Patio design

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To provide patios with or within house have been around for centuries. Every room intended for human habitation should about an interior or exterior open space. The purpose of open space inside and around a building is to provide the lighting and ventilation requirements of the rooms. For this purpose front, rear or side open space is provided. In case, buildings/ house abutting on streets, the open space provided shall be sufficient for future widening of such streets. This open space in the house or building is called patio.
Patio in the building or house is the open space open to sky having fresh air but has walls surrounding to the open area. During architectural design, some building or house have patio inside the house, where as some building have patio outside the building, which serve dual purpose as patio and garden. These patios are protected from heavy winds, open to sky and perfect for the development of house gardening. Architect and designer have many thoughts or designs for making patios useful and lovely. There are still many more options that can be selected around Indoor/outdoor patios. Other ideas for a patio plan may include an herb garden, outdoor kitchen, or playground (for the kids), your patio space is only limited by your imagination. Patio entry garages have also become quite popular and can also create the feel of a patio house plan.
However, the popularity of internal patios for terraced homes in tight-fitting spaces seems to be increasingly common feature in new high-density house designs. There are many practical ways in which modern home spaces can be created with less expense and less hassle. But before you can even began thinking about building a patio, you must both understand and decide on the type of patio that best suits your residence.
The best use of Indoor patio is to provide natural light and cross ventilation within the surrounding rooms. Indoor patios also make good use of surrounding colour schemes. The designing of patio depends upon the size and shape of the patio. A seating space is designed which can be useable for seating in the natural atmosphere and serve as a common meeting place for the family members. If you grow shade loving plant which gives very nice look in the indoor patio. You can enhance the beauty of indoor patio by providing a small waterfall.
The interior patios designing will be the same as per designing small gardens. Consideration should be given to vertical space with the walls around the patio and to decorate the vertical space with climbing vines. It only decorates the existing boundary without creating a depth or illusion of boundary. For this purpose use small trees with tall trunks, tall pots, pots on stands, groups of pots, trellis works, and decor. By making beds with the walls, filling them with the same vines as the walls, and placing a few tall specimen plants or trees also has a nice dramatic framework effect with a lot of depth. Use of proper colour on walls also makes a big difference in the depth, atmosphere, and mood of the patio garden. Bright and light colours have a closer closed in feel while darker colours add more depth and a sense of more space and distance.
While designing small garden and patios it is necessary to give proper attention to detail rather than filling up space. Using more is not always better. By using some elements with some basic design, principles will make good clean atmosphere. The patio is an enclosed space and in a small patio, we can expect it to be quite marked. How can we choose plantings that help to dispel any tendency to claustrophobia? In a small space, the sun exposure is limited because there is shading effect of the walls around it. In such situation, it is necessary to reduce darkness and space should be clutter free. Two feet wide footpath with light colour material should be made across the centre of the yard.
At the time of plantation, plant shrubs that will grow up to five feet. Care should be taken that there should be no any hindrance to drains and other services. Select the plant according to their growth etc some specimens such as chokeberry, golden leaf dogwood, alba and burning bush (Euonymus) etc. When shrubs grow more in height than five feet, pruning of shrubs will be done. In amongst these plants, place spring flowering bulbs: gladiolus, freesia to up light the space at night where it will form a soft, inviting glow.
In the floor plans of house, it is necessary to have provision of outdoor/ front patio. This is primarily private area only seen by family and friends; your front yard plays a major role in defining the appearance of your entire property. It is very essential to design front patio landscape, which creates an overall outdoor plan that truly displays the elegance of your home. Front patio includes a central patio, a miniature version, in some cases patios are covered with glass or translucent materials. Generally, the patios are open to sky. Outdoor patios also include connective patios, which provide natural light to common areas and space for potted outdoor plants.
After completing road/ driveway which connect the outdoor patio of the house, the work of designing landscaping of outdoor space is begins. Design the patio in such a way by marking lines, patterns, indicators and other design, which will, adds the beauty of the space and helps the guests from the road directly to your front door of the house. After landscaping design, to plant trees, shrubbery, flowers and space for vegetation is essential for front patio. Care should be taken while choosing plants and flowers that enhance the beauty of your garden style and the style of your home.
There are some different ways to design the front patio of your home besides the plant life you choose. Really, there are endless possibilities of what you can use to decorate the garden. Allow your imagination to design a unique garden.
You can make a unique mixture of garden decor and patio designs, some are given as under.
Paths and driveways
Garden path is as important as plants, fence, furniture etc. A well-decorated garden having dull path looks boring. So choose right material for path of your beautiful garden. You can choose different materials such as brick, stone, concrete, pebbled, tiles, coloured stones etc for garden path. Garden path should be decorative and functional. Path can be constructed by mixing material like concrete with pebbles or tile with pebbles etc. The path may be straight, curved or edged; which depends on available space in the garden. A straight path at centre of small garden divides it into two small blocks. Wooden block path looks beautiful in your garden whereas floating stone paths and stone block paths are commonly used in garden.
Statue
Your garden has flowers, plants, trees but you want something unique in your garden. A centrepiece can be used for garden decoration and that will be a statue. You will find so many nice looking pieces that you can add to your garden. The choices are endless; you can create your own style. You can choose from different materials from stone garden statue, resin, wood and cement to metal statue. Make sure that the garden statue you are choosing should be tasteful. You have a limit less choice in the kind of shapes, characters and angels. A statue can be selected based on theme. A fairy theme can be used for your garden that can make your garden a fun place for children. To make garden kids friendly use the theme that is liked by children. You can also use animal, bird statue in your garden. A laughing Buddha can be used as statue that will make your garden far away from negative energies. A child with sunflower statue can be added to your garden. Planter’s statues and flower statues is a great choice for a nature lover.
Fountain
Garden fountain not only add beauty to the garden also create a soothing water sound that can be relaxing to listen. Garden fountain also invite birds and butter fly to visit your garden and the birds will enjoy the drink and bath. Garden fountain can be of marble, stone, wooden and ceramic material. Wall fountain is a great choice for small garden. Freestanding fountains are very popular as these are available in different material such as metal, stone, ceramic, concrete and wood. To make garden fountain centre point of the garden, choose a fountain that match up your garden décor.
Container
Garden Planters are important part of a garden, as an attractive planter will make your garden more beautiful. There are attractive planters in concrete, plastic, ceramic, terracotta, plastic and wood. Plant Containers are also available in different shapes; choose a planter shape according to size of garden and plants. Planters can add height and shape to your garden.
Wall plaques  
Garden Wall plaques are usually made of wood and stone. Generally, garden plaques are used for identification and decoration. Decorative garden plaques can be made of variety of shapes. There are decorative plaques that have the carving of birds, animals, flowers, sun and moon. You can also find garden plaques of the sun and moon combination.
Water features in front yard
Water features are just as elegant in the front of your home as they are in the backyard. Consider a garden fountain that suits your landscape style as a focal point or add a soothing stream or cascading waterfall to a flowerbed.
Tips for planting the front patio:
n Plants trees in lines which enhance the beauty, give relief from the summer and help to cool your home and save space for other elements.
n Do not plant heavy trees, which give heavy foliage, unnecessary branches and can damage house during storm/ earthquake.
n Ornamentals and fruit trees may be planted in the front patios with a bunch of various colour flower plants.
n Evergreen shrubs are used to create patterns and direction and these types of plants can make excellent hedges.
Benefits of having a patio:
1.Having your own patio offers comforts such as fresh air, sunlight, serenity, personal privacy, and security into your home.
2. In heavily populated areas, a patio home plan can provide privacy, a break from the frantic pace of everyday life, and a protected place for your children to have fun. n