Nothing quite extends your outdoor living space like a pavilion. Incorporating a pavilion gives you some shelter and allows you to find respite from the heat or even from inclement weather.
One of the first questions we ask when designing a pool and landscape pavilion is: How do you plan to use it? The answer to that question will then dictate everything that goes into the project. While some may just want a space to sit and eat others may also want to be able to cook in the space, so we’ll design a pavilion with outdoor kitchen.
As you think about what you might want to incorporate in your landscape pavilion design, consider these popular must-have design elements.
1. An Outdoor Fireplace With Storage
An outdoor pavilion with fireplace not only adds a ton of visual appeal to the space but also throws some light and heat making it a great functional addition. Imagine gathering around the fireplace in the fall or even early winter, when it’s typically too cold to be outside.
If you add a wood-burning outdoor fireplace to your pavilion, it’s also nice to incorporate a storage area for the wood so that it can be neatly tucked away.
2. An Outdoor Kitchen
A pavilion with outdoor kitchen gives you a space to cook your meals outside—out of the sun or rain. There are so many outdoor kitchen ideas that can help make your outdoor kitchen exactly what you need it to be to suit your taste and your budget ranging from the basic (a grill built into countertops) to the design that incorporates amenities like an outdoor refrigerator, oven, or ice maker, to name a few.
3. Storage
Storage goes a long way in enhancing your landscape pavilion design by preventing the need for going in and out of the main house constantly. If you incorporate cabinetry or drawers to store everything from dishware to cooking utensils you won’t find yourself making trips in and out.
A common pool pavilion idea is to have a drawer to safely store your sunscreens, hats, and sunglasses for time spent by the pool.
4. Outdoor Ceiling Fans
The majority of our landscape pavilion designs include one or two outdoor ceiling fans. It’s a great way to circulate air through the space and keep it comfortable and cool. Air circulation also helps keep pesky bugs like mosquitoes away.
5. Audio/Visual Capabilities
Do you envision your pavilion as a hang-out space? If so, you likely want to incorporate audio/visual capabilities to enhance entertainment.
An outdoor pavilion with fireplace often includes a television mounted above it. This creates the perfect gathering space to enjoy the game or your favorite television show or sports while also being able to appreciate your beautiful outdoor space.
6. Wi-Fi Access
It’s very likely that the Wi-Fi router in your home may not send a strong signal to your pavilion. Running additional network cables and setting up other wireless routers may be exactly what you need to keep people and devices connected in your outdoor living area.
7. Lighting
Of course, you want to be able to enjoy your pavilion to the fullest and that means incorporating outdoor lighting so that you can use it in the evening hours.
There are a lot of ways to light up your outdoor living space including incorporating cap lighting under kitchen counters or in bar areas and adding downlighting from within the roofed structure of your landscape pavilion.
8. Sun Shades
Sun shades are a great way to add some sun protection and shade during peak hours of sunlight. We have installed automated sun shades that are attached to the pavilion and can come down (or go back up) at the push of a button. If it is an outdoor pavilion with fireplace, we have also found that some shade materials work well to help retain the heat in the pavilion.
9. Privacy Screening
Privacy is important when it comes to fully being able to enjoy your landscape pavilion design. There are a number of ways to create privacy. It could be created with walls and banks, plant material, drop down screens, or even a shutter type of wall that still provides air flow while also screening out neighbors’ prying eyes.
An outdoor pavilion with fireplace can also naturally block the neighbors’ view, depending on where it’s situated.
10. Ample Space
Space might seem like an obvious factor but too often a poor pavilion design leads to a finished product that lacks the necessary space. Your landscape pavilion design process should include thorough discussions about how you plan to use the space, including all the “little details” like how much seating you’ll need to fit on your outdoor furniture, as well as what their shapes and dimensions will be. These seem like small details at the onset but they have a tremendous impact on the finished product and must be discussed during the design phase.
11. Orientation
While it’s not exactly something to add to your space, it would be remiss to talk about landscape pavilion design, without mentioning orientation.
Whether you want to be sure you can view the pool from within the pavilion (to keep an eye on the kids while you cook and they swim) or you want to avoid casting too much shade over the pool patio area, there are a ton of considerations that should be discussed when planning a design.
Pavilion Companies Lancaster, Reading, PA and Surrounding Areas
When it comes to any of these 11 elements of a landscape pavilion design, it’s important to find a company that really knows its stuff. A pavilion is a big investment and one that you want to be done right. A pavilion company in Lancaster or Reading, PA that employs a Registered Landscape Architect (RLA) will take details into account that other companies might not even think about. Factors such as orientation or ensuring there is ample space relating to your furniture are really critical factors that a lot of companies overlook.
Knowing how you’ll use the space will go a long way in creating the best landscape pavilion design for your needs. We do not believe in creating cookie cutter pavilions like many pavilion companies in Lancaster and Reading, PA, do. We believe in designing a space that is customized specifically to your wants and needs.
If you’re ready to start talking about pavilion ideas for your home in Reading, York, Hershey, Lebanon, or Lancaster, PA, contact us for a free consultation or get in touch with us at (717) 276-9447 to get the conversation started.
