For some summer residents, a personal allotment of land is almost the only corner on the planet where you can isolate yourself from the bustle of the city and spend a weekend in nature. That is why one of the main objects in the country is a recreation area. Even if the site is small, it still allocates space for a gazebo or a canopy of the simplest design. And on a large area, entire complexes are being created, including barbecues, playgrounds and flower arrangements with ponds.

How to choose a place for a recreation area

Where to make a recreation area largely depends on the size and. But there are well-established principles, following which helps to find a suitable place for this.

What to consider when choosing a place to stay, 5 rules:

1. Remoteness from the road will protect against the penetration of dust and noise;
2. The presence of a canopy makes it possible to turn gray in the fresh air in inclement weather;
3. Concealment from neighboring areas and the street guarantees an atmosphere of confidential, confidential environment;
4. The lee side provides calm and comfort in windy weather;
5. Convenient approaches allow you to quickly reach the resting place;
6. Proximity to home allows you to quickly move things, dishes or products from the premises.

Analyzing the reviews of summer residents with experience, there are three possible options for locating a recreation area in the country: under a canopy in the yard, in the garden under the trees, and, most successfully, in the gap between the house and the garden. The convenience of the latter option is that on the one hand the site is protected by a wall, and on the other by trees. Dust does not enter here and street noise does not reach. Decorative vegetation is planted along the fence from the side of the neighboring site, which will also create a reliable, impenetrable curtain.

Important. Least of all suitable for leisure activities, since it borders on the street. If there are no other options, you need to isolate this part of the cottage, fencing it off with a blank fence and tall shrubs with a dense crown.

The principles of creating a recreation area

A large plot of land gives great opportunities to equip a recreation area for all occasions. Here you can distribute sites for various purposes throughout the territory (rest with friends, with family, with children, for solitude). And you can do the opposite: collect everything in one place, highlighting sub-zones for outdoor activities, feasts with a noisy company, children's games.

The site on a small plot of land is equipped with all the attributes necessary for recreation, as well as on a spacious plot. The only difference is that everything is very compact. On a modest area, a place for flower beds is being cut. Of course, you don’t need to completely abandon them, the type of flower garden is simply adjusted. Suitable low curbs, broken along the paths and fences. They use undersized varieties Tagetes, zinnias, lavaters, gazania. Shrubs with a lush crown are replaced by climbing plants such as morning glory, kobei And ornamental beans.

The playground for children is located near the resting place for adults, so that the kids are in the field of view of their parents. A soft base is created on the playground: sand is poured, a grassy lawn is arranged or artificial turf is laid. Depending on the age of the children, slides, sandboxes, swings, a small gazebo with benches are installed in the play area.

Varieties of recreation areas in the country

Officially, no one has yet classified vacation spots in summer cottages, but it is quite possible to make a conditional division. According to the design method, 5 types of recreation areas can be distinguished: a terrace, a patio, an open-type gazebo, a closed-type gazebo and a green room.

Terrace

The open terrace is, as it were, part of the house, and at the same time is located outside it. On it, the air temperature is almost the same as on the street, so there is every reason to consider the terrace a place for outdoor recreation. Convenience lies in the proximity to the living quarters and the kitchen, so that dishes and other necessary items are always at hand.

The effect of being in nature is created by plants in flowerpots and hanging planters placed around the perimeter of the room. In order to complete the feeling of unity with nature, a garden with flower beds is laid out on the plot in front of the house. The composition can include a fountain, waterfall or pond. Having equipped the terrace under the dining room, you can enjoy being outdoors several times a day.

Patio

At its core, a patio is a patio near a residential building, adapted for relaxing over a cup of coffee or tea. Sometimes the patio is referred to as an open-air room, since not in all cases it is equipped with a canopy.

A small area of ​​a round or rectangular shape is laid out with paving slabs or poured with concrete, surrounded by lattice walls entwined with vines, and a classic-type patio is ready.

Elegant furniture is installed inside: a table, chairs, a chest of drawers for dishes. The walls can be replaced by sheer curtains: light cambric or tulle fabric is hung from the pergola beams.

To create a slight shading, the fabric can be stretched in the form of a dome. The scattered shadow cast by the fabric contributes to a pleasant, comfortable environment.

Open gazebo

The rating of the most ordinary gazebo always remains on top. This building is a platform fenced around the perimeter with a parapet height about 80 cm, and a roof fixed on vertical racks. The floor is laid slightly above the soil level so that the structure is not flooded with rainwater.

