A Suitable Position
Be imaginative about where you position the sitting and outdoor dining area - it doesn’t necessarily have to adjoin the house and it doesn’t have to be a conventional patio shape. There are many other options and the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
Close For Comfort - Theres much to be said in favour of a patio close to the house especially if you do plenty of entertaining. It is also convenient for watering containers from the kitchen tap and handy for harvesting culinary herbs planted in containers.
Design Tip - Angling a patio at 45 degrees to the building makes it that little bit more distinctive and takes full advantage of the sun as it moves around.
A sheltered Spot - Choose a position that is sheltered from too much sun or rain and not exposed to cold winds. Shade for part of the day is not a drawback and is often welcome but make sure that the patio receives sun for at least part of the day.
The Centre Of Attention - Few would think of a sitting area in the centre of the garden but it gives the impression of a garden designed for and built around people. Tasteful garden furniture is essential in this position as it will become part of the main focus point of the garden.
Design Tip - Don’t be afraid to be different. It may bring that special quality to your garden that makes it personal, individual and powerful in a design sense.
A Permanent Oasis - Don’t be afraid to make your garden look lived in or to be daring when it comes to built in garden furniture. It can be a gamble that pays off.
Observation Pays
It’s important to get the patio position right and what appears to be a good position when planned on paper may have serious shortcomings in reality when you decide where to put your garden furniture. It pays to sit out in the garden a few times on different days and ideally at different times of the year to assess whether it is a comfortable position as well as one that works in design terms.
You will soon discover whether shade drips from trees or chilling winds caused by a wind funnel effect between buildings are likely to be a problem. It will also give a better idea of privacy. If you don’t want to be overlooked it may be necessary to erect a screen or reposition the patio. A wall or a hedge might provide a private or sheltered position or a patio overhead of beams supported on posts may give a sufficient degree of privacy. These can all be worked into the design and should be incorporated at the planning stage.
