7 GORGEOUS (SIDEWALK) PATIO TIPS AND GARDEN IDEAS

Hello Ladies. It’s time for outdoor relaxation.

If you have a private vacation house or a summer house with a sufficient place in the backyard, then the design of the area is an important point in the organization of landscape design.

The design of the courtyard is an urgent issue for all owners of private houses and cottages located within the city. Today we want to offer you options for decorating of small sites so you will have your own cozy corner for outdoor recreation.

Use the space provided as beneficial as possible. But do not hurry up to buy seeds and to plant an internal court yard with tomatoes or sunflowers. We propose to arrange the backyard the way it was pleasant to spend time there in all respects.

Plan the beauty of the yard

The courtyard around the urban private house or country cottage is the adjacent territory, which welcomes not only the owners after a busy day (or a week, in the case of suburban possessions), but also their guests. We can state for sure that the first glance at the design of the backyard or yard is making the impression of homeowners. One of the best way to enjoy your backyard is by putting outdoor furniture that will let you and your visits enjoy and appreciate the beauty of your backyard.

Before you start planning your landscape design, decide what “beautiful yard” means to you? How would you like to see it, is it important for you to impress your neighbors and guests with the splendor of the courtyard design, or do you put practicality and convenience at the forefront? What is your lifestyle, do you have children and pets, do you often gather guests for barbecues or do you have evening outdoor gatherings? In many ways, the set of “decorations” of your private courtyard depends on the answers to these questions. Considering at the initial stage of planning a lot of nuances of further exploitation of your site, you will save not only money, but also time for subsequent alterations, renovations and corrections.

Of course, the landscape design of your yard will depend on its size. If the territory is large, then the flight of your imagination will be limited only by the financial capabilities and features of the landscape of the territory, the type of soil and location of the cardinal points. But if we are talking about a small backyard of an urban private house, it is necessary to set clear priorities. You should clearly understand that it will be difficult to place a playground, a place for barbecue, a patio for relaxing, and a large flower bed on several square meters.

Working out the optimal plan for creating landscape design, we turn to the exact terrain and mark the exact location of all the objects (gazebos, flower beds, rock gardens, ponds and patios). Experts recommend to break the entire area into squares for simplify the process. Each such segment will have key figures - a building or a decorative element. Thus, it is easier to distribute evenly all the planned objects of landscape design and create a balanced appearance of the site.

Before the start of construction work (if any), the state of the territory should be checked. If water accumulation segments are found, lay a drain. At the same stage, laying of all communications necessary for watering plants, artificial reservoirs, fountains and waterfalls is carried out.

Paths, steps and flower beds

Garden paths are an integral part of any landscape design. In addition to its main goal - the organization of safe movement around the site, the tracks serve as zoning and decoration of the territory.

Garden paths can be laid out of large, but flat stones, concrete slabs, clinker or ordinary bricks, cobblestones, covered with fine gravel or pebbles, bordered with special low curbs. By combining the material of the tracks, you can get not only the necessary functionality, but also stylish decoration of the garden or courtyard.

Landscape design and geometry are inextricably linked. For some, harmony and balance in the environment is seen in smooth lines, rounded shapes, winding paths and oval flowerbeds. Another needs rigor and clarity - straight garden paths, as a route from point A to point B, strict forms of shrubs, trimmed what is called “under the ruler” and an absolutely flat lawn. Only the owners know what plants and tree forms will be able to caress their eyes and bring tranquility and balance to their mood.

Choosing flowers for flowerbeds or garden pots, it is better to take into account their flowering periods. In this case, your yard will be able to please you and your family with bright colors throughout the warm season (in most regions of our country it is approximately from mid-April to early October).

If the landscape of your site is a bit hilly, then instead of struggling with nature, creating artificial mounds and leveling bevels, you can lend yourself to the natural location of hills and lowlands and build beautiful steps that can act as a focal center, attracting everyone's attention.

Artificial reservoirs on the site, fountains and cascades

The key feature of oriental landscape design is a small artificial pond or a small water source. It’s well known that all European and American landscape designers, and indeed our compatriots, draw inspiration from Eastern people - the founders of the skill of bringing beauty and harmony into the surrounding area of the house.

Japanese masters consider water not only a source of life, but in combination with the earth - a symbol of harmony, balance of all living things. It is not easy to organize an artificial reservoir on the site, it will be necessary to turn to specialists, study the soil and landscape features in order to choose the right place, carry out communications and subsequently tirelessly take care of the proper operation of the fountain or cascade. But all the efforts and money spent will pay off when you can watch the fish in your artificial pond or watch the water flow into a small tank.

Efficient private courtyard lighting system

     Illumination of the territory of a private courtyard is not just about the possibility of extending the time of communication with the surrounding nature, but also about safety. A well-thought-out and harmonious lighting system will allow you to move safely around the site at night, stay on the patio and enjoy the lighting of the courtyard landscape design objects that are especially significant for you.

