Outdoor Living: Pool and Patio

Planning Your Backyard Haven

Your best bet when planning any backyard space is to hire pool builders who understand what the entire process will entail when putting in any water feature and patio, along with other structures like pergolas, grills, and sheds. A reputable company will work with the natural terrain of your yard, which is especially helpful for homeowners who have to deal with an unusual feature like a significant slope. Before you contact any outdoor pool design company, make a list with this helpful information:

• Your Budget
• Yard Dimensions
• Must-have Needs
• Wish-List Items

 

What is your budget?

Knowing what you have to spend on your dream backyard is critical. An inground pool can start at around $20,000, with the cost rising depending on other considerations like size and shape, location and terrain, as well as additional features like a hot tub. You may not understand all of the factors that go into planning and installing long-lasting outdoor amenities, but having a solid budget will assist your designer in giving you the most for your money.  

What dimensions will your project be?

Write down the dimensions of the area you wish to improve. Have a survey or plat that mark all the measurements of your property. Make sure you know all the proper set-back dimensions from any roads or neighboring properties. A backyard designer will need these to draw up plans to-scale and to apply for any necessary permits. You do not want to get into any property disputes after breaking ground.  

How will you use the space?

There are many ways you will utilize your new outdoor space. Aside from a new pool, you may want a large covered patio space for outdoor dining, a fire pit, a grill area or full outdoor kitchen. Think about all the ways you will use the space, and any must-have items you want to include so your designer can fit it into your budget.  

What wish-list items would you desire?

Would you love to have a waterfall or rocky grotto added to your outdoor pool? Is a built-in seating area around a gas fire pit part of your dream yard? When you hire pool companies to design your space, they will know the best way to incorporate some of your wish-list items while staying within your budget. Years of experience will allow them to offer suggestions and ideas to make your outdoor space as comfortable as possible, even if you choose to forgo putting in an outdoor pool.  

Backyard Design Elements

A superb outdoor design not only adds tremendous value to your home but improves the quality of life for those who inhabit the space. Whether big or small, any additional outdoor living spaces create a secret haven from daily life or provide areas for your family to spend time together.  

Create seating areas

No space is complete without comfortable seating for friends and family to sit back and relax. Choosing cozy chairs and tables that can withstand the elements is essential to keeping your outdoor area looking fabulous. Before you begin the construction process, make sure you have sufficient square footage to place enough seating for your entertainment needs in each section of your outdoor living area. When possible, plan to incorporate low walls that can double as extra seating, especially around an outdoor kitchen or fire pit.  

Provide private spaces

Lattice panels, pergolas, and decorative fencing are a perfect way to delineate an area and make it private from neighbors or others inside the house or in other parts of the yard. A quiet place for a lounge chair or a hammock can provide a respite after a hectic day. Plants in large pots offer even more privacy and add color and texture while relaxing the senses.  

Plan space for traffic flow

Traffic patterns into and out of the house and to each section of your outdoor space need to be free of clutter and barriers that prevent smooth flow. Too much furniture or excessive planters can crowd a space, minimizing the comfort factor. A great way to divide spaces and to keep an open area for traffic flow is to use pavers in a different color or pattern to make "lanes" for walking. If paver stones don't fit your budget, you can also create pathways with crushed rock or wood chips. After you establish your initial design, mark out the area in your yard and walk about to get a feel for the natural flow of traffic patterns. If something doesn't feel right, now is the time to make adjustments to the plan.  

Create focal points

Great design starts around a focal point. Focal points catch your attention and compel you to walk to a particular area. Focal points also draw your eye away from unattractive aspects in your yard that you may not be able to hide with plantings or fences. A beautiful teak dining table, a stonework pizza oven, a water feature, or even decorative plantings make lovely focal points in outdoor spaces. Warm and inviting focal points will make your backyard interesting and encourage guests to move about and explore each section.  

Use buildings to hide utilities and tools

Nobody wants to hear your pool motor or see piles of water toys or furniture cushions. A small shed or house is a common structure to add into a backyard design. An ideal plan for this backyard building involves constructing an attractive place to house noisy utilities, unsightly equipment, and bulky water toys. It is also necessary to plan for a changing room and an additional bathroom if possible to keep family and guests from coming into the house while in wet swimsuits to use the restroom.  

Design for year-round use

When designing spaces for an outdoor living pool and patio in Dallas, you should consider ways to make the space useable even during the colder months. Being able to use your outdoor space year-round increases the value of your investment. A pergola with a solid cover can protect furniture and guests from the rain, and a gas fire pit can heat a seating area on chilly nights. An outdoor kitchen with a full roof is an excellent way to grill tasty meals outside every month of the year. A sunny spot that has a windbreak such as a wall, trellis, or plantings, can feel much warmer on cool days. Finding ways to get maximum use of your backyard space is why it's a smart choice to hire a full-service company to help plan your oasis. A great contractor will have ideas and tips to expand your outdoor living space into a place of enjoyment every month of the year.