5 Suggestions for Making Your New Pavilion the Best 'Room' at Your Sun Prairie and Madison, WI, Home

Every outdoor living space deserves a fantastic place to relax and entertain guests without worrying about the weather. A pavilion offers that shelter from the worst of the weather while keeping the outdoor feeling flowing strong. Just like individual rooms in your home have express purposes, so should your pavilion. While you plan out your outdoor living renovation, here are five suggestions for making your new pavilion the best “room” at your Sun Prairie and Madison, WI home.

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Choose the Right Size

A pavilion has no size restrictions; it could be small enough to shelter a cozy fireside seating area, or large enough to comfortably encompass all of your outdoor cooking, dining, and lounging areas. For the best results visually and practically, consider the size and shape of your home and the activity areas you want within the pavilion. You may find that your dream pavilion is a little smaller - or bigger - than you first thought.

Great Lighting Strategies

With its closed roof and open walls, a pavilion is designed to be used in nearly any weather. When it comes to lighting, a mix of strategies will yield the best results for safety, ambience, and practicality. Small LED light fixtures can be placed virtually anywhere with artistic effect. Take advantage of lighting that highlights the masonry structure of pillars; directs light onto the ground without blinding people; provides adequate task lighting if your pavilion houses an outdoor kitchen; and offers soft, pleasant lighting for both safety and ambience.

Outdoor Audio System

Sometimes there needs to be a soundtrack to get the party going. A simple portable bluetooth speaker may do a great job of spreading sound around a landscape, but a surround sound system right in your pavilion will take the experience up a few notches. An outdoor audio system can elevate any social gathering and there are plenty of opportunities for great sound design using compact, unobtrusive weather-resistant speakers.

Bar Seating

Keeping your friends and family comfortable outdoors always means a good place for drinks and snacks during play, or some more fun and adult drinks once night falls. Whether you want a full outdoor kitchen housed within the pavilion or a beverage bar, this masonry feature could quickly become one of the pavilion’s most exciting features. Bar seating is a good solution for outdoor dining, too, especially if space is tight. Be sure to include various bar appliances such as a wine cooler, refrigerator, freezer, or even kegerator.

Outdoor Fireplace

Because of the open walls, any outdoor experience in your pavilion can quickly turn chilly. An outdoor fireplace can fit centrally inside a pavilion or along one of the sides to warm the space with its cozy heat. An outdoor fireplace could be fueled by either wood or natural gas. Locating the outdoor fireplace so that it blocks prevailing winds will also add to the coziness. 

Outdoor Kitchen

The one feature that will really tie your entire pavilion together into one outdoor “room” will be the outdoor kitchen. This addition will ensure that your friends and family will remain fed and happy while spending time in your backyard. Integrate your outdoor kitchen with the bar and dining area. Include key appliances tailored to your cooking style; and since you’re adding an outdoor fireplace anyway, consider integrating a wood-fired pizza oven into the design to further integrate the best parts of your pavilion and create the best outdoor room you can imagine.

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