Coziness in the open air: how to decorate a patio in the country

Preparing the main site for creating a patio

Immediately before the start of the main construction work, the pre-selected place must be carefully cleaned of weeds and other plantings, and then carefully leveled. The site should be executed slightly lower (about 9.73 cm) of the general ground level, carefully leveled, tamped with high quality and thoroughly treated with a herbicide composition.

You should take a shovel (bayonet or shovel) and dig a not too deep pit, strictly along the marked boundaries. You should not go deeper than 20.0 cm, however, the entire fertile soil layer must be removed. Sand should be poured onto the bottom surface of the created pit and evenly distributed over the area. Then, the sand must be carefully compacted.

Recommendation!

The sand should be smoothed again after shrinkage. Nothing bad will happen if the sand cushion turns out to be above the surface level of the ground.

Furniture and decoration

Lush blooming plants, flower beds and alpine slides are perhaps the best decoration for your patio. Luscious greenery, an abundance of flowers will help create a pleasant environment for an ideal country holiday.

It is also worth providing protection from the sun and precipitation: umbrellas, awnings and awnings will be very useful. A great idea is to install a pergola or gazebo, you can also find a place for a garden swing.

As for furniture, give preference to the most practical materials that will last for a long time, keeping their appearance in outdoor conditions.

Do not dwell on too expensive items. Wood, vine or rattan are the main popular options. The type of furniture, its dimensions and location are selected based on your preferences, operating conditions, as well as the number of people who will rest here.

Try to make sure that neither the guests nor your family members experience any inconvenience.

Choosing the best place to build a patio

It is quite natural that just before you start creating a magnificent patio, you need to choose the right place on the site for it. For admirers of natural tanning and taking healthy sunbathing, landscape designers recommend choosing a place not surrounded by trees and sufficiently high buildings

People who prefer to retire in the cool shade with an interesting book and a cup of coffee, on the contrary, should pay attention to the presence of nearby spreading, branchy trees. A small pond or a small alpine slide will not spoil the comfortable atmosphere

The main condition for the selected site is the impeccable evenness of its surface. In a different situation, it will be necessary to additionally “remove” all defective irregularities of the existing relief.

You can build a patio in absolutely any configuration: round, square, triangular, multifaceted or rectangular. The outer boundaries of the area being created must be carefully and accurately marked with wooden pegs with a stretched rope (white twine). If the shape of the site is round, then it is more convenient to mark the boundaries with a hose.

Patio designs, sizes

  Having decided on the place, we start designing the patio. You can think over the project yourself or resort to the services of a landscape designer.

In the drawing-diagram, it is necessary to provide for the shape and size of the courtyard, the main elements of the fence and decor:

• The size of the patio depends on many factors - the availability of free territory on the site, financial capabilities, the purpose of the building. You can pave the area of ​​4–5 m2, but then you are unlikely to get the generally accepted version of the patio. The optimal size is best determined at the rate of 3-4 m2 per person, for an average summer cottage this is an area of ​​15-20 m2;
• The shape of the patio can be very diverse - rectangle, square, rhombus, circle. Often they resort to creating a two-level platform, having a covered podium on a hill. The main thing to remember is that the more bizarre the curves of the patio, the more difficult it is to implement the idea yourself. For DIY construction, it is better to choose a simpler geometric shape;
• A necessary detail is a covered seating area. If the dacha has a terrace, gazebo, pavilion, pergola, they can be perfectly combined with a patio. If not, you need to provide at least a small canopy where you can hide from the scorching rays of the sun;

It is interesting! A pergola is a canopy in the form of an arched gallery, which serves as a support for climbing shrubs, most often grapes.

The finishing touch is the elements that provide an atmosphere of security and privacy from nosy neighbors. Plan a site, such as a hedge or decorative trellis.

Some decor components can also be included in the project. But believe me, you will decorate this cozy corner of the summer cottage for several more years, breaking flower beds, planting groups of perennials and shrubs, complementing the courtyard with decorative and functional things.

For example, an outdoor stove or play area for children, a fountain or garden sculptures.

How to make a patio in the country with your own hands

1. Use a pole, cord and chalk the outline of the patio. The cord should be located 7-8 cm outside the contour of the slabs so that the molds with the slabs fit freely. Use a garden hose to create curved lines between the posts. After removing the sod with an excavator, compact the soil well, then saturate with any substance allowed for use, sterilizing the soil from weeds.

