People who have a summer cottage have a great opportunity not only to grow environmentally friendly fruits and vegetables, but also enjoy relaxing in the really fresh air, away from city bustle, stuffy streets and endless traffic jams. The recreation area at the cottage or, as it is also called, the barbecue area, is a cozy corner where you can have a great time in the company of your beloved people, in the fresh air, watching the bewitching flames from the fire. This is the place that gathers everyone for a spiritual conversation and inspires philosophical thoughts. Today we will find out how to equip a barbecue area to make it as comfortable as possible.
Design options
There are some of the most successful ways of arranging a relaxation area in the garden. Choosing the right option depends on the design of your site, its size and, of course, your personal preferences. Get to know each view in more detail.
Outdoor area
Such a recreation area is best suited for lovers of active games and sports entertainment. You can have a good time with children and friends. If you like the outdoor barbecue area, remember that there will be no sun protection, which is a real problem on summer days. So in the warmer months, an outdoor area is best for those who like to sunbathe. Well, in the evening, when the sun has set, on such a platform you can easily arrange a disco right under the stars.
Closed area
This view is an “open room”, the walls of which can be closed with decorative curtains, bamboo screens, living, climbing plants and other materials pleasant to the eye. There may not be walls, because the main element of such a platform is a roof that protects from the intrusive summer sun. It is usually made of light, slightly sun-leaking materials that create a cozy atmosphere. In bad weather, the canopy protects from rain. Agree, sitting around the fire when it is raining around is a special pleasure.
Mobile Playground
The advantage of this type is that it combines the two previous ones and can be used in different parts of the garden. A mobile metal or wooden structure allows you to make an open area out of a closed area at any time. The frame can be either prefabricated or portable. If you are tired of what your site looks like, just transfer it to another place and the effect of novelty will return again.
Patio - Patio
Typically, a patio is located between household and house buildings. Outwardly, it resembles a closed area, but in this case, the adjoining walls of the house and other buildings act as protective and enclosing supports. Often, various plants are used as fencing. The most common version of the patio is a veranda adjacent to the back wall, protected by noise and dust (relevant for a city house).
DIY barbecue area in the country
Making a recreation area yourself is not at all difficult. The main thing is to approach this process creatively and not to rush. And then you will get double satisfaction: on the one hand, you will have a great place to relax, and on the other, you created it with your own hands. To make it work in the best possible way, it is worth approaching the arrangement of the recreation area in stages. Consider each of the steps separately.
Seat selection
First of all, you need to decide where your barbecue area will be located. Guided by the choice of location is the site's capabilities. You can take the territory under the recreation area both in the front part of the site and in the backyard. For mature people, a shady corner is good, in which you can create a real oasis that allows you to forget about everything and have a great rest. For children, it is better to choose a site on which there is a sunny meadow and a shady corner.
When choosing a place in which there will be a barbecue area, pay attention to such aspects:
1. A convenient approach to the site from the side of the house and garden.
2. Protection from curious neighbors and passers-by.
3. The presence of a small slope to prevent the accumulation of water. If the design of the site involves any tracks and sites, then this item can be neglected.
4. In small areas usually build a compact recreation area. On large ones, it is possible to divide a large territory into small subzones. For example, in one place there is a barbecue or barbecue, in another - a canopy or a gazebo with a table, and in the third - a sunny meadow with sunbeds. For those who like outdoor activities, it is necessary to provide places for installing additional sports equipment and area for team games.
Site zoning
The second stage is the zoning of the territory. As a rule, the recreation area is separated from the main garden using hedges. Plants for such purposes are used the most diverse. Their choice depends on the lighting of the site, and, of course, the taste preferences of the owner. Coniferous hedges not only perfectly complement the design of the recreation area, but also create a pleasant microclimate there. The fact is that conifers emit essential oils, which, due to their bactericidal properties, purify the air around. Thus, a beautiful barbecue area will also be useful. If for some reason you cannot make a hedge, do not be discouraged, there are other beautiful and practical options. Often bamboo, stones and wood are used as materials for the hedge.
