The garden is an underused resource in my opinion. Yes, some people have created perfection in their backyard and spend a lot of time out there. But there are still millions of people who don’t understand the positive effect a beautiful garden can have on your mental health and wellbeing. It can also add value to your home if you use top quality materials and intelligent design ideas.
People are starting to look upon the seating area as an extra room rather than a separate entity. Those with an eye for detail and imagination can blur the lines between the indoors and outdoors so that the two flow seamlessly together. How do they do it? I will suggest a few tips that will help you when you undertake the project. They are only a guide because every situation is different. Adapt the ideas for your setting and you won’t go far wrong.
Entrance / Exit
You must have an uninterrupted view of the patio from within the house. The best way to achieve that is with patio doors. The cheapest ones slide open on one side, but you can install bi-folding glass doors which open completely. The ones in the image are a beautiful example of what is on the market.
Floor Level
If you step down onto the patio when leaving the house, it is a problem. You must raise the level to match that of the home. The easiest way to do it is with decking. The deck rests vertical posts, so it can be at any height. Build it so that the threshold to the home is hardly noticeable.
Cover
The patio needs to be useful even when it is raining, so install a canopy. I have seen some beautiful examples that utilise a pergola made from smooth exotic timber coated with a high-gloss varnish. The owners then attached a canvas canopy to the top and curtains between the posts so they could enclose the area in the evenings.
Furniture
Though you cannot use indoor furniture outside, you must try to find some pieces that don’t scream garden. Because we demand much from designers these days, they produced luxurious items that are expensive, but worth the cost.
You can now own install a television on the patio without the worry of an electric shock. Safety is intrinsic to products at thetvshield.com/enclosures and many other places online. You can rest assured that there is no threat to your health or property.
Lighting
Keep the lighting scheme simple and elegant. Avoid the use of outdoor wall lights and think instead about low voltage table lamps. There are few things that can equal their ability to create moods using light and shade. You can reposition them as you see fit, so they are ever versatile too.
I hope that you found my ramblings riveting. It needn’t cost a fortune to integrate your patio; just use materials and fittings that you can afford. Let’s face it; any improvement is better than none at all. I think you will be surprised at what you can achieve.