First of all, consider functional lighting - lighting of the facade of the house and additional buildings, access to the garage or car parking, the main entrance. Experts recommend placing lighting devices in such a way to outline the perimeter of your yard so all possible paths of movement along the section (garden paths, steps) were highlighted.

Then you can begin to design a plan for decorative lights. Lighting can be located near a flower bed, garden sculpture, rock garden or a reservoir. You can use so-called “lighting without lights” when trees and shrubs are illuminated with the help of LED strips.

In the spaces between the levels, you can embed a lamp, but this point must be considered at the initial stage of designing the location of landscape design objects. Currently, a lot of lighting fixtures work from miniature storage batteries, drawing energy from sunlight. You do not have to spend money on electricity bills, and also dim light energy-saving lamps will be enough for safe movement along the tracks of the site.

Resting place with hearth

Even in a small area you can find a corner for organizing a recreation place with the possibility of cooking on an open fire. Agree, it is unfair not having the opportunity to invite friends for barbecue when you live in a private house with a yard, even if it is located in the city center.

The round hearth with garden furniture (armchairs or small sofas), paths and plants around serves as an excellent focal point. The radial layout system in this case will be the most advantageous. 

An outdoor fireplace or a large stove, lined with stone, will become not only the functional embodiment for cooking various dishes on an open fire, but also form a resting place where you can simply relax while watching the flame in the hearth.

Outdoor dining area or canopy

To install a dining group you need quite a bit of space. You just need to buy a table and chairs (or mini-chairs) to get the opportunity to eat in the fresh air.

But if you have the opportunity to organize a covered carport for the dining area on the site, you will have a big advantage - bad weather conditions will not affect your plans. You and your family or guests will be protected from the sun during hot days and you can safely continue lunch or dinner despite the rain.

How to equip a small backyard

Very often, urban private homes cannot boast of the presence of a large adjacent area. Usually there is a parking space in front of the house or a garage and all outdoor areas for games and cooking have to be moved to the backyard, the size of which is very limited.

In this case, the arrangement of a wooden platform or deck as a basis for arranging an outdoor patio or dining area will be effective. Perennial plants around the perimeter of the territory or near the fence will not only decorate your backyard, but also hide your site from prying eyes.

Further, you will only have to choose garden furniture, which will serve for the organization of a resting place or a meal in the open air. Outdoor furniture can be portable or stationary. Usually, stone or wooden massive furniture is used as stationary furniture, but this option is not the best one for small courtyards without canopies. It is better to give preference to folding furniture, which you can hide in the pantry or in the attic with the onset of cold weather.

Currently, there are many options for garden furniture for every taste and wallet size. The most popular among our compatriots is the outdoor furniture made of plastic (affordable price and ease of transportation) and artificial rattan (it looks respectable and expensive). But there are many models of wood, wrought metal, stone, and even bamboo. The choice of furniture for a private courtyard will depend on your financial capabilities, frequency of usage and the ability to care for furniture. For example, plastic furniture can be washed from a hose, but rattan products are very dependent on moisture. Wrought chairs and tables need to be tinted every 2-3 years, and wooden furniture needs to be impregnated with oil and coated with varnish or protective antiseptics.

A fence can become a decoration of your backyard as well. In addition to the main goal - the fencing of the territory and protection from the penetration of outsiders, the fence can perform a decorative function. Its frame can serve as the basis for the location of the climbing plants, forming a combined hedge, or the design of the fence itself can stand out against the general background of landscape design.

The unusual design of the fence or its bright color will bring a positive mood, not only to the recreation area, but also throughout the backyard. The furnishings or soft fillings matched to the color of the fence will create a harmonious patio of attractive appearance.

The backyard area, in addition to the wooden platform, can be laid out with concrete or stone slabs, covered with fine gravel or decorative pebbles, bordered with low curbs or metal (poly-carbonate) restraints. But in the case of loose flooring, you must be ready to constantly pour the material and align it to the site.

Organizing a dining area on a wooden platform is one of the most commonly used option for a small backyard area. What could be better than a outdoor meal with family or friends? In such an environment appetite becomes better and food is tastier.

For an outdoor dining area, it is better to use light but stable furniture, which you can bring under a carport or even to a room, put in storage during the winter period of time. But in addition to the design and material of garden furniture, the design of products, their color and texture also matter. If the whole composition of the dining area is kept in similar colors, the place for eating will delight and soothe, creating a peaceful atmosphere. If you decide to use bright, accent pieces of furniture or decor, then the decor of the dining area will be tonic, charging with optimism and good mood. It all depends on the temperament of the owners of home ownership and the result they want to get from staying in the backyard.

In addition to the organization of a place to relax or a dining area, you can place a segment for making kebabs and barbecues. Whether it will be a stationary fireplace, a portable grill, a real Russian stove or just a big grill - it all depends on your preferences and the size of the courtyard. But anyway, you will need to take care of seats near the fire and a table that will perform many functions.

So no matter what size or style of backyard you choose you can make it cozy place for outdoor meal, warm evening talks, everyday relax and good memories.