How Big Should a Patio be?
How big should a patio be, is a question I receive almost daily. So many homeowners tend to end up with a patio that is either too small or too large, because they didn’t ask the right questions. The question shouldn’t be how big should a patio be, it should be what do you want to do on your patio?
Entertain- How many people do you anticipate having over on a normal basis?- Grilling- Do you want an outdoor kitchen with drawers, side burners, refrigerator, bar, or just a simple grill?
- Dining- Do you plan on eating outside with a table and chairs? How large is the table?
- Fire Feature- Will there be a fire feature (firepit or fireplace) on the patio?
- Seatwalls- Utilizing seatwalls will help reduce patio space instead of using patio furniture
- Furniture- Looking to place a couple of Adirondack chairs or sectional sofa?
- Steps- Steps take up a lot of room because you can’t put furniture or anything in front of that area for access to home or lawn
If your patio is sized too small or not adequately planned for your needs, it will feel cramped after the addition of some of these items above. If your patio is overly large it could lose its intimacy. This shows the importance of planning and determining the size of your patio before creating a patio. Planning ahead of time results in a well-designed outdoor living area that you can utilize to suit your lifestyle. Here are some tips that you should consider to determine the size of your patio:
Determine the Purpose
Determining the purpose of a patio should be the first step at arriving at the right patio size. Make a list of various ways you wish to utilize the patio. The list may include an area for reading and relaxing, cooking, a casual gathering of 10 or more friends, or an intimate dinner with few friends depending on your personal preference. Out of this list, you could generate a scale of preference which implies compiling the various uses in an order of importance to show the ones that are of top priority. A professional landscape designer would know how much space is needed to achieve your goal for the patio and outdoor living space as well as the ability to help with space planning.
Determine the Size of Your Outdoor Patio Furniture
After deciding the amount of people you want your patio to accommodate, the next logical line of action is to select the type outdoor patio furniture and how much space is required. Patio furniture might include tables, benches, sectional sofas, gliders, bar stools, chairs, chaise lounges, and chairs. You should also consider some other features in the space such as a drink cart or a grill. If you already have an idea of the type of furniture you wish to use, you can make inquiries about its measurement so as to plan the patio accurately.
Determine the Extra Features
At this point, you should determine the extra features you’d like to include. A lot of this will be determined by the budget you would like to invest in this outdoor living space. If your purpose of creating a patio includes reading and relaxing, then considering a subtle water feature might a nice feature adding ambiance and would help block disturbances from a busy street or neighborhood kids.
Determine the Type of Material For Your Patio
Should you install a paver patio or concrete? This can be difficult decision if you’re main objective is cost. There are some other things to consider though. To get the skinny on the difference between these options, read our blog, Concrete or Pavers? Which is Better For My Patio?
- Durability
- Versatility
- Maintenance
Figure the Amount of Space Required
So, how big should a patio be? The size of a patio is entirely a personal decision, however there are some guidelines to figure out the exact size to suit your purpose. For some guidance, we would recommend a minimum size patio to be 15 feet x 20 feet. This is a good place to start and will help get a budget at least started for discussion. How much should a patio should cost? Find out here. This size would be large enough to provide a space that would accommodate a small dining table and four chairs. For additional seating space, the addition of a seat wall around a portion on the patio would greatly increase the number of friends to could place on your patio. In addition, as you measure and map out the exact dimensions of the patio, plan for 3 feet by 3 feet per chair, as well as for a small table and an average bench is about 6 feet by 3 feet.
Located in Summerfield, NC Southern Exposure Landscape Management specializes in the design, installation, and maintenance of residential and commercial projects throughout the Greensboro Triad Area (High Point, Jamestown, Burlington, Reidsville, Oak Ridge, Brown Summit, Summerfield) With over 20 years in business, Southern Exposure has the experience and knowledge to solve your landscape issues and turn them into a beautiful features in the landscape. Southern Exposure is the leading landscape management firm in Greensboro, NC. See why our clients choose us. Contact us today by web (online form) or phone (336.451.4969)