2. Install an asphalt partition (strip or blocks) wherever the patio is bordered by a house foundation, wall, or other structure. Over time, depending on climatic conditions, there is an expansion or narrowing of the joints in the patio cover in the country.

3. Reinforce the ropes and anchor the existing slope. The construction of the forms begins with hammering in the stakes to their top, which should be at the same horizontal level. This is how the top surface of the molds is planned. Drive the stakes in every 1-1.5 m. If desired, the stakes can be driven higher. Then secure the horizontal form with boards along the top of the hammered stakes. Countryside patio ideas:

4. Stakes serve as pointers, hold and adjust the level. Use nails to knock down the stakes and boards. Nails are driven through the stakes. In this case, the cords remain at the top throughout the entire operation. Check the horizontality of the shapes and boards many times.

5. Make a concrete bed by scattering gravel, rubble or crushed stones. The thickness of the bed depends on the quality of the soil drainage. If the drainage is good, then the layer thickness is usually 2-5 cm. With poor drainage, the bed layer is larger.

6. To reinforce the stock, unfold the steel mesh and then straighten it. Sliding stones or other material will lift the mesh up, so support it from above. Place a thin board or slab in the middle of the net. Trample on them and try to make the grid settle. Collect everything that is above the net with a rake. Patio decoration in the country photo:

7. Pour concrete. A straight, long enough bar, touching the two edges of the mold, is used to level the concrete surface as soon as its layer reaches 7-10 cm. Mastic or mineral additives of various colors can be used on top of the concrete. The stove will cost more, but it will become more elegant.

8. After pouring the concrete, use a small plank as a float to level the concrete. Stop ironing when water appears on the surface of the stove.

nine.After the water has evaporated from the surface, start working from the edge of the plate. With a flat instrument with a slight inclination of its front, draw along the edge. The front of the tool should be slightly raised when moving. If moving backward, lift the rear edge. Repeat the process several times. Countryside patio ideas:

10. Check the joints between the plates. For patios about 3 m wide, the joint of the slabs should be no more than 1/4 of the slab thickness. Use a board for control.

11. Rub the final surface. Run twice with wood grout, sliding on a rough surface. For final smoothing, do three passes. It is undesirable to use a metal tool.

Patio decoration

The most creative step in setting up a patio is decorating it. When choosing furniture and decorative elements, take into account that in natural conditions it is best to use non-hygroscopic materials.

Furniture

Textile elements of such furniture, as a rule, are removable, and its frame is moisture resistant.

The best option for landscaping the recreation area is furniture made of vine or rattan. The difference between these materials is that the first is harvested mainly from willow branches, and the second is obtained from dried stems of calamus or rattan palm. But both types of materials are natural, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. Garden furniture is traditionally made from them. It is easy to operate and light in weight.

Lighting

Many lamps make it possible to adjust the degree of illumination of the site to create the most comfortable atmosphere

Infrared outdoor heaters, which are also a source of dim light, are suitable for decorating and improving the recreation area. They run on liquefied gas, the cylinder is located at the base of the body. This equipment is indispensable for arranging lighting on sites remote from home, to which it is difficult to supply electricity.

Where it is, a variety of lamps are installed. The most in demand are suspended ones, intended for lighting a barbecue, a table, the most spectacular places with landscaping.

Plants

These "green walls" are able to revive stone patio areas like nothing else.

Plants in the design of the recreation area play not only the role of decoration, but are also used for zoning spacious areas and creating borders.

It is advisable to plant flowers and ornamental trees in the so-called "smart" pots and pots. Some of the most popular and affordable ones are produced under the Lechuza brand. They are equipped with aeration and automatic irrigation systems, which greatly facilitates the care of plants.

Decor

Bouquets on tables, a wooden ceiling, upholstered furniture and a biofireplace create the feeling of a cozy living room on the patio, only with a lot of fresh air

All decor elements should create a feeling of comfort and tranquility. Therefore, in the design of the patio, sofa pillows, poufs, and banquettes are appropriate.

