Adding a patio to your Arlington and Northern VA backyard is an excellent way to maximize the use and enjoyment of your property. A patio often ends up being the “heart” of an outdoor living space.
The patio is a place where you can cook and dine outside, lounge outside, and more. And when it comes to patio designs, you might be surprised to learn just how many different directions you can go in.
Of course, that can all feel a bit overwhelming if you’re just starting out. That’s why we’re here to answer some of the most common questions.'
In this article, we will cover:
A patio is a significant addition to your landscape and you want to be a well-educated consumer as you make these important decisions. Hopefully this guide can serve as a helpful starting place.
You know you want to add a patio, but you have no idea where to start with the patio design. We hear this a lot from homeowners. Getting the process underway feels overwhelming.
Fortunately, this is something that a patio designer will guide you through.
“Patio design is essentially determined by the ‘wants’ or ‘needs’...or the combination of both,” explains Alan Macbeth, Senior Landscape Designer with Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape.
“It may be driven by items desired for the space like how many people it can accommodate; fixtures such as grills, kitchens, or fire-pits; expanding use space of the home; taking advantage of an unutilized area; or more. Using these and other factors can all be the basis by which a patio design can begin to take shape.”
A patio designer in Arlington, VA will likely ask you some important questions to help you determine what you desire from your patio design.
These include questions like the following:
Asking (and answering) the right questions will help set you off on the right foot. You can lean on the guidance and expertise of a patio expert to help you determine what’s right for you and your property.
One of the first questions that you need to answer is how much you plan to spend on your patio. It’s not worth making a lot of patio plans if they are out of your budget.
In order to come to this determination, a lot of people want to understand the cost of patio installation.
According to Macbeth, “patio cost varies greatly based on factors such as current site conditions and how much it may or may not need to be prepared for a patio, site access to move materials in and out during install, the elements within the patio, and of course, the patio materials.”
The least expensive patio material is concrete while the most expensive is natural stone. Many homeowners opt for paver patios, which falls in between. We wrote an extensive blog article on the cost of patio installation that you can read here. This article also dives into the pros and cons of the different patio materials.
In general, adding hardscaping can make a landscape lower maintenance as it doesn’t require the upkeep and care of softscaping like plants and lawns. But obviously some patio materials involve more maintenance than others.
“Typically, any contiguously ‘poured’ surface such as concrete—including broom finish, exposed aggregate, or stamped concrete—is going to typically provide the lowest maintenance option if installed correctly.”
But you still want to make sure that your patio meets your wants and needs and the patio materials will definitely play into that. Some homeowners might prefer a slightly higher maintenance patio material choice for the looks and overall value.
According to Macbeth, one of the benefits of doing a paver patio design is that it really opens the door to various patterns and layouts.
We wrote this blog article on patio design ideas. It includes pictures so that you can easily visualize the end result.
Some of the best paver pattern ideas include the following:
It’s important to note that when it comes to unique patio patterns, it requires more time and more skill than an ordinary patio. Laying certain patterns or even creating a unique border can take a lot of intricacy.
This is why it’s so important to ensure your patio is designed and installed by a professional.
Incorporating outdoor living features into your patio will help make the space more enjoyable. These features are what often keep people outdoors longer.
In this Alexandria, VA patio, for instance, we took a tight space and turned it into a two-tier patio (to accommodate the slope) with a koi pond and a fire pit. Water and fire features (including both fire pits and outdoor fireplaces) make a great addition that enhance the aesthetics and enjoyability of the space.
In another Arlington, VA patio, we incorporated outdoor living features like a grill island (with built-in grill), a pull-out trash receptacle, and lots of countertop space. We also set up their smoker near their cooking area. Both the dining and cooking areas are near each other so that everyone can be together.
Other outdoor living ideas for your patio include pergolas or other shade options, complete kitchens, retaining walls, lounge areas, and more.
Whatever you dream up, can be created in a customized patio design.
The company that you choose to design and build your patio is going to obviously have a tremendous impact on your results. While a lot of companies do offer professional patio installation, not all of these companies are created equally.
At Kingstowne, we believe that having in-house landscape designers prevents any disconnects between the design process and the build process. They should be seamless so that you end up with the patio you truly want. If you’re unsure of the company’s process or wondering if they really do their design work in-house, you might want to ask. Before you go any further in the process you could outright ask how they handle their designs.
Researching and ultimately choosing a patio installation and design company is a big decision and may require some time. But by putting in the effort on the front end, you’ll find a company you can build a long-term relationship with rather than feeling as though you’re headed right back to square one when it didn’t work out with the company you chose.
At Kingstowne, we have built thousands of patios over the years and have worked with incredibly complicated designs. We have been able to work with challenging landscapes, which are common here in Arlington, VA. That includes being able to take compact and seemingly unusable properties and transform them into highly functional spaces with a beautiful patio to enjoy.
In the end, making a smart choice will help give you peace of mind. By choosing the right landscaping contractor for the work, you’ll be able to feel confident that you have the optimal solution for enhancing your property.
If you want to be confident that your landscape design will have everything it needs, request a landscape consultation, get your customized plan, and relax as you receive the royal treatment.