A patio is much more than a paved area adjoining a house for outdoor dining or lounging. It expands your living space by opening up your home to the outdoors.

For a small home, a patio is a great place to host a party that would otherwise be cramped inside your house. It's a place for the kids to play and a place to grow containers full of colorful flowers or edibles like herbs and vegetables. A patio is also a retreat from indoors allowing you to take in nature unencumbered by walls and a ceiling.

The key to enjoying your new outdoor space is to make it as stylish and comfortable as the inside of your home. Furnish it with a spacious dining table, a place for cooking and a relaxing seating area.

Personalize it with plants, weatherproof accessories and you'll find yourself visiting your outdoor room just as much as any other room in your house.

Key Variables to Adress When Patio Planning

• Size of the backyard
• Orientation of sunlight
• Connection and location of the patio to your home
• Homeowner's lifestyle
• Budget
• Condition of the backyard