Patio design solutions

To build a patio in the country with your own hands is to show your maximum imagination in design. It all depends on the tastes of the owner. Someone loves luxury, someone minimalism. The patio accepts any layout. What can you suggest?

Arched awnings (arches, pergolas). Richly entwined with greenery, flowers, such decor elements will add airiness, charm and sensuality to the patio. Decorative dummies on chairs and benches will add pacification.

White light curtains on the pergola create a feeling of lightness, airiness and freshness

It will be convenient to fix lights for illumination on the pergola beams

Nice, cozy patio under the pergola

Warm friends. A fireplace or barbecue will turn the patio into a favorite resting place for all households and guests. In the middle of the courtyard, you can arrange a fire pit or create a kind of summer kitchenette. The main thing is that the fiery additions fit into the overall design of the patio.

A fireplace makes any patio complete and truly cozy

On cool evenings it will be so pleasant, wrapped in a blanket, to sit in a warm company by the fireplace on the patio

Garden swing. A great idea to add romanticism to the design of the recreation area. If you add a canopy to the swing, you can turn it into a comfortable place for an afternoon nap or retreat with an interesting book.

Cute accessories. For maximum comfort, the patio interior can be supplemented with original figurines, tall vases, souvenirs, etc. Additions can give the courtyard a special chic by decorating it in various styles (romance, retro, fairytale, national or exotic flavor).

No patio is complete without cute décor elements such as colored pillows or vases.

Bright boho patio decor

Green design. Slightly raised flower beds, pergolas, a pot garden or planting pockets in floor paving will perfectly decorate the patio. Stages of making a landing pocket:

1. We lay one of the slabs without mortar when paving.
2. After the bridge is over, take out this slab and remove the loose cushion.
3. Install a rigid border around the cell perimeter.
4. We fill the pocket with fertile soil.
5. We plant the plants.

A patio surrounded by lush greenery

Stunningly beautiful patio with ivy-covered walls

In such a pocket, you can also equip a mini-pond. To do this, we line it from the inside with a film and fill it with water. You can decorate the reservoir with aquatic plants (pistia, water hyacinth, salvinia, marigold, marsh forget-me-not, water salad, arrowhead, tabernemontana reed, cattail, variegated calamus).

Place climbing ampelous plants on horizontal cover and vertical partitions:

• Blossoming: petunia, clematis, hoya, achimenes, fuchsia, columnea, surfinia, thyroid pelargonium.
• Deciduous: cissus, scindapsus, chlorophytum, tradescantia.

Flowers and plants will be a great addition to your cozy corner

Blooming climbing plants will brighten any patio

For flowers, you can advise fragrant roses, bright clematis, beautiful and unpretentious morning glories, exquisite kobei, extravagant kvamoklits. Tall plants in tubs (cypresses or lavender) will look great.

Check out the patio options in different styles. All this is done by hand:

Have a nice patio!

What makes a competent patio

Mostly for arranging a properly executed patio, all kinds of slabs and stones are used. This natural material is characterized by natural beauty, environmental friendliness and incredible durability. The area laid out with natural stone looks very refined and creative, and the patio itself takes on the medieval charm and the comfort for which it was built.

The option created from stone is distinguished by its ideality and solidity, but, on the other hand, by its decent high cost. You can, of course, purchase a brick at a reasonable price and fold it into a patio. Such a solution will also look dignified, romantic and beautiful. The ease of use of bricks lies in the good ability to create striking ornaments and patterns on the decorative area.

Important!

Another, very interesting version is the patio on the base of wood. Outwardly, it looks natural and incredibly beautiful, however, it needs regular care, but it is fragile. These disadvantages can be easily avoided by using decking instead of natural wood. Decking is a wood-polymer composite and is made by deep high-temperature processing of wood chips and sawdust mass. Such a semi-artificial material is not subject to the destructive effects of natural external factors, has an edge lock joint between adjacent tiles and is not inferior in attractiveness to real boards, which the decking imitates in a very high quality.

Attention! There is no need to arrange extreme tests for your feet, and it is better to refuse the idea of ​​laying out the site with sea or river pebbles. Speaking of natural stone, we mean elements that have at least one flat side, on which you can walk freely and not stumble !. The patio, laid out of colored tile fragments, looks very original, spectacular and unusual.

