Tag: patio

Gazebos vs pergolas: What’s the difference?

Gazebos vs pergolas: What's the difference?

Gazebos and pergolas are two types of sheltered structures commonly found in gardens around the UK. But what’s the difference between them? Are they just two words for the same thing? This post compares the two; gazebos vs pergolas.

What’s a gazebo?

Gazebos can come in many different forms. Some are fixed structures that are built into the ground. Others are pop-up structures that can be easily moved or disassembled if need be.

What makes a gazebo a gazebo is the fact that it has a solid roof. This is designed primarily to provide shade in the summer. Gazebos can also provide shelter from the rain or direct sun, however usually fabric walls are needed to provide extra shelter from these elements.

Gazebos can be constructed out of various materials. Some are constructed entirely from wood. Others are made from metal with a wooden or tile roof. Others are more like tents and are made from metal or plastic with a fabric roof.

A marquee may be referred to as a gazebo in some cases, although generally marquees are for commercial pop-up purposes and always come with fabric walls to give them more of a tent-like appearance.

What’s a pergola?

Like gazebos, pergolas can come in many different forms. Some are attached to the ground, while others are freestanding. Pergolas can also take the form of awnings attached to walls.

Unlike gazebos, pergolas don’t have a permanent, solid roof. They instead have a wooden or metal latticed/slatted roof that offers partial shade from the sun. These slats can also be used to grow climbing plants around or wrap lighting around. You can also position fire pits or barbecues under them (depending on the slat materials and height).

Some pergolas have the option of closing slats or a full retractable roof. This can help to give them the full coverage of a gazebo. In some cases, retractable roofs may be made from clear, toughened glass to allow light through while providing shelter from rain. In other cases, the retractable roof may be opaque.

These opening slats and retractable roofs were, once upon a time, manually operated. However, in recent years, the motorised pergola has become a very popular option. These are activated by a button or switch. Some can even be controlled using a remote control pad or via an app on a smartphone.

Which is right for your home?

Gazebos are the better option if you’re looking for permanent shelter from the sun and rain. A pergola is the preferred choice if you still want to let some sun through, or if you like the idea of being able to adorn overhead slats with plants or lighting. Both can otherwise be attractive features and could add value to your home (if they’re permanent).

A basic pergola will usually cost less to buy and install than a basic gazebo because it’s the simpler structure. That said, if you want to buy a pergola with a retractable mechanised roof or slats, this will cost more than any gazebo. This is something to consider if you only have a modest budget.

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5 Patio Trends You Need to Try This Winter

5 patio trends you need this winter

If you think the patio is for spending time in during the spring and summer only, think again. With some inventive winter patio design, you can find yourself safely tucked under a quilt watching snowfall while reading your favourite book and getting a cosy warm feel from a heater or fire on the side. Here are just a few patio trends that you can keep in mind for the coming winter.

1.   Lights, colour, action

What’s warmer and more vibrant than bright colours against a natural background? Identify real teak furniture that’s weather-resistant and for the finishing touch, add happy colours in the form of vibrant cushions and throw pillows as well as an eye-catching area rug.

Lighting from lanterns, bistro lights and planters with LEDs will create an enthralling backdrop fit for the night. Outdoor winter dates just got better.

2.   Getting toasty

Open flames have been part of human life since long before heaters were invented. Fire bowls and log burners are a great way to create a cosy vibe while keeping your patio warm. Throw in some lanterns for a romantic and warm ambiance.

You can also install a stone fire pit to keep the smoke away while retaining the heat and these can be put right in the middle of your patio. Designs will vary depending on your taste and style but elongated fire pits are also fashionable and in season.

3.   Curtains and accent walls

Keep frostbite away while adding a personal touch with your choice of curtains. Easy layback chairs, throws and cushions will finish the touch and keep you comfortable throughout winter. You can go for heavy curtains that can soak up sunlight and shield you from the draught.

Harsh winds can be blocked with accent walls while giving your patio space texture and a touch of colour. You can get a 3D wall design that reflects your style and suits your overall home theme. Think brick stucco, tropical leaves or a whimsical floral design that provides a pleasant backdrop for the eye to rest on.

4.   Shelter in

Apart from accent walls, you can also create a fortress of trees around your patio. Evergreens are the perfect cover from harsh winds or nose-nipping breezes during winter and they add a bit of privacy as well.

Evergreen hedges, trees, ornamental grasses, pergolas and shade sails can keep everything you don’t want out while you enjoy the outdoors. Retractable screens are also a perfect addition to keep insects at bay.

5.   Staying warm

If your patio is made of wood you may worry about the safety (or lack thereof) of heaters and open flames. Infrared heaters can ease your mind while café heaters are the best choice if you want something you can move around.

A hot tub can also be added to your patio so you can enjoy year-round dips. To make sure the hot tub stays hot you can get a separate heating and plumbing system for it to prevent any fire hazards.

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3 stress-free ways to update your patio

3 stress-free ways to update your patio

Home renovations can often be a stressful experience, especially when you’re updating a large area. Your patio is one of the more notable parts of this, simply because there’s quite a lot to look after. You’ll not only worry about how it looks and what you furnish it with, but how it’ll hold up to the weather.

Once you know how to update your patio without the stress, things become much easier. When you’re doing so, it’s worth focusing on a few particular areas to make things as comfortable and visually appealing as possible.

How to update your patio without the stress: 3 top options

1. Use textiles

Most patios are typically made out of wood, stone or concrete. While these can be visually appealing, you’ll want to add some softness and texture to the patio to counter the hard edges and make it more comfortable. Your seating area is the most notable way of doing so, although it’s far from the only one.

