Thinking of Adding a Poolside Patio to a Middleton and Madison, WI Area Home? Keep These Design Ideas in Mind

Pool season is almost here! Thinking of adding a poolside patio to a Middleton and Madison, WI area home? Keep these design ideas in mind. Updating your pool area with a new patio will give you a safer, more attractive, and more usable space to enjoy the dog days of summer. 

Related: Planning a Stunning Patio for 2021 in Middleton and McFarland WI Areas

Safety

A poolside patio should feature non-slip pavers or natural paving stones. Textured materials will offer greater sure footing when wet, but some natural stones such as polished travertine can be very slippery. At the same time, the textures should not be too pronounced to avoid stubbing bare toes. 

Maintenance 

All wet areas (poolside as well as around a spa) are subject to staining or etching from pool chemicals, in addition to stains from food and beverage spills. For this reason, you want to be sure to choose factory-sealed pavers or natural stones or plan on sealing them thoroughly with a sealant. Ask your contractor whether you should use a penetrating or surface sealant so you get the highest level of protection for your patio surface. After all, you want to spend your summer relaxing and not worrying about a stained pool surround.

Beauty 

Patio pavers, natural stone, and wood (teak or redwood) decking are some of the best materials for a pool patio and all have their own unique characteristics. In many modern designs, you can mix and match materials to arrive at exactly the look you want and to define spaces. For example, you might use patio pavers on the pool level, and a small teak deck surrounding an elevated hot tub. 

Size and Usability 

How you use your pool, and the size of your backyard, will determine how much space you can devote to your patio. Only one side of the pool needs to have living space; the rest can simply be made up of the coping, so you can tuck the pool right up against the outer edge of the backyard to make the most of the space.

When designing a poolside patio, also consider how you will use the rest of the backyard. If you need space for kids to run around, you will want more lawn; but if your space will be used primarily for entertaining, you could consider expanding the size of your patio. Creating a series of outdoor “rooms” is a great option. Then, just like in your home, you can have public and more private zones so that everyone can enjoy the patio in their own way.

At the minimum, you’ll want a poolside patio to be spacious enough to comfortably accommodate a few lounge chairs. This can be on one or several sides of the pool depending on the available space. If the backyard is in full sun most of the day, a shade structure such as a pergola will make it more livable. A pergola can be any size you want, but it does take up space on the patio so be sure to gauge how much of the patio you want in permanent shade (more like a covered porch) and how much you want exposed.

Also, consider space for eating and warming up. This can be achieved with a small bar and a fire pit; or an all-in-one fire table if space is tight; or, a full-sized dining area and a spacious outdoor fireplace that will give your poolside patio a cozy living room feel. For safety and to ensure a cleaner pool area, use natural gas or propane to fuel a fire feature.

Related: 6 Zen-Inspired Design Ideas for a Relaxing Patio and Pond in Waunakee WI