A table is set in the center of the gazebo, sometimes of a stationary type, and benches are located around it. The beauty of the structure is that it takes up little space, and it can be installed in any corner of the garden. Arbors come in different sizes and can accommodate up to 6 or more people.

Closed gazebo

If the summer cottage is also used in winter, it is better to build a closed gazebo, which is equipped with an entrance door and windows.

True, glazing should occupy most of the walls so that in the summer the doors can be opened and fresh air let in.

In addition to the barbecue (barbecue), a closed gazebo is equipped with a fireplace or a wood-burning stove so that it is comfortable to relax in it in winter. Naturally, in this case, good ventilation should be provided in the project.

green room

An innovation in the landscape design of summer cottages is green rooms. The recreation area is divided into several areas, which are separated from one another by walls of greenery, thin curtains or lattice pergolas entwined with vines.

If you need to create a completely enclosed secluded place, it is surrounded by an impenetrable tall green hedge of deciduous shrubs. (privet, barberry, mock orange) or coniferous trees ( juniper, thuja).

There can be one, two or more rooms (or bosquets), depending on the possibilities of the garden and the needs of its owners. Open-air premises are furnished with comfortable furniture, decorated with flower beds, garden figurines. If there are several such "rooms", each of them is equipped according to its intended purpose: a playroom for children, a family barbecue, a relaxation corner.

How to arrange a recreation area

A comfortable pastime in the country depends a lot on how comfortable garden furniture is. Usually, plastic, rattan, wooden or metal tables and chairs for the garden are used in the design of the recreation area. But there are also other pieces of furniture that give the atmosphere a special chic.

With a hammock

A hammock is quite an exclusive thing, although it is not an innovation in summer cottages. It can be hung on the terrace or in the gazebo and used as a complete piece of furniture along with armchairs and benches.

But the best option for using a hammock is to create a secluded place in a secluded corner of the garden. With this application, the hammock does not need a sophisticated setting, as the natural environment is the best environment for creating a romantic mood.

With a swing

Swings are used as an additional or main item in the design of the resting place. For example, when arranging a barbecue area, even the most capacious swing is not enough. Therefore, they are installed as an additional element to create a more relaxed atmosphere.

The swing can be placed on the spacious terrace, under the pergola or in the garden for privacy. Staying in nature will be even more pleasant if you put sofa cushions and cushions on the seat.

With sunbeds

If the recreation area is more intended for relaxation and recuperation, it is equipped with lying furniture. These are various sunbeds, trestle beds, couches and sofas. They allow you to completely relax, spend time reading or just take a nap, leaning back on soft pillows.

Advice. Plastic and wooden trestle beds and deck chairs are additionally equipped with fluffy blankets or mattresses. Their presence will make leisure more comfortable.

With grill and barbecue

It is impossible to be in nature and not cook meat on an open fire. For a barbecue or barbecue, a place is allocated not far from the covered area, so that the “cook” has the opportunity to communicate with the company without interrupting cooking.

Having a specially equipped hearth on the site, it is not necessary to cook delicious dishes every time. You can just fry sausages or boil water for tea.

It is permissible to arrange a place for cooking inside a closed gazebo, and then bad weather will not interfere with rest. It is only necessary to provide for the removal of smoke through the exhaust pipe and make good ventilation.

An interesting idea for a recreation area with a garden stove. The design in appearance resembles a Russian stove and is suitable for creating a rustic style in the country. It is laid out of brick or natural stone. In the lower part there is a place for storing firewood, coal, shovels and skins. In the central part there is a hearth with a chimney, and on the sides there are shelves for storing dishes. The stove can be built in an open area and in a spacious gazebo.

Recreation area design ideas

The aesthetic side in arranging a place to relax is no less important than the practical one. The design of the environment should be conducive to calm, cause a desire to relax and enjoy the pleasant scenery. How to fill the landscape will tell the terrain and the availability of free space.

Pools

The pool has a big plus - you can cool off in it in the summer heat. The space near the water itself and the recreation area are laid out with tiles that are non-slip when wet, and the entire adjacent territory is sown with a lawn.

A polycarbonate canopy over the water will create a greenhouse effect, and the water will retain heat longer. You can complement the atmosphere with a bar and several sun loungers and umbrellas.

Important. For safety reasons, the area around the pool should be well lit in the evening. For this, landscape sealed LED lamps are used.

