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Concrete Patio Size

One of the most challenging aspects of hardscape design is the proper placement and sizing of outdoor patios. How much hardscape is too much? Should I design one large patio or several smaller ones? Should all patios in one yard be made of the same material?

Good patio design gives you the opportunity to create an outside living area – an extension of your home – for entertaining and relaxing all year round. Nowadays, homeowners want to be able to vacation in their own back yards and it can be done with proper patio design. Patios can be placed in full sun, partial or deep shade depending on the homeowner's needs and available space.

One big patio, or several smaller ones?
It is typically best to create several outdoor living areas to accommodate the natural tendency of people to break into smaller groups. Next time you are at a party, observe how the guests break into smaller groups and then travel to visit other groups. Design your patio layouts accordingly by creating several areas of interest throughout the back yard.

The Bistro Patio:
Set up on a side yard and is sized just large enough to accommodate a two-seater Bistro table. A good standard size for a patio area like this is about 6-7 feet in diameter. Bistro style patios are great for side yards and little back corner destination spots.

The Living Room Patio:
The big trend in outdoor living room furniture is using "deep seating" patio furniture. Deep seating mimics your indoor couch, love seats, lounge chairs and coffee table styling. Once you have a list of furniture you will be using, you can size your patio appropriately. A good rule of thumb is to size living room areas at approximately 16ft by 18ft. Where possible, leave a 3 foot pathway clear of furniture to allow for good traffic flow thru the garden.

The Outdoor Dining Area:
A 48" round table can seat 6-8 people depending on the size of the chairs. The minimum patio size to accommodate a 48" round table is 10 feet 6 inches. This allows enough space to pull out chairs, but not much walk around space. Use 12-14 feet as a minimum patio size allotment for each 48" round table you intend to accommodate. Size your patio based on your entertaining needs and the number of people you plan to host regularly. See the tables below for standard round and rectangular spacing.

Sundeck Patios:
If you want to include a sundeck for lounge chairs then plan a space that will accommodate 2-4 lounge chairs (2ft x 6ft) with cocktail tables between and a 3 foot clear walking space past the foot of the chairs. Around swimming pools you may want to increase your minimum clearance from 3 feet to 5 feet to avoid an accidental dip in the pool.

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