Patio & Porch Design

Plan Porch or Patio Possibilities

• Review the home's interior space first. Figure out limitations that outdoor space could fix. For example, a cramped kitchen may affect having friends or extended family over. Planning a patio or porch outside the kitchen door might provide good options. Installing French or sliding doors to open onto a patio will add light to a kitchen. Envision the possibility of adding a covered porch on the front or side of the house at an entry door.

Include a Roof to Maximize Space

• Envision a covered patio space if the budget will permit. The house design can be sketched to include a patio that is approximately 12 x 18 feet, for example. Plan to build a roof area that covers part of the space or all of it. Draw the patio roof area in an A-shape, hip roof design or as a sloping roof that ties in with house roof rafters. A patio space can be designed that includes storage benches for sitting, patio furniture and a grilling space.

Work on Porch Features

• Plan a porch that enhances the main roof lines of the house. You should invest in a high-quality roof with upscale wood and detailed design work in case you ever want to enclose all or part of it as a room. Sketch a front porch with the bottom portion enclosed with house siding on a bungalow-type house. Draw the porch with railing or stacked stone columns for a colonial or traditional home. You'll want to spend some time defining the overhangs and gutter areas to look harmonious with the rest of the house.

Build an Appropriate Base

• Give lots of thought to the patio or porch base. For example, use a concrete patio for a covered space serving as an extension of the kitchen. Install porcelain ceramic tile over the patio to match kitchen flooring, as one option. For a porch, use either concrete, brick over concrete or a wooden floor. If the porch will be used for a children's play area, use lumber boards on the flooring versus concrete. Use high-quality paint over the boards to prevent decay and splintering of the wood.

Incorporate Storage Areas

• Design storage as part of the porch or patio. Build in one end of the porch, for example, with storage shelves covered by a sliding door system for storing plastic toys or balls. Create a storage wall in one end of a patio space by building floor-to-ceiling storage from boards and plywood. A television or CD player can be installed in the covered storage wall as well. You'll want to install a good roof area to prevent rain from reaching anything stored in the space.