As summer approaches, you’re going to want to spend as much time as possible in the backyard with your family. While there is something to be said about enjoying the fresh air with few trappings of the modern world, true outdoor living is all about being as comfortable as possible. Installing landscape features help move your patio a step closer to its full potential, but adding various appliances can take it to the next level of “wow.” During your landscape redesign this spring, consider adding these appliances to a Lancaster, PA, patio.

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The Grill

There are few outdoor appliances more ubiquitous on a backyard patio than the grill. Cooking delicious burgers, hot dogs, other meats, veggies, and more is one of the great pleasures of spending time outdoors with loved ones. Whether it’s fueled by charcoal, propane, natural gas, or even wood, a grill is something that will drastically improve your outdoor cooking and create an integral presence on your patio. For a more finished look, consider a built-in grill on a masonry island complete with a practical countertop, or integrate it into a full outdoor kitchen that will expand your culinary horizons.

A Fire Feature

In keeping your loved ones comfortable, sometimes heat is needed. A fire pit is a wonderful feature that will keep people warm in a relaxed setting. A fire table offers a chic spot to gather for a cocktail party. And a majestic outdoor fireplace provides an elegant centerpiece for outdoor dining. And there’s no reason to have just one fire feature. An outdoor fireplace could be located centrally, warming up the dining space and lounge area. A fire table could even take the place of a traditional outdoor dining table. A fire pit can be more remotely located as a destination that will provide a cozy gathering area in a section of the backyard you might otherwise not use as often.

Smart Landscape Lighting

Every successful outdoor living space has plenty of ambient light. Smart lighting can be programmed for different intensities to set the mood. Smart lighting can be zoned: providing safety along walking surfaces, ambience for seating areas, and task lighting for cooking spaces. Special lighting strategies can be used to enhance depth perception in an otherwise dark landscape and highlight special features.

Outdoor Sound System

While the natural world is sometimes best enjoyed silently, patio gatherings are usually best enjoyed with a certain kind of auditory mood. You can host a boozy brunch with ’80s pop, an intimate cocktail hour with jazz, or a bluegrass barbecue. Specialized outdoor speakers include those hidden inside fake rocks, surround sound speakers pointed to the seating areas, and even underground subwoofers. Today’s outdoor audio systems can be zoned, which eliminates some areas being overly loud while guests in the further reaches of the backyard are yelling “Turn it up!”

Outdoor Kitchens: More Than Just a Grill

Of course the grill is the centerpiece of outdoor cooking, but don’t forget about what you’ll wash those burgers down with.

Whether it’s cooling off in the heat of the summer or letting the evening last as long as possible, having easy access to beverages on your patio is crucial. A beverage dispenser cooler can be one of the most exciting additions you ever make to your outdoor kitchen. Also known as a refrigerated tap, this feature will add a whole new element to the social gatherings in your outdoor living space and keep friends and family coming back for more—and you’ll wonder why you didn’t install it sooner.

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