Cutting fragments is best done with a grinder with a cutting (diamond) disc installed. You can also break tiles with a chisel.

The patio, laid out of colored tile fragments, looks very original, spectacular and unusual. Cutting fragments is best done with a grinder with a cutting (diamond) disc installed. You can also break the tiles with a chisel.

On the whole tile, before breaking it, it is worth applying markings that determine the places of future faults. This will create attractive pieces with an even shape. A line is drawn along the marking line with a sharp drill or the edge of a chisel with pressure. After that, the tiles are placed on the bar. The fracture line should coincide with the edge of the underlying base and after a sharp pressure, an even split of the material occurs. All the fragments obtained are used for finishing the floor decoration.

Having made an evaluative analysis of the materials reviewed, you can see that they are all very expensive. Therefore, to create a patio with minimal cost, you can choose paving stones or cement tiles for paving. Let's consider in detail the option of forming a beautiful patio from multi-colored cement tile elements.

Arrangement of a patio

platform

• the selected area is fenced off along the contour with pegs;
• about 20 cm of soil is removed on the future site;
• the resulting depression is filled with wet sand;
• the sand cushion is compacted with a rake and additionally watered with water.

The resulting plot should rise slightly above ground level due to the embankment.

When the preparation of the base for the flooring is completed, you can proceed to the direct formation of the site. This process will also be performed in several steps:

• the base material (brick, wooden plates, concrete or stone slabs) is laid on the sand cushion. At the same time, small slopes should be made towards the edges of the site for water drainage;
• the platform is upholstered along the contour with limiters in the form of wooden beams;
• the seams of the floor covering are sealed with sand.

Additionally, you can install a polycarbonate canopy over the finished platform to protect it from the effects of weather conditions. It is desirable that it be translucent. For such purposes, an ordinary awning is also suitable, but if you wish, you can build a similar structure yourself, using polycarbonate or glass.

Laying tiles

The most important step in patio design is the laying of tiled elements. It is necessary to start laying out the territory of the prepared site along the perimeter. The distance between individual slabs is maintained at a distance of 8.0–10.0 mm. It is necessary to lay each tile absolutely evenly, constantly controlling the level with the appropriate tool. The required adjustment is carried out with a rubber mallet.

After completing the layout of the entire perimeter, you should proceed to laying decorative elements towards the center of the site.

Peculiarity! So that there is no need for additional cutting of the tiles, it is necessary to correctly calculate the parameters of the site at the marking stage. Horizontally and vertically, taking into account the gaps, there should be an even number of tiles!

A useful manipulation will be the subsequent careful pouring of water over the entire site.

It is important here not to wash the sand from the gaps. This procedure will contribute to its accelerated compaction.

You can repeat this pouring several times.

In principle, the creation of the site is considered complete at this point. It remains only to compact the soil around it, and lead a beautifully designed path to the resulting structure for the patio, which can be made from the same tile material.

Types of modern patios, 18 photos

Classic patio. Most often, this zone is equipped near the house, therefore it has a U-shape. This is a square or rectangular area with the necessary furniture. The entrance to it can be both from the courtyard and directly from the house, if they border and the door is provided by the architect.

Classic patio

Classic patio with a canopy

The patio with BBQ area is also very popular, and it's no wonder who doesn't love outdoor grilled meats or vegetables. The barbecue itself can be both stationary and portable, the main thing is that it fits into the overall style and performs its immediate functions.

Patio with BBQ area

Patio with barbecue and wooden awning

A patio with a fireplace, a rather expensive element of landscape design, but a very stylish option for arranging this area. Even outdoors, the fireplace will make your relaxation, especially in the evening, unforgettable. Sometimes they make a patio with a fire, a place for which is located in the center, and chairs around it.

Patio with fireplace

Patio by the fireplace

Patio by the pond. If you are the lucky owner of such an element of landscape design as a pond, it is a sin not to place a patio right next to it. Moreover, fire your designer right away if he doesn't offer to do it himself. It is worth considering the layout of the combination of such zones so that the pond is not in the foreground

It is better that it be a secondary element and not distract all the attention of vacationers, but give them its freshness and the murmur of water. You can read about how to properly arrange an artificial reservoir here

Patio by the pond

Another example of a beautiful patio by the pond

Poolside patio. Such a building as a pool is far from every site and is not accessible to poor people, they do not deny themselves a recreation area. Here, as a rule, the beach style will be used, there may be sun loungers and a cocktail table.