Creating a recreation area with a pool is a good but expensive idea, so an artificial pond is often arranged instead.

reservoirs

On a hot day, it is much more pleasant to relax on the shore of a reservoir, even if it is not suitable for swimming. Coolness comes from the water, the air becomes fresher, and this is not the only reason to create an artificial pond in the country. A landscape with a pond always looks more interesting than without it, and vegetation planted near the water looks more lush and attractive due to the special microclimate.

You should not refuse a reservoir in the country because of the apparent complexity of its creation. If you do not have the courage to take on the project of a dynamic hydraulic structure (stream, waterfall, cascade), you can create a small static pond.

It is easy to build from a suitable container: an old bathtub, a plastic tank, a wide basin. The vessel is dug into the ground, covered with a dense film and filled with water. The edges of the film are masked with stones, pebbles, sand or gravel, and vegetation inherent in natural reservoirs is planted around.

gabions

A mesh filled with stones is not a new, but still rare, way of landscaping a garden. Gabions are a solid wall, impervious to wind, noise, dust and prying eyes, completely isolating the resting place. As a rule, they are mounted in areas with elevation changes as retaining walls. But a cozy corner with gabions can also be made on a flat area, enclosing a resting place with them on one or two sides.

Advice. In a landscape with gabions, flower beds should definitely be used. Otherwise, the composition will turn out to be somewhat gloomy.

Additional details

Small, sometimes unexpected details give color to the recreation area. They often do not carry a practical load, but help create a picturesque, unique landscape. Flower beds in pieces of furniture have become a fashionable element of the landscape.

Look very cute daisies or viola, peeking out of the chest of drawers, or a petunia planted on the bed in the form of a bedspread.

Old rubber boots, teapots, punctured cups adapt to flower vases - they are hung on trees, placed on the porch of the gazebo, simply placed in a flower bed.

Thematic garden figurines are always in place. For example, frogs, fish, waterfowl look interesting on the shore of the pond.

Other animals can also find a place in the garden, near the benches, in flower beds.

Not to mention solar-powered garden lights. They are used where there is no possibility to conduct electric light. Lanterns are stuck into the ground along the paths and around the resting place, and illuminate the area as soon as dusk falls. Thanks to them, you can navigate well in the garden at night, sitting up late for a conversation.

How to do it yourself

Pallet garden furniture

After the construction of a country house, materials always remain: bricks, building blocks, timber, boards, and so on. They can be used in creating a place to relax with a pergola (canopy). Brick is used to create garden paths, retaining walls, raised flower beds, and lumber is useful in building a simple tent.

How to make a canopy:

• Wooden poles or bars at least 10 cm dig in at the corners of the marked area;
• The space between the supports is leveled, covered with rubble and poured with concrete. Instead of a concrete base, you can make a wooden flooring on the logs;
• The pillars are connected along the top by transverse beams, on which the crate is mounted;
• A roof is laid from boards, polycarbonate, or a fabric awning is stretched;
• For the stability of the canopy, the supports are additionally interconnected in the middle places, but not from all sides: a passage is left on the most convenient side for using the canopy.

Unpretentious at first glance, the building can be easily turned into a cozy corner. Furniture is installed inside: a table, chairs, benches. They can be made from improvised materials, or you can buy finished products.

Climbing perennials are planted along the perimeter of the hut. Of course you can plant parthenocissus, but it is too often used for landscaping such places, and, besides, it gives a lot of growth. It is better to use something more exotic, for example, kampsis, actinidia, evergreen ivy.

The proverb “business is time, and fun is an hour” once had the opposite meaning: “business is time, and fun is an hour”, that is, deeds are deeds, but one should not forget about rest, even in the midst of work in the garden and in the garden. We have repeatedly told how to equip recreation areas with a hearth for a cauldron or a Pompeian oven, with a gazebo from the wildest dream, expressing the individuality and spiritual predilections of the owner. And if the size of the site does not allow you to equip large gazebos and make complex stove complexes, you can make a “quick”, actually mobile recreation area for a summer house or a private house.

Canopy and mobile walls

As is often the case, a recreation area in the dacha of a FORUMHOUSE user Denisov came about naturally. At first, in this place next to the house (5x4m in size) there was an inherited bath, covered with a door - it was a table. Then a tent appeared above the table, which stood right on the ground, then they made the floor, then the recreation area began to look like in the photographs below. Furniture and a cauldron with a stove were constantly rearranged from place to place in search of the ideal.

The awning of the tent served three seasons, and it turned out that "pilaf with rainwater is a tasteless dish." The need for a stationary canopy rose to its full height, and the recreation area had to remain open, but, if necessary, protected from possible precipitation. Denisov came up with the idea to build such a cool thing for his project: a side compartment. The sliding wall is made of a polycarbonate sheet that moves along guides. Usually it is located near the wall of the house, and when the need arises, it moves and closes the canopy.

