These days, most homeowners want to incorporate modern patio features into their patio design that help them to maximize enjoyment and use of their space. It is these types of additions that turn an ordinary patio into a true outdoor living area.
To get the ideas flowing, we asked Amanda McNiff, our Landscape Designer, to share some of the patio additions that can bring your patio to life. Homeowners’ wants, needs, and budget often end up being key considerations in these types of projects.
“Budget ends up being a driving factor when choosing modern patio features to add to the design,” Amanda says. “Patio additions can really range in price, depending on what the homeowner wants to incorporate but there are many ways we can enhance a patio and still stay within budget.”
Amanda shared some of her best ideas, broken down by lower-range, mid-range, and high-end patio additions to give you some idea of the investment.
Keep in mind that there are often ways to modify pricing for some of these features by adjusting materials or size. But these paver patio design ideas should get you started as you think about your new space.
According to Amanda, some of the popular ways to enhance modern paver patios that are still pretty affordable include adding custom raised planters, patio borders, screening elements, softscaping, and audio enhancements.
Let’s talk about each of these ideas.
Amanda says that she has also been getting a lot of requests for raised planters that are customized for the space.
“Homeowners like custom planters in which we can do seasonal change-outs for them,” Amanda explains. “This is an excellent way to add a pop of color to your patio design. It’s a relatively simple addition that is affordable for most budgets.”
Adding a border around your patio is another patio addition that can enhance the overall look of the space without making a major investment.
A border can be achieved with the same paver but cut smaller or turned a different way. Or, a border can be done with a completely different paver. There are many different ideas and you can ultimately find the one that is best for your space.
If you have eyesores within the line of sight from your patio, then you might also be interested in screening elements, says Amanda.
These are often popular patio additions for townhomes or smaller yards where the trash cans or the AC unit may be located in a side yard that is visible from the patio. These can be screened-in so that they aren’t an eyesore.
The plantings around a patio become incredibly important in terms of making your patio an attractive addition to your yard. The “softscaping” around a patio is those landscape elements that help to “soften” the look of your hardscaping.
“When you put a patio down but don’t have any surrounding plants, it’s simply not going to look its best,” Amanda says. “It doesn’t just have to be plants. Sometimes we will use natural stone boulders in a plant bed to add some interest in a low-maintenance way.
"But no matter what you add, you do want to pay attention to those areas around the patio for the complete look.”
With smart outdoor audio enhancements, you can add entertainment to your patio design. This gives you an option for surround sound that can make spending time on your patio more enjoyable.
While we know that some people carry portable outdoor speakers, we’re referring to fully integrated surround sound that provides an immersive audio experience. These days, some very high-tech speakers and subwoofers can virtually blend into the landscape, especially when careful consideration is given to their placement in plant beds.
Spending a little bit more can mean even greater ways to enhance your modern paver patio. Mid-range patio additions include landscape lighting, seating walls, fire features, columns or pillars, water features, and small grill islands.
Landscape lighting is sometimes an afterthought for homeowners, but it really shouldn’t be, says Amanda. It’s one of the best ways to enhance your patio space because it automatically extends your time there.
When your patio is well-lit, you can spend more time outside, regardless of the hour. That’s why this is one of our favorite recommendations for patio additions. Lighting is a great way to maximize the use and enjoyment of your space.
A simple built-in bench or a seating wall can be a mid-range addition that enhances your patio from both an aesthetic and functional point of view. This extra seating space is often highly coveted by homeowners who enjoy having friends and family over to use their patio.
In the mid-range option, we are explicitly talking about walls that do not serve any true retaining purposes, says Amanda. When you get into retaining walls (like those used in a sloped yard), you’re also getting into grading, and the cost can increase.
Another way to dress up your patio is with the addition of a column or pillar, says Amanda. These can make an aesthetically appealing addition. We’ve seen some homeowners wrap lights around them, but they’re also attractive on their own.
“We can also do a column cap for additional seating or just the overall look,” says Amanda.
Adding a water feature to your patio can incorporate soothing sounds and aesthetic appeal. Homeowners particularly love these to drown out unwanted noise and turn their patio into an oasis.
Water features can also fall under the lower investment category if you opt for something small, such as a bubbling urn. The larger and more complex your water feature, the higher its cost will be. A pondless waterfall will be on the higher end of the investment.
Smaller, simple grill islands are also becoming increasingly popular patio additions, says Amanda. This would be a more mid-range option as opposed to a full-blown outdoor kitchen.
“I’ve recently completed a lot of small grill islands,” Amanda shares. “Sometimes homeowners just want the countertop space, no built-in grill. Even if you just put a mini fridge in, it’s something really nice to enhance your time outside.
"People like the countertop for seating or for putting out food and having refrigerated beverages means not having to worry about a cooler with ice.”
Finally, let’s talk about some modern patio features for the homeowners who are prepared to invest substantially in their outdoor living space. These are the types of patios that truly become full outdoor living areas.
High-end patio additions may include an outdoor kitchen, a retaining wall, a structure (such as a pavilion or pergola), synthetic turf, and fire features.
A complete outdoor kitchen with all of the amenities is obviously on the high-end range of investing in your outdoor living space. But this is the type of patio addition that can really take your space to a whole new level of entertainment and enjoyment.
Some of the popular additions to an outdoor kitchen include:
Spaces like these combine various modern patio features to create a kitchen that has it all.
When your patio requires a retaining wall that serves actual retention purposes (preventing erosion), then it can be a more costly investment, says Amanda.
It can also mean adding a patio to a sloped yard, where you previously might have had an unusable space.
Adding covered structures to your patio is another great way to extend the use of your space, Amanda says.
Pavilions give you full coverage, allowing you to be outdoors, even in the rain. Pergolas, on the other hand, can provide some shade and offer a place to mount a fan or additional overhead lighting. Both can be appealing modern patio features that help make a patio look complete.
Amanda says she’s also gotten more interest in retractable shade canopies within a pergola and louvers (similar to plantation shutters) for exterior screening. This can give you the option to have an open pergola, while also providing the shade of a more finished roof and protection from light rain when needed.
“The same is true for the louvers,” she adds. “They open when you want a breeze, but can be closed when you want privacy.”
Incorporating synthetic turf has been more popular with homeowners who don’t want the maintenance but do want some “green.” We are seeing this with townhouse backyards, says Amanda.
“A popular look is to use synthetic turf paired with a large format paver, but this can drive the cost up,” she says. “Synthetic turf might fall into the mid-range category but when you start adding pavers to it and increasing the square footage, it can become more costly.”
Keep in mind that not all municipalities approve the use of synthetic turf, which can pollute when it ages and degrades.
Fire features also make a great addition to any modern patio design. You can choose between wood-burning or gas fire features. Each has pros and cons to consider before making the right decision for you.
One of the benefits that we hear echoed most often when speaking with homeowners who are happy with their fire features is that it extends their time outdoors. You’re not just sitting on the patio. You’re gathered around or in front of a fire.
Hopefully, this article has given you some ideas to brainstorm the best patio design for your outdoor living space.
By working with a landscape professional in Northern Virginia, you’ll be able to take the burden off your shoulders and let them help. Any great patio begins with expert paver installation. Then, you can start to think about some of these modern patio amenities that will take your space to a new level.
A landscape professional can mesh your ideas with their expertise and experience for a custom result.
At Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape, we have the experience and the know-how to work on projects with these ideas and more. We are ready to help you get exactly what you want and need for your modern landscape design.
Are you ready for an outdoor living area that helps you make the most of your time at your Arlington, VA home? If so, request your consultation, get your customized plan, then relax as you get the royal treatment.