The design of your patio is the foundation upon which the success or failure of your hardscaping will rest. If your patio doesn't complement the architectural style of your home or looks out of place when compared to its surroundings, it needs an update. In addition, you should feel completely comfortable when hosting both small and large gatherings in your Hinsdale, IL, backyard. Here are some design ideas to inspire the look of your patio and impress your guests:

Multiple Rooms, Traditional Patio Design

You can’t go wrong with a traditional style patio to make your space look and feel cozy and relaxed. One of the biggest advantages of this type of patio design is that it combines both aesthetics and functionality. Your guests will be able to gather around your wood-burning fireplace while sipping wine and enjoying the view from beneath a rustic wooden pergola. To maximize the space, add a built-in seating area and you’ll never be short of seating spots. Have colorful foliage added around your retaining walls or hang planters on your pergola and you’ll create a serene environment that will impress visitors. 

Related: Best Summer Landscape Design Tips for Your Lisle Backyard


Traditional patio design allows you to set up smaller outdoor rooms. This type of patio design is characterized by symmetrical structures with a somewhat rustic look and feel. Natural stone, such as granite, flagstone, or bluestone is commonly used for patio flooring in a traditional setting. However, to circumvent the price of natural stone, many homeowners take advantage of the benefits of concrete pavers. Unilock, for example, offers a stunning collection of premium quality natural stone, as well as concrete pavers that recreate the look and feel of natural stone. Enrich the appearance of your traditional landscape with warm, earthy tones and create an eye-catching space with boldly colored accent pavers. 

Open Concept, Contemporary Patio Design 

This patio design offers a more glamorous appeal. Although contemporary design has the reputation of being sleek and sparse, it can also be perfect if you want to incorporate some creative pieces and play with texture and color. To break up the monotony of grey to neutral color schemes and materials with crisp, clean lines and smooth surfaces, your landscape contractor can incorporate features such as a stone fire pit, a waterfall or fountain built with natural stone. Contemporary patio designs are known for incorporating surprising angles and lines, visually interesting shapes, dramatic accents and bold contrasts. A contemporary design guarantees an artful backyard setup that your guests will never forget. 

Related: 3 Ideas for Incorporating an Outdoor Fireplace in Your Geneva, IL, Backyard


A Retreat-Like Patio Design

Design your patio in a beachy style with light colored pavers that will recreate the look and feel of sand beneath your feet. Opt for pavers that offer a weathered surface texture that will provide visual interest and a natural appearance. This patio design will keep your landscape looking fresh and new. A retreat-like patio design draws inspiration from the Mediterranean style, which is known for its sunny colors, tranquil fountains and pergolas for shade. To enhance this Mediterranean appeal, have billowing outdoor curtains hung from your pergola and opt for coarse, white and amber colored textiles. 

A well-designed landscape lighting system offers many benefits. Outdoor lighting increases safety, extends the hours you can use your yard and adds atmosphere to your landscape after dark. With the installation of outdoor lighting, Montanos Landscaping Inc. can help make your Naperville, IL, backyard as functional at night as it is during the day.

Increase Safety and Security

Without proper lighting, your landscape is filled with hidden obstacles once the sun goes down. Water features, masonry elements and even plants can pose safety hazards if they aren’t visible.
 
Walkway lighting will increase safety and ensure your property is easy to navigate. Path lights can also help direct traffic flow and guide visitors to different areas of your landscape. Post lights are a good way to highlight stairs and entry points. Post lights are also popular choices for lighting driveways and front yards.
 
Well-placed outdoor lights should also banish dark corners and deter unwanted visitors from accessing your property. Dimly lit areas, large shadows and obstructed views are appealing to intruders who want to remain unnoticed.

Add Curb Appeal

Good outdoor lighting will increase your property value and instantly add curb appeal. A dark landscape is forbidding and unappealing, while a well-lit front entry creates an inviting first impression.
 
Landscape lighting can also highlight your home’s architecture and put your best greenery on display. Masonry features such as columns, statues and seating walls can add texture and depth to your property when correctly lit. Uplighting used on plants and trees adds drama and interest to your nighttime landscape.
 
Many outdoor lighting systems offer a complete line of coordinating lights that cover different areas of your home. Pendant and post lights, wall sconces and walkway lighting all work together to create a cohesive look. With the variety of styles available, there are gorgeous options to complement any landscape design theme. 

Create Functional Outdoor Rooms

Outdoor rooms extend your living space into the outdoors and add functionality to your yard. Illuminating outdoor spaces makes them useable at night and adds many hours of outdoor enjoyment. Combining different types of lights will allow for optimal lighting levels for any situation.
 
An outdoor kitchen should include task lighting for cooking and cleaning, as well as low-level lighting under cabinets and toe-kicks. When possible, overhead lights such as a chandelier or pendant lights will provide the best illumination for outdoor dining.
 
Your outdoor living room or patio has different lighting needs. Comfortable night time gatherings require enough light to see each other and to find food and drinks, but not so much light that the room is on display for all the neighbors to see.

Related: Best Summer Landscape Design Tips for Your Lisle Backyard

Highlight Focal Points

One of the best advantages of outdoor lighting is how it transforms dark spaces and produces a beautiful ambiance. While your favorite landscaping elements speak for themselves during the day, nighttime focal points are created with lighting. Statues, benches, fountains and attractive plants can all become focal points when highlighted properly.
 
Skillfully lit water features are especially attractive at night. A mix of submerged and above ground lights will provide the most attractive lighting for your pond or pool. The soft glow of underwater lights combined with the sparkle of an illuminated waterfall will create a relaxing and romantic atmosphere. New LED lights are energy efficient and last much longer than standard halogen lighting.