Foundation preparation and paving
The construction of the house begins with the construction of the foundation, and the creation of a recreation area - with the preparation of the soil. The simplest, but at the same time very practical and beautiful option is a soft lawn. You can walk on it, you can lie on it and play all kinds of games, while it is constantly updated and not trampled. In places where it is supposed to place a table with chairs, barbecue and other heavy structures, it is advisable to make paving. Various materials are suitable for these purposes: wood, stone, tile and plastic modules with a corrugated surface. The design of the barbecue zone usually also includes paving the path to the house and other necessary elements of the site. This is necessary so that during the rain you can safely walk to your favorite corner, without wetting or getting your feet dirty.
Arrangement of barbecue and gazebo
The gazebo is a cozy corner where you can spend hours talking with your loved ones, enjoying the aroma of fresh tea and the beauty of your own area. In fact, the gazebo itself is already a relaxation area. It’s worth adding a couple of elements to it, and a great place for relaxation is ready. In bad weather, the gazebo will allow you not to be distracted from a planned conversation or a friendly gathering. Usually, the gazebo is placed in the most picturesque corner of the site, which is distant from street noise and is conducive to philosophical reflections and sincere conversations. To enhance the feeling of romance and mystery, you can plant curly plants near the arbor. Among the beautiful climbing plants that will delight not only with their appearance, but also with the aroma, one can distinguish varieties of honeysuckle, climbing roses and clematis.
Thinking over the design of the recreation area, do not forget about the barbecue or barbecue. They can be used both for its intended purpose - for cooking, and for heating in inclement weather. As you know, you can look at fire forever. It pacifies, and gives a feeling of unique comfort. That is why people love to sit by the fireplace or campfire. By the way, just by breathing warm air from a fire for several hours, you can overcome the first signs of colds without medication. So without a fire source, the barbecue area in the country will be inferior. Moreover, thanks to the fire, you can relax in your favorite street corner from mid-spring to mid-autumn.
In families where there are small children who know everything around and can get burned, they build outdoor fireplaces. They will make the process of cooking and heating even more cozy and comfortable. They are safer to use, and, if necessary, can fully replace the traditional stove. There are also bio fireplaces that work on alcohol and can be used both inside the house and in the relaxation area as a beautiful decor and heat source. Their main advantage is a live fire that does not produce smoke, as well as a safe design.
garden furniture
Designers advise: choosing furniture for a outdoor recreation area, it is worth guiding to give preference to practical and light. A good alternative to the usual upholstered furniture is wooden, wicker, forged and plastic. All of these materials are easy to maintain and resistant to various weather conditions. Well, to make long gatherings comfortable, they put all kinds of pillows, blankets or special flooring on this furniture. They make it soft, comfortable and even more attractive. In case of bad weather, all this is safely entered under a canopy.
Accessories
Everyone who has at least once been involved in any design knows that beauty is created by little things. Now the market has a lot of nice little things, thanks to which your barbecue area in the country will remain in the guests' memory for a long time. It can be ceramic figures of fairy-tale heroes peeking from under the bush, a variety of openwork drinking bowls for birds, pendants and bells, decorative lanterns and much, much more. It all depends on your personal imagination and the features of your relaxation area. A good addition to the interior can serve as flowers in pots. Looks great in pots with ampelous flowers, floor pots with dwarf conifers, as well as arches and pergolas with flowering climbing plants. At night, a cozy atmosphere is created by various lamps (many of which have solar panels) and luminous stones. When choosing one or another element of the interior, remember that the recreation area should be combined in design with the landscape of the area and, of course, with the house.
Conclusion
So, today we made sure that a do-it-yourself barbecue area is not difficult. The main thing is to approach the process of arrangement with the soul and show a little imagination. Creating a territory for recreation is to some extent intertwined with landscape design. So, when planning plantings, immediately think about where you will have a barbecue area. The photos above show that a cozy corner consists of simple things. So everyone can make their site unforgettable for guests. By the way, there are many economical options that allow you to get comfort, beauty and a wonderful vacation without extra costs.