intricate mosaic patterns, bright exotic flowers, small fountains sparkling in the sun and a strict symmetrical layout
- exquisite Japanese style : involves a minimum of decorations made of bamboo, bonsai-style plants, stone, wood.
Greek, Mediterranean styles
Mediterranean styles The abundance of sun on the site in combination with natural colors will certainly appeal to the owners of summer houses. This style completely lacks pretentious luxury and ornate accessories. It is also well thought out and functional, like country, but the color schemes here are closer to “marine”. Wood, including painted wood, stone, and ceramics are used for decoration.
The Greek direction of style involves the use of blue, white, yellow, almost lemon color shades. Floral ornaments and inserts of pinkish or white-blue stripes are widely used in patios. In general, alternating shades is very characteristic of it. Black color occurs only in the form of small inclusions.
The Italian style of arranging a beautiful patio requires slightly brighter colors: orange, rich yellow, olive, golden, brick. But under no circumstances should they hurt the eyes. Only warm and soft colors can be used.
Forged or wooden furniture is massive and comfortable. Important elements are heat-loving plants - palm trees, olives, cypresses. They are planted in large containers and brought indoors for the winter.
English style
English style A restrained, somewhat prim style is the absence of unnecessary details, ideal symmetry combined with harmony and comfort. To decorate the patio, materials that imitate expensive types of wood (oak, walnut) and stone are often used.
The colors are muted, often brown, chocolate, beige, blue, dark green with a small addition of gold.
The patio area is separated by flooring in the form of stone tiles or boards in natural shades. Furniture made of wood or its imitation should look good and not cheap. The use of forged metal chairs and tables is allowed.
The lighting is slightly subdued in the form of gilded sconces, floor lamps, and lamps. It should be soft, slightly diffused. Each zone must be illuminated separately.
Art Deco
Art Deco Patio
Art Deco This luxurious style requires enough space. Zigzag and curvilinear shapes will simply be inappropriate in small areas. The decor may even seem pretentious - but this is precisely the feature of art deco.
The patterns are often geometric in the form of squares, trapezoids, rhombuses or abstract. Floral ornaments are not welcome here.
The colors used are as contrasting as possible, for example, black and white, beige and rich chocolate, golden and crimson. The flooring is zigzag with the same contrasting alternation of tiles. To create steps, podiums are used.
Surfaces are shiny mirror or metal. The lamps are selected matte, with chrome parts. When decorating, you can use African or similar style motifs with an abundance of metal figurines, imitation animal skins, etc.
Italian style
Italian style
Italian style It amazingly combines the picturesque landscapes of the Mediterranean, the architecture of Ancient Rome and elegant Venetian decoration. Luxury is in perfect harmony here with the originality and natural colors that dominate the domains of temperamental Italians.
The main background is neutral.
Solid solid furniture is decorated with decorative carvings in the form of ivy, olive branches or grapes. In addition to wood, forged tables and chairs are used. The floors and ceilings are rough wooden, the beams are massive.
Stone is widely used: tiles, clinker bricks, natural or artificial marble.
As decorations, you can use bronze chandeliers with massive forged arms, figurines, clay products, paintings using mythological scenes and things that imitate antiques.
Provence
Provence style
Provence How to make a patio at a dacha in the Provence style, where simplicity coexists with naivety, and a romantic appearance is the complete antipode of ostentatious luxury? Although the style is not without grace, it is characterized by simplicity of lines.
It is better to plaster the wall of the building facing the courtyard and paint it with light paint or cover it with boards. For finishing, glazed brick, stone, and dim tiles are used. The flooring is planked or tiled.
Plank beams go well with the Provence style - they can be used to arrange a canopy. The furniture selected is wooden, painted with light colors, metal or wicker. It should be quite elegant and functional. Chairs, armchairs with armrests and decorative curls.
For planting, plants that are often found in the south of France are used - sunflowers, poppies, irises, small wildflowers. Flowerpots for them are made of wood or ceramics.
