Cozy Up On Your Patio During Cool Evenings With These Tips in Poughkeepsie and Wappinger Falls, NY
The holidays are almost here, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying time outdoors on your patio. Improving your outdoor living space with a few key amenities will encourage more outdoor time year-round. You can cozy up on your patio during cool evenings with these tips in Poughkeepsie and Wappinger Falls, NY.
A Pavilion: the Ultimate Shelter
Cold fall rain may be falling and snow will be blanketing the landscape soon. For most people, that will mean the end of outdoor relaxing and entertaining. However, adding a pavilion to your outdoor living space will keep things dry and comfortable.
With a solid roof and open walls, the pavilion offers the best of both worlds: the fresh-air feeling of the great outdoors as well as shelter from the harshest of elements. To make the most of the space, add a few creature comforts that will transform the pavilion into an outdoor living room you’ll love to use anytime.
A Fire Feature: the Top Cool-Weather Amenity
Adding a fire feature to your pavilion will instantly transform the space into a delightful outdoor living room. A gas-fueled fire table or outdoor fireplace can be located anywhere within the pavilion to create a magnetic draw for family and friends. Don’t limit yourself to just one fire feature, if you plan on enjoying your patio into the cooler months. A grand outdoor fireplace could be the central feature of your outdoor living room; a fire table could take entertaining to the next level; and a fire pit, either wood- or gas-fueled, could be located in a more remote spot in your landscape as a destination.
The Bare Necessities
When relaxing outdoors, most of us don’t go out there empty-handed. We bring a book, a beverage, and a cozy blanket. All of these can be located permanently within your pavilion. A pavilion can house a few books that anyone can pick up on a lazy fall afternoon; weatherproof storage for blankets and pillows; and a fully stocked hot and cold beverage station. Whether your pavilion is big enough to house a full outdoor kitchen or just a small beverage and snack area, this amenity will keep everyone outdoors. If you have the space, a full outdoor kitchen will broaden the scope of your gatherings any time of year. If you’re adding an outdoor fireplace to your pavilion, consider incorporating a wood-fired pizza oven into the structure: a truly irresistible feature that warms the area and keeps everyone fed.
A Wind Break
A frigid wind can quickly make an outdoor living space uninhabitable. Depending on the location of your pavilion and the prevailing winds, a windbreak may be necessary. Windbreaks can be integral to the pavilion - such as a lattice structure that you cover in climbing vines, or a temporary weatherproof curtain. Or, the windbreak could be detached from the pavilion in the form of a living wall such as cedar or a vinyl or wood privacy fence. If you’re adding an outdoor fireplace to your pavilion, positioning it on the windward side of the pavilion, allowing the masonry structure to block the wind.
A Heated Floor: the Ultimate in Luxury
If you’re renovating your outdoor living space and installing a new patio, consider installing a driveway heating system under the pavilion (or under the entire patio). A heated floor may seem unnecessary, but it makes the space more comfortable since cold feet will send anyone indoors. And, a heated floor will reduce ice buildup by melting any falling snow, for a safer and more welcoming outdoor experience.
Related: 5 Outdoor Kitchen Design Ideas for a Busy Home in Wappinger Falls, NY