Swimming pool and other backyard patios can be largely overlooked when it comes to landscape and swimming pool designs.
To the average homeowner, swimming pool patios and dining patios are valued but seriously underestimated in terms of their power to really define an outdoor living space.
Natural stone works great for patios, considering it lasts longer than pavers and does not fade in color or become slippery like stamped concrete.
In general, natural stone patios provide a number of opportunities to transform the most functional aspect of a landscape and swimming pool into an art-form that enhances the overall ambience.
The choice of stone is the first task in defining your outdoor living space with a patio.
Swimming pool patios should stay relatively cool in the hot sun, keeping in mind that you will have to walk barefoot on this surface.
A grey Tennessee Crab Orchard is a popular choice for pool patios because it stays relatively cool in the sun.
The color is also rather neutral, allowing the adjacent pool and landscape to really show off.
For dining patios, a more formal natural stone can be utilized.
Bluestone works perfectly for formal patios.
Sandstone also brings formality, yet remains somewhat neutral in doing so.
Pool patios can also feature these more formal stones as well.
A sandstone swimming pool patio with bluestone accents can really highlight a formal swimming pool and landscape.
After you choose the stone for your pool or dining patio, the next task is to determine the pattern.
Around natural pools, especially pools with waterfalls, natural stone set in irregular patterns works beautifully; the natural stone patio, set in an irregular pattern, can enhance the rugged look of the pool.
For formal pools, the patio can utilize the same stone and set it in a regular, geometric pattern.
Any stone patio pattern can be slightly modified for a custom design.
In a very subtle way, an altered pattern can offer a frame for patio furniture, for example.
Finally, with the stone and pattern set, finishing touches can be applied.
Small accents in any patio can tie the entire yard together.
For example, a sandstone outdoor living room patio can lie adjacent to the bluestone dining patio.
A slight bluestone accent in the outdoor living room can blend it with the dining patio, while still allowing it to distinguish itself as a separate outdoor "room.
" Accents can also blend the patio with aspects of the home and other architectural elements of the back yard.
Brick can even be scattered about a natural stone patio for sharp, distinct color and contrast.
To summarize, upgrading to a natural stone patio can take your swimming pool and landscape to the next level of design and style.
First choose the stone for your swimming pool or dining patio.
Choose a stone that fits the style of the backyard area, while paying close attention to the functional needs of the surface.
Next, decide on a pattern for the stone.
Remember, regular fits formal, irregular for natural.
Finally, get creative.
Ask your swimming pool and landscape design company to spice things up by using a combination of materials to create accents that bring unique style to the patio design.
Detail, color, and creative subtleties make for the most definitive, eye-catching natural stone patios.