Since the recreation area is close to the house, the main problem was to protect the canopy from possible snow from the roof. For this, it was decided to make such snow retainers.

When the site is small, the recreation area is often located close to the house. This way, the available space is spent more competently and economically, and so there are more opportunities to create at the same time inaccessible to the prying eye, and in summer open space with a pergola roof, or even without a roof at all. The main thing is that the brazier or stove does not stand too close to the house, and the walls do not get dirty with smoke and soot.

Recreation area on the site: planning

You can equip a recreation area on any, the tiniest personal plot. True, when planning it, it is necessary to take into account the cardinal directions and the prevailing winds.

To equip the ideal resting place in the garden, you need to remember that it must be located "back" to the prevailing winds.

This “back”, if possible, should be a blank wall. And since gatherings usually take place in the evenings, you need to think about how to make sure that the setting sun from the west does not blind your eyes. And so - even a nook between the house and the garage can be turned into a place for relaxation, quiet evening gatherings with and brunches on the weekend. Our design helpers are here: trellis pergolas, vertical flower beds, potted plants, mobile garden furniture, portable mini-barbecues, an awning instead of a fixed roof. Instead of sun loungers and benches, you can use options for frameless garden furniture: you can sunbathe on the bean bags by the pool during the day, and sit in them by the fire in the evening.

They are stuffed with foamed polystyrene, which is sold in hardware stores. The main thing is that for garden life, such a chair should have two covers, the top one should be made of fabric with water-repellent impregnation.

Buying typical garden furniture is not the most approved approach to landscaping on our portal: “Everything is somehow faceless, and the prices are not encouraging.” To order something unique, and even better - to create this unique with your own hands, in extreme cases - to repeat the idea of ​​a well-known manufacturer on a budget - this is FORUMHOUSE-ski.

Irrena FORUMHOUSE User

If you take a tree in your hands and your soul sings, then what difference does it make what they sell in megastores.

Sales should not be neglected, especially when it comes to a recreation area in a small area.

So, skissa I bought at a sale a sliding garden table with a hole for an umbrella made of eucalyptus (3,000 rubles) and a eucalyptus table and two chairs for 2,000. She believes that even if she made this pine furniture with her own hands, it would cost more.

skissa FORUMHOUSE User

It makes sense to order furniture when you need one hundred percent exclusive, something very unusual, and, accordingly, very expensive.

But this simple set of tables and benches, now sold on every corner, is simply a sin to buy - according to the calculations of the portal participants, buying boards, screws, impregnation and protective composition is much cheaper.

Yacht varnish is not the best option for outdoor products, it is better to treat them in 2-3 layers with a protective compound like "Pinotex, Biotex" and the like.

This product is the son of a FORUMHOUSE member OnlyOn made under his direction and according to his drawing.

OnlyOn FORUMHOUSE User

It’s a pity to put such beauty on damp ground, so my son decided to build a “trestle bed”: four columns of logs, a strapping of four bars, and a flooring on top. Painted with floor paint. It turned out well.

Do-it-yourself recreation area.

zerok FORUMHOUSE User

Then he doesn’t want to be poured with rain, and he will roll down the slope into construction.

Here's how to develop this "table from the store" idea:

Fyi made it from the material left over from the construction of the gazebo, made it more massive and aged.

legolas16 developed the idea by adding a wooden canopy to the table with benches.

Shop-bought or homemade, furniture for a small seating area on the site should be, according to a survey conducted on our portal, comfortable, easy to carry, rot-resistant, durable, strong, easy to clean, “and no curls for ease of repainting ". The design is like this chair.

How to equip a recreation area with furniture

After construction at the FORUMHOUSE member Snowoff there were pallets conditionally suitable for the production of snakes, from which two armchairs and a two-seat sofa turned out - an excellent place to relax in the country.

Snowoff FORUMHOUSE User

The pallet was cut in half along the boards into the base and back. For chairs, another third was sawn across. The blanks were cleaned with a brush from dirt, rot and burr. I assembled everything for screws, using an inch board for strapping. Ready-made armchairs and a sofa are covered with biotex in two layers.

None of the family members expected that the result would inspire further investment in this project to improve the quality of country life. But furniture foam rubber (60 mm) and fabric for covers were bought. The most expensive in pillows with removable covers with zippers was foam rubber.