When it comes to creating ambience and warming up a chilly evening, fireplaces are favoured for their authenticity, dynamic qualities and the soft, pleasant lighting that they cast in outdoor spaces. They also offer great aesthetic potential and can easily serve as the focal point of any outdoor room. Fireplaces are inviting and have a calming effect on all those who enjoy their warmth and light. They enliven outdoor rooms and will enable you to continue spending time out on the patio long after the sun has set. With all of their positive effects on outdoor spaces, fireplaces are a new staple for any patio or poolside. Here are a few ways to incorporate a fireplace into your existing Geneva, IL, backyard:

Fit a fireplace into a cozy corner

Fireplaces are incredibly versatile and can be used to facilitate a variety of aesthetic themes and desired atmospheres. For example, a fireplace will immediately make an outdoor room feel cozier and more intimate. Pick a small, secluded outdoor room, or have an existing room enclosed with low walls or a pergola. Even paving borders can effectively mark the boundaries of your new fireplace area.

A pergola overhead can help to foster an intimate atmosphere, but it should be treated as a potential hazard. Ensure that any curtains or plants hanging from your pergola are kept far away from the flames and that the area is well-ventilated at all times.

Arrange comfortable furniture around a central fireplace and adorn the arrangement with cushions and throws to accentuate the warm, inviting atmosphere created by the fireplace. Arranging furniture around a fireplace is also a simple way to bring people together and create a conversation hotspot.

When placed in such a confined area, the fireplace is guaranteed to serve as the focal point of the room. It should, therefore, be comprised of materials that agree with your aesthetic theme. Opt for sleek concrete units should you have a modern backyard, or unrefined stone units for a more rustic outdoor design.

Related: Warm Up Your Evenings with an Outdoor Fireplace!

Create a casual atmosphere

Fire features can also be used to foster an open, casual atmosphere when constructed in the form of a fire pit or a double-sided fireplace. To achieve this, select a spacious area of your landscape where there is plenty of fresh, open air. A double-sided fireplace constructed in such a location has the potential to heat two outdoor rooms simultaneously, act as a room divider and facilitate a fun, casual atmosphere.

Surround the fire feature with rustic outdoor furniture to accentuate the effortless look and feel being created in the space. Wicker chairs adorned with pastel or patterned pillows, for example, can create a peaceful, yet inviting design. Or talk to your contractor about including permanent outdoor seating in your landscape design.

Add some flair to the functionality of your kitchen
A fireplace is just one feature that can make your outdoor kitchen more inviting and tie it firmly to the rest of your outdoor entertainment area. A fireplace can be designed to double as a pizza oven, while providing its usual warmth and light. A pizza oven tends to be an absolute hit with kids, who love creating their own pizzas.  

Summer is approaching, and it’s time to start getting your Lisle, IL backyard ready for enjoying the season. A few additions and updates can transform your yard from average to excellent. Consider these landscape design tips to enhance your property and make your summer even more enjoyable.

Add Shade

The summer sun seems to get more intense each year. Ensure that your family and friends can enjoy your yard without fear of sunburn by adding shade to your yard. Depending on the size and style of your landscape, there are a number of ways to create shady spots in your backyard.

A pergola is a hardworking landscape feature that helps define an outdoor space, adds privacy, and also creates shade. Pergola designs vary from simple wooden frames to more elaborate structures with masonry footings and seating walls. Further enhance your pergola with the addition of lighting or a ceiling fan.

Related: 3 Ideas for Incorporating an Outdoor Fireplace in Your Geneva, IL, Backyard

If you’re looking for more sun protection than a pergola can provide, a cabana is the perfect option. A cabana is an open structure with a full roof that not only creates shade, but provides all-weather protection as well. A cabana is an ideal addition to an outdoor living room or kitchen, allowing you to get more use out of your outdoor space.

Trees create naturally shaded spots in your landscape. They are also one of the few additions that can provide shade for your home. Creating shade for your house will help keep your home cool and reduce energy costs.

Create Seating

Comfortable places to sit and relax are a must for enjoying the summer outdoors. Incorporating cozy sitting areas and ensuring there is ample seating for everyone will make your backyard more inviting.

A well-designed patio or outdoor living room creates a central gathering spot in your landscape. Encourage friends and family to spend time together outdoors together by adding comfortable chairs, convenient side tables and cozy textiles.

Avoid having to pull out the lawn chairs when guests arrive by adding permanent seating. Seating walls provide additional seating while also helping to define outdoor spaces.  Excess furniture can make your yard feel crowded and interrupt traffic flow, while seating walls work as part of your landscape design.

Eat Outdoors

Don’t end your days outdoors at dinner time. Enjoying a family meal in the backyard is one of the great perks of summer. Upgrade your landscape with a functional outdoor kitchen or grill island to make the most of your evenings in the open air.

A well-planned outdoor kitchen will allow you to prepare entire meals outdoors. Include features such as a fridge, side burners and running water to accompany your grill and complete your kitchen. If space allows, an outdoor kitchen is the perfect place to incorporate a pizza oven or smoker that can be problematic indoors. A nearby dining area will make it easy to serve and enjoy your meals outside.

Include a Fire Feature
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​Adding a fire feature may not seem like the ideal summer landscaping upgrade. But creating warmth in your backyard will extend your time outdoors considerably.  The addition of a fireplace or fire pit will allow you to enjoy your yard in the evening and during cooler months. A fireplace provides an attractive focal point for an outdoor room, while a fire pit makes a great gathering spot.  

Related: Warm Up Your Evenings with an Outdoor Fireplace!

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