If you have a backyard but no patio, you could be missing out on valuable living space. A patio can extend the usable space of your home by creating a transition to the outdoors. It also serves as the center of your outdoor living. If you have a farm or other rustic style of home, consider making your patio naturalistic.

Decide on the Placement

Just because a patio is your transitional space between the outdoor and indoor doesn't mean it must be placed right outside your back door. Since your patio will be rustic in design, it might work better nestled into the plant life of your backyard. Additionally, consider where you'll get the best views and most desired ratio of sun and shade. You may even decide on a series of small terraces instead of a single large patio.

Consider a Free-form Patio

The most traditional shape for a patio is square or rectangular. However, for a naturalistic patio, consider an organic free-form shape; such an organic shape should flow with your yard. It also affords you the freedom to maximize the space. Likewise, free-form patios create a sense of informality. This design is especially recommended if your patio is going to be located somewhat away from the house.

Select the Flooring Material

Concrete is easier for creating a free-form patio. However, flagstone gives you that naturalistic profile. While it's possible to lay flagstone in a formal, grouted pattern, the natural stone lends itself to free-form shapes. Contractors can lay the flagstone dry, which makes it a permeable surface. What's more, you can have moss or other hardy ground cover planted between the stones. This makes your patio look even more naturalistic. It's also possible to replace natural flagstone with concrete pavers stained and dyed to resemble the stone.

Include a Fire Pit

One way to really maximize your outdoor living space is to add a fire pit. This provides illumination in the evenings and warmth during cold spells. As with the flooring, the material of choice for your fire pit is natural stone. A charming addition to a rustic patio is the bonfire pit, which is a circular ring that usually houses burning wood. Contractors can construct this out of concrete and cover it with a stone veneer.

Add Landscaping

Once you have your hardscaping sorted out, blur the lines between your yard and patio with landscaping. Do this with a selection of potted plants throughout the patio as well as your yard landscaping. Maintain a consistency between the two types of plantings, such as staying within a color scheme or choosing plants for texture. For example, if you have pine trees in your backyard, consider planting rosemary in a pot because it features the same kind of shape and texture. Naturally, other evergreens work well in this scenario, too.

For more information, talk to a professional like Land Craft.