An option to traditional sod would be “Korean grass”
Provides you a soft picnicking patch that requires less mowing.
I used in my last home (Los Angeles) in between large paving stones. I would trim it 2x a year as I like the texture of it growing above the concrete. See pics
Current home I’ve been planting Mexican Feather grass in the front yard. … no patch for picnicking but adding a select area of decomposed granite amongst it could be nice
https://www.gardenista.com/posts/landscape-design-12-ideas-for-mexican-feather-grass/amp/