Creating a Beautiful and Functional Patio on Your Pittsburgh Home with Pella Doors

Updating your patio area is a great way to get more enjoyment out of it. There are many ways to make this area functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Let’s look into some home improvements that you can do to increase your patio’s usability and visual appeal.

Creating a Patio Area

There are many ways to build a patio — from a small area to an entire deck.  For example, you can create a patio floor with stones, bricks or outdoor laminate. A stable foundation allows you to place furniture and other appliances outside for your guests to enjoy.

Making your patio comfortable and functional for your family and guests is critical. Add cushioned chairs and a big table to enjoy a meal. You can also add an outdoor kitchen area to grill and cook food. Landscaping is another excellent way to enhance your patio space. Outline the patio area with flowers and bushes. If you have a deck area, adding pops of color with flowers is a great way to connect with nature.

Choosing the Right Door for Your Patio

Incorporate Sliding Patio Doors

Sliding doors are a popular option for patios. They offer great functionality and ease of use. Sliding patio doors also have a lot of glass space to bring in natural light. Unlike hinged doors, sliding patio doors do not take up extra space in your home or outside when it’s opened, giving you more flexibility for where to place your furniture.

There are various options when it comes to sliding patio doors. For example, a popular choice among patio doors is four-panel sliding patio doors. This type of sliding patio door simply offers you more of the benefits of a two-panel sliding door. You can choose to open the door from the middle or side. Four-panel sliding doors fill more space on your wall to allow for more natural light.

This Pennsylvania home, for example, needed a replacement patio door. Functionality was an important goal for the homeowners, as they wanted easy access to their deck. Our team installed a new four-panel sliding patio door to achieve just that. The homeowners now have easy access to their deck to spend time and enjoy their backyard. The sliding door is great for letting in natural light, and the between-the-glass blinds help with privacy in the evening.

A multi-slide patio door is excellent for modern aesthetics and adding more functionality and space to your Pittsburgh home. Multi-slide doors also give you more of the benefits of sliding patio doors. With large sliding doors, you get more glass space for light and views, and when the door is open, you can blur the line between inside and outside and create a fantastic patio space great for entertaining guests.

Our sliding patio doors are available in fiberglass, vinyl and various wood options. Each of these materials has its own benefits: fiberglass for strength and durability and wood for versatility and beauty, for example.

Add Patio Door Grilles

Another stylistic choice that you can make for your sliding glass doors is adding grilles. For example, you can add traditional grilles to your patio doors to maintain a traditional look and add some charm. Another great option for patio doors are prairie grilles. These grilles outline your doors and give them character while still having a large unobstructed glass area to provide you with an amazing view and lots of natural light.

Switch Up Your Patio Door Color

Broaden your horizons with patio doors by changing the finish. For example, white and black are popular options for patio doors. Black patio doors are a great way to stand out and modernize your patio area.

This State College homeowner wanted a new patio door to bring more light into their dining room and add a pop of color to their home’s exterior. We installed a new hinged patio door with a red finish and prairie grilles to achieve the homeowner’s goals. The new grille pattern will help bring in lots of sunlight to the dining area, and the white-to-red color change is sure to make a bold statement. Other finishes for your sliding patio doors include a classic white or a wood stain. Both of those options would go nicely with white windows, which are a common choice for Pittsburgh homeowners since it matches many different home styles.

Create a Contemporary Style

Many contemporary homes feature patio doors with open expanses of glass to bring in natural light and create a stunning aesthetic. To mimic the look, add a combination of windows and doors to your patio entryway.

For example, you can have a hinged patio door with casement, double-hung or picture windows. Adding functional windows can also help ventilate the inside of your home as well. Another option is to have multiple sliding patio doors or add large picture windows next to your sliding patio door to create a glass wall.

Add Functionality

Functionality is an important part of your patio. Adding a patio door is a great way to improve your home's functionality, providing easy access to your backyard or patio area.

This Pittsburgh, PA homeowner wanted to transform their bedroom and improve the room's functionality by making it easier to access their patio area from it. We replaced an old window with a sliding patio door to provide functionality, better natural light and an unobstructed view of the yard from the bedroom.

We also offer things like blinds and shades between the glass to provide you with privacy. This innovation is also convenient as you won’t have to spend extra time cleaning those window treatments but can still control the light coming into your home with the glide of the hardware.

Another great option for your patio doors is a screen. A screen door helps let in fresh air, while keeping pets in and the bugs out. At Pella, we offer our Rolscreen — a retractable screen that is there when you need it and disappears when you don’t.

Patios are an extension of your Pittsburgh home, and you want to make yours comfortable and functional for you and your guests to enjoy. Your patio doors are a big part of your patio experience. Schedule your free in-home appointment with one of our professionals today to find the right patio door for your home.