The shades are selected as light as possible - cream, ivory or beige. The remaining colors should be in perfect harmony with the surrounding landscape - blue, yellow, brick red, crimson, lavender.
English and American country
Country style
Country If Provence has more light shades, then country, from which Provence was born, is warmer and homely. There are no flashy shades in the flowers - only natural ones.
Country is more “solid” - everything in it, from furniture to masonry, indicates the homeliness and thrift of its owners.
Patio decoration in this style is natural and functional. The shape of the furniture is as simple as possible.
The wood is a little rough, not painted, but stained, in natural shades. It is better to buy vintage or artificially aged.
Japanese style
Japanese style patio
Japanese style Minimalistic, but extremely cozy style, conducive to contemplation and peace. Any element of patio decor here carries a certain meaning and has its own purpose.
The style does not accept curved, smooth lines - only right angles and lines. The only exceptions are paths - they can have any shape, not necessarily symmetrical.
In addition to bamboo (in the open air you can use plastic that imitates it), stone is widely used to decorate such a patio. They also lay out the paths. You can use tile or wood flooring.
Since it is difficult to imagine a Japanese-style patio area without a stream or pond, they are often imitated using sand and stones. It is better to select stones in neutral milky, gray-blue tones, or use boulders of “earth” shades.
You can decorate such a site with antique vases with dim flowers, paintings with patterns made of bamboo, lantern lamps, and decor should be kept to a minimum.
Loft
Loft style in decor
Loft How to design a loft-style recreation area? Its distinctive features are a minimum of decor, brick and metal finishing in combination with modern furniture and decor. Bright colors are not used - only dark or black, light pastel colors.
The flooring is most often concrete or brick.
A loft requires maximum open space, so there should be little furniture here. Lighting fixtures are chosen to be the simplest, with a minimum of decor.
A little touch of bohemianism wouldn’t hurt – you can decorate the walls with original works, install one or two unusual sculptures or some decorative art objects.
Moorish style
Moorish style
Moorish style It is better to build such a patio on a sunny area. Its bright colors are ideal for this purpose. The abundance of colors here is combined with clear boundaries, symmetry and geometrically correct figures.
The characteristic elements of this style are the presence of the most intricate patterns. You can use both plant, floral and geometric patterns.
The look is completed by low sofas without backs with numerous pillows and tables in the shape of polygons. Such a beautiful area will be decorated with symmetrical arches, mosaics, stained glass windows, columns, copper lamps, hookahs, and floor clay vases.
Paving the patio area
The main condition for creating such a recreation area is its paving. Any materials can be used as flooring - tile, concrete, brick, stone or wood. Its colors are selected in such a way that they are combined with the shade of other interior details - furniture, canopy, railings.
Types of flooring
Most often in these cases, paving slabs are used. She is unpretentious in care and is not afraid of either heat or severe frost. Wooden flooring will create a feeling of special comfort. However, such coatings will have to be changed more often. Even wood treated with antiseptics, unfortunately, can rot.
A more expensive option for arranging patio flooring is deck (terrace) boards. Experts call it decking, and ordinary people call it “liquid” board. This is a specially processed wood material into which a polymer binder is added to protect it from moisture.
This type of flooring looks very solid, and its service life is at least 50 years.
Decorative board was used as flooring
When decorating in a country style, it is better to choose flooring in discreet gray-brown or light yellow shades. The oriental style is brighter, so rich terracotta is more suitable here.
Strict hi-tech goes well with dark gray shades of the flooring.
Bulk materials (sand, gravel) should not be used as patio flooring. They can easily be carried into the house on shoes. And cleaning the area will be difficult.
Laying the flooring in stages
Both tiles and stone or brick are laid either with mortar or dry:
1The selected area is completely cleared of bushes and turf.
2The earth is leveled and compacted well.
3It is better to line the bottom with plastic film or geotextile.
