When it comes to enjoying the way your home feels, have you thought about the outdoors? Perhaps you feel as though the kids are always on top of each other. Maybe you feel that you cannot find a place to just get away from all of the noise. Why not add a patio onto your home or extend the one you have? There are some very impressive options available to you and it does not have to be expensive to create this type of space. All you really need to do is to create a space that feels great to you and compliments your home. A good place to start is with the size of your patio.

What’s Allowed?

Before you get your heart set on a large patio that takes the place of all of your grass (for those that do not like to cut the grass, this can be a fantastic way to kill all of that mowing time!) you need to determine if your city has any codes that limit patios or have specific rules about patio installation. You may not be able to come within a certain distance of your property line or you may have to contend with utility lines. It is a good idea to learn about all of these risks first before you make any plans.

Stand Back and Take a Look

Walk to the back of your home and then as far from the home as you can go. Look at your property from a distance. Assuming you have a door that leads from your home to the backyard, you can think about dimensions a bit easier this way. Do you want the patio to run the length of the home? This isn’t common, but it can be an excellent way to add a lot of space. Take into consideration any windows that may get covered up or views changed by the installation of a patio (and potentially a roof over that patio). You also need to think about the grading of the land. Is it conducive to a larger patio?

Think About Function

If you do not want a large patio but one that is effective enough to meet all of your needs, there are a few other things to keep in mind. For example, you need to think about how you will use this space and how much space each of these things will need:

• Do you want a grilling area? If so, imagine that space being located outside your back door. How much room will it need?
• Do you want to have a seating area and table? Block out a portion of your patio for that.
• Do you want an area for plants or gardening?
• Do you want a space dedicated to the kids?
• Do you want to add a water feature or other built-in components?

You have plenty of options when it comes to choosing the dimensions of your patio. The only limitation you have is on your budget and the amount of space available to you.