A deck or patio can be much more than a ground-level pressure-treated wood rectangle outside your back door. It should be a special place to gather with family and friends that enhances your enjoyment of your entire home and allows you to make lifelong memories. Let’s talk outdoor deck and patio ideas that will make yours a go-to destination for backyard enjoyment.
Raise it up.
An outdoor raised deck can be the perfect perch for your morning coffee or a quiet place to relax any time of the day. Composite decking gives you a natural wood appearance and is an excellent, lighter-weight, durable, and low-maintenance deck material. Keep an open-air feeling with thinner railing slats that are easy to see through.
Soak up the fun.
Take relaxation to a new level with a spa inset into your deck. Or, to get the advantages of a pool and spa, make it a combination (aka spool) equipped with a swim jet system, so you can swim laps in warm weather and soak in cool weather.
Get your grill on.
From 4th of July cookouts to birthday celebrations, your backyard can be the destination for life’s special occasions. Enjoy more time with your guests while cooking. You can use a pergola or pavilion to delineate and to cover your cooking area so that it is open to fresh air but somewhat protected. Deck out your patio with a full kitchen and add ample lighting, a ceiling fan, and a countertop prep area. Include an outdoor TV screen, and you have everything you need to watch the game outside in comfy seats.
Go Alfresco.
The most special memories we share with family and friends often happen around a meal. There are many ways to carve out an inviting area on your patio for alfresco dining. For a more luxurious feel, consider pavers. You may have multiple round tables for larger gatherings or a single rectangular table for smaller parties as a backdrop for intimate conversation. Add outdoor heaters or a firepit, so you can continue dining in the fresh air even when cooler weather starts to set in.
Open up a bar.
Consider an outdoor bar if you want to take your outdoor entertaining space to the next level. You can set up a bar along the outer edges of your patio or incorporate a bar into your covered outdoor kitchen. You can serve up poolside beverages or fireside refreshments in your backyard bar. Add bar stools or chairs where friends and guests can gather. A patio bar is a much more elegant option than fishing for drinks from a cooler and more convenient than running back and forth from the house to the patio to refresh your cocktail.
Deck out the pool.
Sun worshipers and swimmers love a luxurious pool deck with a refreshingly elegant pool. Make the most of your poolside experience with a paver pool deck. Aside from upping the elegance, pavers are durable and chlorine and salt-resistant. Paving stones also come in various styles and shades to match your taste.
Light into the night.
Never underestimate the power of lighting when creating an inviting outdoor space for entertaining. Lights in your patio’s surrounding trees can make your backyard feel like a romantic bistro, and an outdoor chandelier can create an elegant focal point. You can go modern with dimmable LED lights and sconces or bohemian with lanterns and candles. Lighting paths and steps will also serve a functional purpose, helping to keep your guests safe from tripping and falling after the sun goes down.
Decks and patios set the stage for your outdoor living space. As with any outdoor enhancements, a professional landscape architect company can help you envision the perfect design for you based on how you’d like to spend your time, your aesthetic preferences, your land makeup, and more. For more outdoor deck and patio ideas, schedule a consultation with Aspen today.