As you arrange patio furniture, it is essential to keep in mind how you intend to utilize the space. Are you more interested in entertaining guests or relaxing on your patio?
If you plan to host guests, tables, chairs and a dining area will be essential. If you want a place for relaxation and restfulness to call home, a cozy sitting area complete with sofa is ideal.
Flow
Patios provide the ideal place for hosting guests and spending quality time with loved ones, yet arranging the furniture on them can be tricky. When considering how people will move through the space, keeping in mind how people will move should not require them to climb over or bump into one piece of furniture in order to access another.
Make sure to leave clear paths for movement so that all can enjoy the space. Arranging larger pieces first makes it easier for smaller items to fit around them.
For those familiar with Feng Shui, one technique worth trying may be arranging your space according to its “metal” direction. Metal is associated with west and northwest areas of your home; placing furniture or decor that contains metal in these spots will encourage positive energy to freely circulate throughout your room, increasing creativity or productivity. Patios make ideal locations to implement this strategy since most outdoor furniture contains some form of metal.
Space
Patios serve many purposes – eating, relaxing, entertaining and working out are just a few! Each purpose requires different pieces of furniture; for instance if your space will be used to entertain visitors then chairs and a dining table will be necessary; alternatively if intended as lounging space then perhaps outdoor lounge chairs and a coffee table might suffice.
Before setting out to arrange the furniture on your patio, it’s essential that you first identify and understand how you intend to utilize its space. Once this goal has been set forth, arranging pieces accordingly should become much simpler for maximum efficiency and functionality.
At the core of any patio is its flow is its direction of seating: this will dictate traffic flow and facilitate conversations among your guests.
Before finalizing your arrangements, it’s wise to walk the area and observe how easily you can move without becoming immobilized or creating bottlenecks or congestion. Furthermore, ensure that seating arrangements don’t feel too close together and have enough distance between each chair/couch for maximum comfort.
Consider also how much sunlight your space receives at different times during the day if you have a sunny backyard, to make sure areas exposed to direct sunlight receive enough natural illumination so you can enjoy spending time on your patio.
Finally, when selecting patio furniture and its accessories for a smaller patio space, modular sectional sofas might be best as this will increase seating capacity in a compact space. Loveseats also can increase capacity as they’re smaller than traditional chairs – adding ottomans next to sofas or chairs can provide extra seating, comfy spots to kick back comfortably as well as surfaces to hold food or beverages.
Accessibility
As with any room in your home, the way in which you arrange outdoor furniture has an immense effect on its look and function. This is particularly true of patios used for relaxing, dining and entertaining as the furniture layout sets the scene for your entire patio experience. By following some basic advice on how to arrange patio furniture you can transform it into a relaxing yet welcoming area perfect for both relaxing and socializing alike.
One of the first steps you should take in planning your patio should be creating a focal point. This could range from anything from a fire pit, outdoor dining table or water feature; whatever draws attention and makes relaxing more natural. In addition, make sure everyone has enough seating room so they can comfortably take in the scenery and atmosphere of the space.
Consider how easy it will be to move around the space when selecting patio furniture, so as to minimize inconvenience. No one wants to have to move their sofa every time they need water from the kitchen or need to go back into their house. Furthermore, make sure none of your furnishings block any walkways used by people to enter or exit the patio.
If your patio is small, opt for a loveseat instead of a sofa; loveseats can comfortably seat two and take up less space than full-sized couches do. Furthermore, for large patios it may be advantageous to create different seating arrangements rather than placing everything together – for instance a chair and ottoman on one side of the patio, and then sofa and chaise lounge chairs on another – giving you plenty of seating options that allow you to adapt depending on mood or activity levels.
Add accessories and decor to your patio furniture setup for added aesthetic. Some decorative pillows, potted plants, and throw blankets can help make the patio more welcoming while setting an atmosphere conducive to relaxation.
Style
Patios are beautiful additions to any home and provide the ideal setting for relaxation and outdoor entertainment. Whether your space features a front porch that welcomes guests or back patio that allows you to grill out, furniture placement is integral to the overall feel of the area. Here are some expert tips to ensure you find just the right arrangement of your patio furniture.
Start With the Focal Point
Patios designed with style begin with a focal point – not always an table! Fountains, ponds or pergola can draw people in. Or make an impressionful statement with a barbecue grill in the middle of your patio, complete with sofa seating for guests and even comfortable outdoor furniture – an arrangement ideal for families or those who like entertaining!
As part of your patio design, think carefully about choosing furniture according to your personal style preferences. For example, if you enjoy lounging around in the sun, invest in a sectional or modular patio furniture set which allows you to rearrange its pieces according to your mood. When hosting an evening gathering or movie night event, extra seats can be pulled from under a sofa for additional seating needs.
Common to patio designs is placing furniture with each side facing each other to create intimate conversation areas and increase seating capacity. This layout makes entertaining guests or family more convenient and also gives an overview of your yard or any plants you have planted in it.
Your furniture can also face inward towards your house to create the illusion of an extension of your living space, but if there are plenty of trees and shrubs on your property it may be more appealing to place the furniture facing away from it for a private, relaxing escape.
Before finalizing any arrangement, it is always a wise practice to conduct a walkthrough of the space with friends or family members to make sure everything flows well and don’t forget the extra touches such as an outdoor rug, throw pillows, plants and flowers! All make an immense difference!