A patio can provide so many wonderful experiences for a family. Some of the best memories can come from the times when the patio becomes the center of a party. Building an entertainment-friendly patio can be done with a variety of features, designs, lighting techniques, and decorations that will transform your patio from a place to relax to an entertainer’s paradise. For creating some of the best summer memories, here are four tips for creating entertainment-friendly patios in Islip and Long Island, NY.
Related: REVAMP YOUR LANDSCAPING WITH THESE AMAZING PATIO IDEAS IN EAST HAMPTON AND WESTHAMPTON NY
Entertainment-Friendly Features
Whenever you have people visiting your landscape, you’re going to need to make sure they’re as comfortable as possible, including offering plenty of seating for outdoor dining. Imagine a normal dinner party in your backyard. Consider the number of people you normally host and design a dining space in a spot that’s convenient to the outdoor kitchen, mostly protected from wind, and maximizes any views.
When you socialize with larger groups in your backyard, you can expect that for much of the time people will want to stand around a fire. However, everyone will want to take a seat at some point. Instead of investing in temporary chairs that clutter the space, build a retaining wall along an edge of your fire area to add casual seating during gatherings and a spot to display colorful potted plants at other times.
A shelter structure is a must if you entertain frequently. The most versatile is the pavilion, which features open walls and a closed roof. The pavilion can be large enough to house the entire party - outdoor kitchen, dining space, and fireside seating area - or you can choose which activity needs the most shelter and build a patio specifically for it.
Entertainment-Friendly Patio Design
The design of your patio itself can determine how entertaining-friendly your space is. Our top tip is to keep things as simple as possible. The best patios are those that define different spaces of use. For instance, the outdoor dining space, game area, pool deck, and fire pit should not occupy the same space. With too many activities on an open patio, things can quickly become cluttered. Separate the spaces of use by changing elevations, installing physical borders such as masonry planters or seating walls. For the most dynamic and interesting approach, create several interconnected mini patios that are surrounded by a variety of plants, effectively turning your backyard into a series of outdoor “rooms” with specific functions.
Entertainment-Friendly Lighting Techniques
In a successful landscape design, lighting is of paramount importance. Aside from creating a safe environment, good landscape lighting creates everyone’s perception of the space once the sun goes down. For social gatherings, the best techniques involve low-lying walkway lights near the edges of your patio and walkways to provide enough illumination without overpowering the space with bright light. Add a variety of other lighting techniques such as washing, spotlighting, uplighting, and others to add dimension and interest. Finally, add tasteful string lights over the patio to create a festive environment.
Entertainment-Friendly Plantings
Your planting theme depends on the aesthetics of your home and landscape and the intended uses of the backyard. If you’re hosting backyard BBQs for families, you’ll need a spacious lawn area to let the kids burn off some energy. Quieter get-togethers with adults can take place in more lushly-planted spaces that enhance feelings of nature-focused tranquility.