The Rise of Patios and Space Heaters

By Bronwyn Kelley

Photo by Louis Hansel @shotsoflouis on Unsplash

Along with houses more accommodating of multiple generations, Americans are also turning their attention towards yards and outdoor spaces that can accommodate multiple seasons.

Hot Food and Cold Nights

For months now we’ve seen reports of restaurants expanding outdoor dining options, from investing in larger weather-resistant canopies, to installing outdoor space heaters, all in the name of making outdoor dining as comfortable---and profitable as possible despite what the weather may be.

However these changes are not exclusive to restaurants, more and more Americans have been investing into their own home patios and outdoor entertainment space. While patios and decks were once synonymous with summer barbeques, fire pits and space heats have become more and more popular as we continue to face concerns over the risks of indoor gatherings. While the pandemic will one day be a memory, what we’ve learned about how we use our outdoor space doesn’t have to be. Adding a firepit or outdoor heater doesn’t just help Americans avoid exposing themselves or their homes to pathogens, it helps homeowners expand their home’s already existing entertainment space.

Enough Room for...Everyone?

By adding a space heater or weather resilient canopy to one’s patio or deck, a space once relegated for only the most ideal weather now becomes appropriate for years-long entertainment. Even before concerns about the coronavirus, the spring and summer seasons were deemed preferable for large events for a reason. Weddings, birthdays, and other social gatherings can quickly build quite the guest list.

For many the rule of thumb has always been the more the merrier! However, not everyone can have a ballroom in their house, and even when space is not an issue, noise certainly can be! Plenty of party hosts have young children they’d like in bed by a certain time, and not all parties implicitly include all members of the family. Sometimes even one’s house is theoretically large enough for one killer to get-together, that space is not necessarily all party-friendly. Not everyone is fully comfortable with all their guests exploring every inch of their home. It isn’t uncommon for home offices, bedrooms, or even entire levels of the house to be deemed ‘off limits’ during a party.

The Perfect Way to Party All Year Long

Thus we often turn to our yards and patios when we really want to bust out the phone rotary (or nowadays, the digital contact list), and with social media and features like Facebook’s ‘schedule a party’ it is conversely easier than ever before to quickly arrange the biggest party you’ve ever hosted.

As such, the rise of patio space heaters and weather-friendly outside entertainment spaces provide the perfect compromise for these two seemingly at-odds developments. A covered patio quickly adds a whole additional room’s worth of party space---one that is likely to hold less furniture that needs to be rearranged, or a space that can also quickly be used for additional seating. 

A Little (Outside) Wiggle Room

Outside of social events, the heated patio is just a fast and easy way to add extra space to your house---an extra quiet room for reading, or a play area for children, even an extra dining room (remember the attention that restaurants gave to outdoor heaters?)