Poolside patio

Poolside patio

Round patio. Looks very nice, but not very practical. The space in such a zone is much less than that of the classic rectangular one. However, beauty requires sacrifice and this option is also very popular.

Round patio

Round patio

Choosing a place for your patio

  If you are fired up with the idea of ​​building a patio in your country house, then, first of all, you need to choose a place for it. It is optimal that the patio adjoins the house, as its kind of continuation. Convenient if it has an exit from the veranda, kitchen or room.

With this arrangement, it is easy to set the table for breakfast, lunch or dinner in the yard, remove pillows from the rain, and shelter from the midday heat.

But this is not the only option. There are certain rules for choosing the most suitable place for your patio:

1. Decide on the purpose of your patio. For lovers of a secluded afternoon, a secluded corner in the garden is suitable. But if you plan to receive guests here, prepare food in nature, combine the patio with the area where you have a barbecue or barbecue oven, a gazebo, perhaps a pool, bathhouse or sauna;
2. Consider the climatic characteristics of your region. The place should be sunny, well protected from wind and drafts - the south side is best. In hot climates, the patio can be positioned on the east or west side of the house. It is not recommended to build a patio facing north, in this case you can use it only on very hot summer days, but not in spring or autumn, when you want to bask in the sun;
3. Combine your patio with existing buildings and landscaping details. Walk through the territory and find a place where it will look organic, complement and shade the existing elements of the improvement. This will give your site an aesthetic completeness.In addition, if the yard already has, for example, vertical landscaping, a canopy or beautiful lanterns, this will save money in the construction and arrangement of the patio;
4. Position your patio in such a way as to enjoy the contemplation of the surrounding landscape. No one will like to constantly "admire" the lopsided fence of neighbors. It is undesirable to build a patio overlooking the household block. If there is no other option, consider arranging a fence, for example, a lattice or net, along which climbing plants can be launched.

If the patio is not adjacent to the house, be sure to provide a paved path connecting the patio to the main building.

Patio views

The arrangement of a cozy resting corner largely depends on the architectural features of the house and the layout of the site. The corner patio is distinguished by privacy and special charm, when the building protects it from two or three sides at once. If the seating area is located near the back wall, the patio will be fenced by the house on one side only. In the second case, a smooth transition from the house to the courtyard is often envisaged, when the kitchen or living room area literally expands.

Whichever one is chosen, there will always be some typical architectural features in the arrangement.

1. Green spaces will definitely visually outline the patio area: it can be shrubs in a regular style, small arches with weaving roses or flower beds.
2. Decorative fountains, street lights, sculptures or artificial ponds. All of this enlivens the backyard and creates a cozy atmosphere.
3. Visually, it is customary to enclose the patio area with tiles, garden paths or decorative podiums.

Gazebo patio

Covered gazebos, combined with the architectural features of the patio arrangement, can create a real corner of paradise. A patio gazebo in the country can become a solid structure, a small pavilion, or even a temporary shelter from an awning.

1. For a large area, a solid structure with a roof is suitable, which will cover a small kitchen with a fireplace in the fresh air.
2. The tandem patio and pergola looks interesting. The building looks great on a site with such architectural features in the Mediterranean or antique styles.
3. For a small area and occasional use, the patio area can be easily turned into a gazebo using ready-made tent-pavilions. The frame can be stationary or portable - a convenient and practical solution.
4. The patio gazebo will become a real decoration of the site if you use the podium technique. The recreation area turns not just into a gazebo, but into a house in the fresh air.

Patio with pool

A house with a patio, depending on the size of the area, will decorate the pool with a strict rectangular, original complex or classic oval shape.

A patio with a roof and several functional areas is suitable for a large courtyard, resulting in an outdoor living-dining room.
A small, well-shaped pool is suitable for defining a relaxation area with sun loungers, the second patio area remains under the canopy and is presented in the form of a dining room.
In a small courtyard, you can try out the intricate elongated shapes of the pool, while the main part of the patio will be located under the wall of the house.
The pool with an original solution becomes the center of the patio

An interesting trick is an island of greenery right in the middle of the water.
Finally, a laconic medium-sized pool will harmoniously fit into the atmosphere of the recreation area and will not attract all the attention.