4 Sand or crushed stone is poured on top of the soil. They will protect the area from moisture and help level the surface. When using sand, it is pre-moistened and compacted well.
5Methods of laying flooring depend on the type of material. For example, paving slabs can be laid on a mortar or a dry mixture of cement and sand. The finished site is sprinkled with sand in order to fill all the cracks. Then it is thoroughly swept out and spilled with water.
6You can lay a border around the perimeter of the site.
Base
One of the most important stages in creating a patio is covering the area. You can choose various materials as a base:
- concrete slabs (less expensive option),
- natural stone (looks distinctive and original, but installation problems may arise due to uneven shapes),
- decorative paving slabs (the most successful combination of price, quality, and in addition, a huge variety of combinations of shapes),
- garden parquet (made from waste wood and polymers, which makes this material more durable than natural wood, as it is not susceptible to rotting),
- decking (modern building material, visually indistinguishable from natural wood).
Regardless of which coating option you choose, you must complete the following steps in preparing the site for laying the base:
- Mark the boundaries of the site;
- Remove a layer of soil approximately 10-15 cm;
- Cover with sand;
- Compact by watering and leveling with a rake.
Next, proceed to laying the covering. It is important to remember that tiles or natural stone should be laid closely so that each element fits tightly to the previous one.
When building a base for a patio, you should also provide for rainwater drainage, which is most practical to direct towards the garden or flower bed.
Furniture
Patios can be equipped with any type of outdoor furniture made from moisture-resistant and fade-resistant materials - forged metal, cedar, wicker, rattan, plastic. The most important thing is that it is as convenient and comfortable as possible.
Furniture for the dining area
Next to a wooden structure, benches, chairs, and tables made of good wood, treated with antifungal compounds, will look harmonious. Fans of modern style can offer patio furniture made of metal, minimalist style or bright plastic furniture.
Today, manufacturers offer a huge amount of outdoor furniture for every taste.
Design features
A very beautiful solution would be to use the Japanese style, characterized by stone flooring and bamboo interior items.
Residents of the Mediterranean primarily use white patios with wooden floors and brown or brick-colored flower pots.
The Moorish style is characterized by rich, bright colors and mosaic floors.
Green spaces
Even if the area is already partially landscaped, it can be supplemented with ornamental plants planted in pots or containers. You can create flower beds next to the patio. Their size and shape are selected depending on the chosen style.
A hedge made of climbing plants will not only provide reliable protection from the scorching sun and prying eyes, help saturate the air with moisture, but will also create a feeling of special comfort.
Pergola with clematis - a liana plant
In order for the vines to rise upward, the preparation of fixed, strong supports is required. After all, plants need to cling to something with their antennae. Do not forget that each of them requires special conditions for growth.
If, for example, clematis or lemongrass can bloom only in well-lit areas, then virgin grapes, honeysuckle or ivy do not need too much sun.
Preparatory work
Like any other construction, placing a patio will require some preparation work.
First, you need to choose a place, focusing on the size of the patio for the dacha and the inaccessibility of the territory to prying eyes, think over the wiring of communications and the filling of the new area.
A preliminary patio design will help to combine all the wishes of the owners into a single whole. You can create it yourself by looking at photos of a patio at your dacha on the Internet.
There you will also find standard projects that you can simply copy or supplement with your own ideas. Such a development will accurately take into account the maximum number of wishes of the owners and create a truly unique creation.
The second option would be to use the labor of professional designers. It will be beautiful and stylish, but quite expensive.
Canopy
Most often, the recreation area is divided into two parts . A canopy will be installed over the first of them with installed furniture, barbecue or barbecue. The second one is left open - here you can sunbathe or just soak up the rays of the sun.
A light, light canopy does not weigh down the space
A variety of materials are used to protect against rain and sun:
- dense fabrics such as tarpaulin
- tree
- translucent polycarbonate
- tempered tinted glass
- dense PVC films
You shouldn't make your patio canopy too heavy. It will “press” and create the impression of a closed space. The role of a canopy can be played by a beach umbrella or an umbrella that is installed in open areas next to the cafe.