By using textiles, you can create an inviting and appealing colour palette that helps you relax and complements your garden plants and flowers. Even your patio door blinds can be worked into this. Having a specific palette in mind when you’re doing so is vital, as it’ll ensure everything comes together well.

It’ll update your patio’s appearance while giving you comfortable cushions, throws and similar on which to recline.

2. Consider a fire pit

Fire pits are becoming increasingly popular as home-owners come to realise how safe they are – alongside how appealing they can be on a patio. While you’ll probably need to have these professionally installed, they can be more than worth the cost.

Arranging your seating area around this is recommended, as it’s most practical and you’ll get the largest return on investment from it. Not only will it look great on your patio and keep you warm on chilly evenings, you can also cook on the fire. There’s no reason not to consider installing a fire pit, especially given the numerous styles in which they’re available.

3. Think about rope lighting

Everyone’s heard about how they should use string lights in their patio, but these are far from your only option. Rope lights can also be recommended; they’re similar to string lights, but are encased in a clear, flexible tube. You can hang these almost anywhere on your property to make it look more attractive.

The plastic casing means you shouldn’t need to worry about wet weather once they’re up. Some of the more usual places to put rope lighting are under the steps leading up to your patio, along the balcony and on the edge of the ceiling.

They can illuminate your patio and make it look moreinviting without you needing to put much effort into it.

How to update your patio without the stress: wrapping up

Once you know how to update your patio without the stress, the process will be much more straightforward. There’s a decent chance that you’re making it out to be more stressful than it actually is. While you’ll still need to put the effort into getting everything done, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

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Modern garden patio ideas

Modern garden patio ideas

Thinking of having a modern patio installed in your garden? Well look no further. In this short guide, we’ll discuss various ideas that you could take into consideration for constructing a modern garden patio.

Please note that while laying a new patio is usually fine to undertake DIY, you should only do so if you have the right skills and knowledge. It’s important to take certain safety steps. In addition, some garden patio ideas will be easier to pull off than others for most people. If in any doubt, you should hire a professional.

Modern garden patio design options

First, we’ll take a look at the various garden patio ideas in terms of design, before moving on to other topics such as patio furniture and patio lighting. The following ideas are inspired by the use of different materials such as pea gravel or stone.

Chequerboard design

To achieve this look, you can merge pea gravel with somewhat larger pavers. These elements combined in the right way can create an eye-catching chequerboard design. The pea gravel is pretty much the equivalent of grout as far as the design goes with the pavers being added on top of the gravel to create the desired effect.

Circular patio design

Pea gravel could also be used to establish a rounded patio. You may want to add water features or/and plant pots to this construction to give it a more visually appealing look. A circular pea gravel patio with patio slabs around it can create a winning contrast. Overall, you’ll create an eye-catching aesthetic with this design if you carry it out successfully.

Poured concrete patio

There are different ways of using concrete to create a good-looking, modern garden patio. That includes using concrete pavers along with additional materials. However, there are other ideas worth considering such as a poured concrete patio.

Concrete patios usually consist of blocks being laid down beside one another. However, you could pour concrete slabs into place as an alternative, which is the idea being discussed here. You might also be interested in acid washing to create an attractive finishing touch.

Ways of giving your poured concrete patio some extra flare include:

  • Green ground cover being added (e.g. thyme or camomile) in the spaces between the patio slabs.
  • Surrounding the patio with pea gravel or other small stones. This could ideally be done with stones of varying colours.

Irregular stone patio steps

Natural stone can create a fantastic look for any modern patio. Of course, many who wish to have natural stone steps installed as a patio will simply choose ones with a matching size. However, you could try to be a little fancier and choose V-shaped stones with a more curved end.

How exactly you go about this will depend on your preference, but once the stones are secure to walk on, the possibilities are near endless in terms of how you arrange the steps since irregular designs can come in many forms. If you get a little stuck, consider asking a professional gardener for some ideas.

Raised patio

If you’d prefer a raised patio, some ideas worth considering are a raised block patio, raised small step off patio or a raised island patio.

A raised block patio involves:

  • Merge blocks/slabs (ideally those made of concrete) as a means of creating a large slab (i.e. the actual patio)
  • You could give the edges a clean look or decorate it with things like ornaments, water features or/and even a suitably-sized hedge.

A raised small step off patio consists of:

  • Add a small step at the edge of a large block patio for some extra value. The step should be placed by the middle third. Sort of similar to how a floppy disk looked (for those of you born before 1998).

Lastly, a raised island patio comprises:

  • If your garden is suitable, you may want to consider installing small patio steps from the back garden journeying you down to a small patio island toward the far end of the garden.
  • This design would involve plenty of room for creativity.
  • You may want to have the steps travel directly to the island patio or even that the steps could wind around, either to make room for other garden features or/and for more aesthetic purposes.

Modern patio furniture, lighting and edging

Once you’ve decided on the actual design of your modern garden patio, you’ll want to think about additional elements such as garden furniture and lighting. Let’s discuss some ideas.

Furniture ideas:

  • Outdoor modular sofa
  • Multi-functional seating
  • Fire pit or brazier

Lighting thoughts:

  • Solar or Bluetooth-enabled lanterns or festoon lights
  • Bamboo stakes for a visual effect
  • Steps and walkways illuminated by LED strip lighting

Edging suggestions:

  • Terracotta rope edging
  • Salvaged railway sleepers
  • Wooden log roll for curved borders

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