Please give me creative ideas for our patio!
August 21, 2022 7:30 AM Subscribe
We have a patio that is about 14 feet by 14 feet which we never use because we always hang out on our screened porch. We are getting rid of our patio furniture but would like to replace it with something -- what should that something be?
We already have a table and chairs, a barbecue, and a hammock elsewhere. Other things we've considered are an outdoor ping pong table, a chimenea or firepit (but we have indoor fireplaces, so that's not quite as tempting as it would otherwise be), or a pizza oven. We have two young kids, so something they would enjoy is a plus (but not necessary). Do you have any other suggestions? Nothing is too outrageous to consider!
We already have a table and chairs, a barbecue, and a hammock elsewhere. Other things we've considered are an outdoor ping pong table, a chimenea or firepit (but we have indoor fireplaces, so that's not quite as tempting as it would otherwise be), or a pizza oven. We have two young kids, so something they would enjoy is a plus (but not necessary). Do you have any other suggestions? Nothing is too outrageous to consider!
Maybe at outdoor game for the family like getting a set for a bean-bag toss? Or paint a shuffleboard court?
posted by deinemutti at 7:47 AM on August 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by deinemutti at 7:47 AM on August 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Creating a bird refuge with a water feature and container plants?
Last year I planted a whole bunch of hummingbird mint, and we already had a small water fountain, this year, to my amazement, flocks of birds arrive everyday to bathe in the fountain (it has been so hot and dry here), and we have so many hummingbirds that visit the mint. It could be a fun project for kids to id the birds, and maintain the plants and bird bath.
posted by nanook at 8:13 AM on August 21, 2022 [7 favorites]
Last year I planted a whole bunch of hummingbird mint, and we already had a small water fountain, this year, to my amazement, flocks of birds arrive everyday to bathe in the fountain (it has been so hot and dry here), and we have so many hummingbirds that visit the mint. It could be a fun project for kids to id the birds, and maintain the plants and bird bath.
posted by nanook at 8:13 AM on August 21, 2022 [7 favorites]
Do you stay on the screen porch because of the screens? If so, you might not get much use from the patio unless you screen it too.
Is it in a sunny spot? A big container garden, with drip watering built in.
Add a shallow but watertight lip and use it for a wading pool/ice rink, seasonally.
Canning kitchen? Space for the annual big Summer Shop Project? Get a roll out dance floor to fit and dance on it? Clotheslines that are easy to load and unload and walk under?
posted by clew at 8:41 AM on August 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Is it in a sunny spot? A big container garden, with drip watering built in.
Add a shallow but watertight lip and use it for a wading pool/ice rink, seasonally.
Canning kitchen? Space for the annual big Summer Shop Project? Get a roll out dance floor to fit and dance on it? Clotheslines that are easy to load and unload and walk under?
posted by clew at 8:41 AM on August 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Something the young kids would like, maybe a little kiddie pool with a plastic slide into it and sandbox and some patio plants they can garden and harvest, cherry tomatoes and herbs. Maybe an outdoor pull-up bar station or other exercise equipment. Then change it up as they grow, eventually that ping pong table with some outdoor furniture & firepit for the teens that come over to hang out.
posted by RoadScholar at 9:03 AM on August 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by RoadScholar at 9:03 AM on August 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Spray pad.
Sauna.
Exercise equipment for adults, like what you might find at a park circuit course.
Do you have pets? Maybe a catio, or for dogs, an agility course.
posted by NotLost at 9:58 AM on August 21, 2022
Sauna.
Exercise equipment for adults, like what you might find at a park circuit course.
Do you have pets? Maybe a catio, or for dogs, an agility course.
posted by NotLost at 9:58 AM on August 21, 2022
Do you have any slides/swings or other playground equipment for your kids?
posted by MadamM at 11:02 AM on August 21, 2022
posted by MadamM at 11:02 AM on August 21, 2022
What's the sun situation? I hang out on my sunny deck because there are 2 tables with umbrellas to shade the sun, allowing me to read, surf the web, eat lunch, etc., in comfort. The umbrellas also shade the house a bit and any cooling at all is appreciated in summer.
A sunny patio can get pretty hot, great for a clothes line; towels dry fast on the deck in summer, and still dry on sunny winter days.
If it's sunny, many herbs love it hot; grow thyme, oregano, mints, successive crops of basil, and tomatoes in pots. Cherry tomatoes do well in pots and are a great way for children to enjoy eating vegetables.
Any equipment for kids that has them even a few feet elevated should not be on a stone or concrete surface.
posted by theora55 at 11:16 AM on August 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
A sunny patio can get pretty hot, great for a clothes line; towels dry fast on the deck in summer, and still dry on sunny winter days.
If it's sunny, many herbs love it hot; grow thyme, oregano, mints, successive crops of basil, and tomatoes in pots. Cherry tomatoes do well in pots and are a great way for children to enjoy eating vegetables.
Any equipment for kids that has them even a few feet elevated should not be on a stone or concrete surface.
posted by theora55 at 11:16 AM on August 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
A shaded swing or two, plus plants!
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 11:17 AM on August 21, 2022
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 11:17 AM on August 21, 2022
Vertical strawberry planter, if it gets some sun, and I would probably add a couple more food plants in containers, perhaps herbs. If you get planters with water reservoirs then they can tolerate a bit of neglect.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 2:44 PM on August 21, 2022
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 2:44 PM on August 21, 2022
Depends how you g the kids are but we recently purchased a kiddie archery set and hung the target outside. It's a big hit. 14' is enough room for a smaller child to still be challenged.
posted by crunchy potato at 6:31 AM on August 22, 2022
posted by crunchy potato at 6:31 AM on August 22, 2022
For the kids, put in a play kitchen with a working sink. I got an RV pump faucet and hooked it up to an old milk jug.
For me, an outdoor fire pit fills a different slot than an indoor fireplace. Indoor fireplaces are for when you want to cozy up in cold weather, while outdoor firepits are for conversation on a temperate evening. YMMV depending on climate.
Backyard movie theater setup.
Market lights if you put in any seating.
(Turns out, I am just describing my patio/backyard situation)
posted by natabat at 8:57 AM on August 22, 2022
For me, an outdoor fire pit fills a different slot than an indoor fireplace. Indoor fireplaces are for when you want to cozy up in cold weather, while outdoor firepits are for conversation on a temperate evening. YMMV depending on climate.
Backyard movie theater setup.
Market lights if you put in any seating.
(Turns out, I am just describing my patio/backyard situation)
posted by natabat at 8:57 AM on August 22, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
We have a fire pit and indoor fireplaces and we don't find them duplicative at all. The indoor fireplaces are for cozy winter nights indoors. The outdoor fire pit is for relaxing summer evenings outdoors.
posted by primethyme at 7:39 AM on August 21, 2022