You can use a budget option in the form of a removable awning, which is stretched only in case of rain.
Gazebo for patio
Essentially, it is a small canopy mounted on stilts. Its sides can be made in the form of gratings or solid partitions and be semi-open.
Wood, plastic or metal is used to build a gazebo. High-tech fans can be advised to decorate the metal gazebo with translucent polymer or glass. A wooden structure can be more solid, assembled from thick, durable boards, or it can look like a light openwork, almost weightless structure.
Patio with gazebo
A gazebo on a paved patio can be installed simply on support legs, without the use of a foundation. Semi-closed buildings with a separate floor require special support made of concrete, brick or rubble stone.
The roof is made of any types of materials intended for roofing - slate, tiles, fiberglass.
It is not recommended to use metal corrugated sheeting for the roof of a gazebo - even small drops of rain will create unbearable noise.
Creating a hearth
If there is a lot of space, it is better to install an original stove or outdoor fireplace on the patio. It's nice to gather around the fireplace in the cooler weather. For small areas, purchase a mobile grill. It is easy to prepare a delicious dish for the whole family.
Particular attention should be paid to the place for the hearth. A fire bowl is often installed here. This decoration is romantic and spectacular. The hearth area is equipped with refractory brick or stone. Often, owners of private homes choose portable fire pits.
Patio Equipment
This vacation spot is arranged depending on the size of the plot, as well as the taste and desire of the owners.
Here you can place:
- one or more tables, comfortable armchairs or chairs
- Garden swing
- sun loungers or sun loungers with pillows
- hammocks
- portable pool (a stationary one can be located next to the site)
- fireplace or outdoor stove
- grill or barbecue
Freestanding patio with permanent grill
For those who like to soak up the shade over the patio, you can build a canopy from any available materials or climbing plants. Although, of course, this is not a prerequisite - someone may prefer an open area filled with sun.
Young people will definitely appreciate the separate dance area.
Decor
There can be an endless variety of design options. It all depends only on the taste of its owners.
Italian style patio with fountain
To make your backyard more comfortable:
- decorative fencing
- miniature fountains
- alpine coaster
- lawns, flower beds, flowerpots or containers with any types of plants, including exotic ones
- small fences
- garden figurines or plaster statues
The decorations are selected in accordance with the design features of the entire site and the funds allocated for finishing.
Recreation area lighting
In order for you to fully enjoy the fresh air in the evening, you need to consider lighting for your patio. It is desirable that it can be changed from the brightest to muted, creating a more cozy and relaxing atmosphere.
But even in this case, household members and guests should feel safe. There should be enough light for people to move around the site with confidence.
One way to light a patio
You can use both lanterns and sconces, lamps. Some of the lamps can be placed on the ground on low supports, and some can be fixed to the building itself or fence. Illuminated fountains look very unusual.
The light shimmering in the streams of water creates a special atmosphere. Devices equipped with motion sensors are convenient. Such lamps are used as the main lighting - the rest is turned on manually.
Open air cinema
To create an unforgettable effect from visiting the patio, you should equip it with a cinema. You will need an inexpensive projector and a white sheet as a screen. The projector connects to the receiver, which allows you to watch your favorite movies and TV series.
The garden cinema will have a stunning effect on guests. Its installation will not take much time, and the result will not be long in coming. It is important to consider accommodating a large group of people if you plan to invite many guests.
Non-standard solutions
In small areas, it is not always possible to equip a full-fledged place for recreation. But a place for a patio can be found in the most unexpected places - for example, on a balcony or even on the roof of a house.
Here you can also plant climbing plants to protect from the bright sun and create a recreation area. But before starting work, it is necessary to consult with specialists to see if this is possible from a technical point of view.
Multi-level patio
If the area is not too level, you should not be upset. A multi-level patio looks much more original. A platform with arbitrary outlines and intricate curves can become a real decoration of the garden.
