5 Tips on Creating the Perfect Patio to Complement a Backyard Pool in Newport and Jamestown, RI

The perfect pool needs a patio that perfectly complements it to create a space you and your family will love. The patio provides an area for rest and relaxation as well as for intimate and large gatherings. Pools are often the centerpieces of American backyards, but so are patios. The perfect patio has a thoughtful design as well as amenities such as fire features, a shelter, an area for food and drink, and a perfect lighting scheme. Here are five tips on creating the perfect patio to complement a backyard pool in Newport and Jamestown, RI.

Related: 6 Interesting Ways Masonry Contractors Can Customize Pools and Pool Patios in Barrington, RI

Choose the Right Surface Material

Choosing the right surface material will tie the pool area in with the rest of the hardscape areas. Since the home and the pool might have visual themes already installed (unless it’s new construction), it’s best to adapt the patio to those themes. This involves colors, layout patterns, and type (concrete pavers, clay bricks, or natural stones). 

One of the best surface materials for a poolside patio could be permeable pavers. These pavers are not permeable themselves; but they are spaced a bit wider, and special jointing sand is used that allows any surface water to seep into the ground so it doesn’t collect on the surface, whether it’s from pool splashing, the rain, or various spills. This can help increase safety around the pool and prevent any standing water that could create ice or breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Fire Features

Fire and water might be elemental enemies, but they go together when spending time outside around the pool. A fire pit, fire table, or fireplace gives a gathering place with warmth, heat, and entertainment. Fire is a wonderful addition to your new poolside patio because it extends the season. Long after the weather is too chilly for a swim, friends and family can still hang out around the fire.

Shelter from the Elements

Whether the summer sun is bearing down on the patio or the weather starts to take a turn for the worse, it’s important to have some sort of shelter on your patio so that everyone doesn’t have to hurry inside. 

A shelter structure doesn’t need to cover the entire patio or pool. A pergola is a simple structure that blocks out much of the direct sunlight, yet it doesn’t offer protection from the rain due to its open roof and sides. A gazebo (usually round, with a half-wall or railing) or pavilion (usually square or rectangular, with open sides) are closed-roof structures that provide full coverage for a patio and the amenities it shelters, such as an outdoor kitchen. When the temperature is right, you can treat a pavilion or gazebo as another room in the house.

Outdoor Kitchen and Bar

Summer fun isn’t complete without some extra fuel to keep the party going. There’s no better way to eat outside than fresh food and drink right from your outdoor kitchen and bar. The outdoor kitchen can be complete with amenities such as a grill, sink, refrigerator, and smoker, wine bar, and much more. The bar can have plenty of seating for fun dinners with family and friends. The entire outdoor kitchen and bar can be sheltered under a pavilion to make sure the fun isn’t interrupted by rain.

Updated Lighting

One of the best ways to light a pool is to use submersible lighting that gives a beautiful blue glow to the surrounding areas. Connecting the pool with the patio with lighting techniques can be as easy as installing string lights that hang above both the pool and patio, making it one area where the fun can continue every summer night.

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