Relaxation areas in the garden

In the photographs with furniture made from pallets, it can be seen that the site is paved with old brick, which was also left over from the construction site. This coating will not serve for a very long time, but in the future the site will still be planned and redone, but for now “At least they decided to spend the season like decent people.” The turf was removed from the future recreation area at the dacha, since the site has a slope, the site was leveled along the level and a leveling bed was made of sand. The first rows of bricks were laid along a cord. Wide seams are explained by the depressing geometry of the brick: butt-to-butt it would simply not fit exactly. The seams were covered with carving (a mixture of lime and sand), left over from the finishing work. .

frenzied laid out on his summer cottage "red square of clay bricks and quartzite paving stones».

frenzied FORUMHOUSE User

The scheme is standard: we dig a recess along the contour, down the film, 30 cm of sand and tamp. Then a curb on cement, and inside we pave with bricks.

As a result, thanks to this design, a small seating area on a red platform under an air canopy under pine trees, on which only a tea table will fit, will create exactly the “relaxing”, serene mood that is necessary after working in the garden.

At nency a platform for a table, benches and barbecue (6x3 m) is made of unnecessary logs. Logs for its arrangement were sawn into 25 cm high segments. The saw cuts, treated for protection against decay with used mineral machine oil, were installed on a sand cushion and compacted with sand and water. The project was implemented in six days practically "in one hand". A small pit was dug by a small excavator. At the initial stage, this idea aroused bewilderment, irony and laughter among everyone, including workers and neighbors. Now everyone loves the site. When lawn grass is planted between the round logs, it will be even better. There are options to fill the gaps with small gravel or screenings.

nency FORUMHOUSE User

I do not pretend to recognize my creation, but tiles, etc. fed up with Moscow. Moreover, the plot is forested, urbanizing a piece of forest is also not the best option.

If the construction of something more or less stationary in a recreation area in a summer cottage categorically seems like a waste of time and money, you can get by with natural grass. The only thing is that the grass should be as resistant to trampling as possible: meadow bluegrass, meadow fescue, etc. will do. In the recreation area, the lawn is mowed every two weeks, or even more often.

Another option for a small area is to lay it out with turf. With regular watering, the grass will take root pretty quickly.

FORUMHOUSE users have long been using recreation areas as a cover. In addition to strength, the advantage of this material is that it can not be fixed tightly, but removed for the winter or if necessary.

Mobile barbecue

If the recreation area on a private plot does not have a stationary hearth, there are many ways out of this situation, especially since a mobile barbecue on the edge of the garden can bring no less joy than a luxurious stove.

lme1979 I made a brazier from a gas cylinder.

lme1979 FORUMHOUSE User

You cut the grinder in half lengthwise, weld four supports, and the brazier is ready. And it just fits in the trunk of the car.

Here's how you can improve such a brazier (done Pilligrimxxl):

Uncle Vova I made a round country brazier with a diameter of 0.5 meters. It turned out "unexpectedly cool, to the surprise of the neighbors." And just sit by the fire, and bake meat and vegetables on the grill, and put a cauldron or a frying pan.

Or here's a good idea - a tandoor from flower pots. Designed and brought to life sandrovich. How to make, it is clear from the photo.

Patio

awnings for summer cottages

open area

closed area

A dacha plot differs from a standard apartment in the city in that when people come there, most of their time is spent outdoors, doing gardening or relaxing.

Moreover, each person understands the rest in the country in his own way: for some, these are friendly gatherings, for others - a barbecue in the family circle, for others - a leisurely admiration of nature alone.

That is why the design options for the recreation area at their summer cottage are so diverse.

What are the recreation areas in the country?

To relax and enjoy the time spent in the country, you need to start arranging a comfortable recreation area. The concept of comfort is different for everyone, so before making a final decision, it is necessary to consider all possible options.

Patio

Patio - a landscaped area, usually adjacent to the walls of the main building.

To protect such a recreation area from rain and the scorching sun, most often used awnings for summer cottages making the site more comfortable and attractive.

Most of all, the patio resembles an outdoor room, where hedges and climbing plants act as walls. On such a site you can sunbathe, have noisy parties and quiet homemade dinners.

open area

Open area - a recreation area located in the middle of a lawn under the open sky. This option will appeal to lovers of outdoor activities in a cheerful company.

Such a site can easily turn into a place for outdoor games or a night disco. The main drawback is the lack of protection from the sun and precipitation.

closed area

Closed area - a guest from the West, which is actively gaining popularity. The main goal of organizing space in this embodiment is to create a full-fledged room in the middle of a summer cottage.