Patio terrace

The peculiarity of this type of structure is that the site always has restrictions not only from the side of the house, so it is surrounded by small partitions made of trellises for climbing plants or tall flower beds. It will certainly be raised above ground level by means of a podium or steps.

1. Using the second characteristic of the terrace, you can place the patio for the summer cottage directly on the steps in front of the house. This is a convenient solution from the point of view of maintaining order, and it also becomes possible to decorate the facade of the house with plants.
2. When free space allows, the area in front of the house can be tiled and a small open-air living room can be organized. A good solution for a house with a basement.
3. Additional partitions are fully revealed with the use of weaving grapes, vines and ivy. It turns out a natural curtain from the wind and prying eyes.
4. If you raise the patio area in front of the house above ground level and arrange a cozy space with seasonal plants in flowerpots, you get a closed corner for sun loungers or a dining area.

Patio with barbecue

When choosing a place to decorate a recreation area with the possibility of cooking over an open fire, you will have to take into account several important factors.

1. It is advisable to pave the site with granite or brick. Sometimes decorative elements made of gravel or pebbles are used.
2. A place for a patio in the country should definitely be chosen away from bushes and trees. It is advisable to avoid proximity to plants in the cooking area.
3. A convenient solution is a separately equipped corner for a ready-made multifunctional outdoor stove. There you can cook dishes on the grill, barbecue and even place a real oven.
4. If you plan to use a patio in a private house until winter, you should consider a solid building with a roof, where a dining table and cooking area will find their place.

DIY patio device

Preparatory work

Like any other work related to the improvement of the garden and backyard territory, building a patio in the country with your own hands begins with a marking. The main requirement: the presence of a leveled piece of land, freed from vegetation and debris. The shape of the "rest corner" is chosen depending on the paving method. It is made round, rectangular or square, as desired.

Shape selection and markup

Straight, concise forms look a little simpler, but easier to implement. For example, most often the patio adjacent to the house is made in the form of a square or rectangle. For structures located in the depths of the garden, a more complex shape is often chosen: round or curved.

The marking of the future structure is done using a rope and several pegs.

Use a regular garden hose to create a circular patio.

Site preparation

This procedure consists of several operations:

• Using a shovel, a pit is dug about 20 cm deep along the marking lines, carefully removing the remnants of roots and plants. To prevent the appearance of weeds, the pit is spilled with a herbicide or covered with geotextiles.
• The dug hole is covered with sand, leveling it well and spilling it with water for better compaction.
• After the sand settles, it is leveled again, tamped and covered with crushed stone with a layer of 10 cm and another layer of sand about 5 cm thick.
• A curb stone is laid along the contour, preventing the structure from creeping.

Paving

The choice of materials for creating a beautiful and original patio with your own hands can be anything. For example:

• Slabs made of natural and artificial stone.
• Paving slabs and paving blocks. They are laid in a dry way or on a solution.
• Concrete.
• Brick.
• Decking (deck board).
• Wood. In this case, a tree with increased moisture resistance is used, having previously treated it with antiseptics.

very beautiful and spectacular patio areas are made from fragments of ceramic tiles. To do this, it is broken with a chisel or cut with a circular saw. Then the pieces are put together like a mosaic. It is not only attractive in appearance, but also an economical option for paving. Here they use broken or defective tiles of low cost.

To get the pieces of the desired shape, the tiles are drawn with a pencil. Then a recess is made along the line with a chisel. The tile is placed on the block so that the outlined line is at the edge and is struck with force. The result is two pieces. If necessary, break the tiles in the same way into smaller pieces.

"Final chord"

After completing the main work on laying tiles, stone or other materials on the base of the patio, it is again covered with a small layer of sand and distributed over the entire surface. Thanks to this, all small cracks and irregularities that have arisen during the paving process will be eliminated.

Then the rest of the sand is swept away and the area is filled with water. Wait a while until it is absorbed, and then spill it again. This manipulation is repeated 2-3 times. Then the marking twine and pegs are removed and the earth is tamped around the structure.

For the best effect, landscaping the path and the area adjacent to the patio area. For this, the same materials are used as for creating the main structure.