Are you agonizing over which patio pavers to pick? Good. You should. The hardscape material you put underfoot will set the tone for your garden design. It's a big decision. Let us help make it easier.
Patio pavers fall into two general categories: natural (stone or, in the case of brick, clay) and composite (such as concrete). Within those two broad groups are a zillion choices. Our editors have investigated the pros and cons (and prices) of materials such as bluestone, limestone, bricks, concrete pavers, and porous pavement surfaces such as concrete grid blocks.
And if you're not sure you want pavers at all—maybe you're considering a permeable surface such as pea gravel or decomposed granite?—we've got that covered too. Read on to find the right paving material for your patio.
Bluestone
Above: In a San Francisco city garden, landscape architect Scott Lewis created a spacious feeling with a wedge-shaped patio laid with bluestone in a running bond pattern. For more of this 25-by-40-foot garden, see Scott Lewis Turns a Small SF Backyard into an Urban Oasis.
Above: Bluestone comes in a variety of colors and textures. Shown above is a herringbone pattern laid with pavers in a full color range with a natural cleft. For more about choosing colors and textures, see Hardscaping 101: Bluestone Pavers.
Above: SF-based architect Barbara Chambers paved a small patio in her Mill Valley garden with the same color and texture of bluestone as the pavers she used on an adjacent path to increase the visual impact of the hardscape. For more of her garden, see Architect Visit: Barbara Chambers at Home in Mill Valley.
Above: Is bluestone the right material for your patio? We've look at all the pros and cons (and compared prices to other materials) in Hardscaping 101: Bluestone Pavers.
Limestone
Above: SF-based Lutsko Associated paved a Pacific Heights garden with limestone meant to be viewed from above. If you're standing on the house's upper-floor terrace, it feels as if you've lifted the roof of a dollhouse to peer into a its miniature backyard. For more, see Pacific Heights Mystery: A Hidden Garden Reveals Its Secrets.
Above: Limestone is a universal and timeless material. And accordingly expensive. To decide if the dense sedimentary rock is the right hardscaping material for your patio, see Hardscaping 101: Limestone Pavers.
Bricks
Above: For a remodel of a 19th century townhouse garden in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, architect Julian King used recycled bricks and stones found on site to pave the patio and edge garden beds. For more of this garden, see Before & After: A Garden Duplex in a Historic Chelsea Townhouse.
Above: Most bricks are composed of clay soil combined with lime and sand. Although red bricks are the most common, bricks come in many colors, including cream, grey, tan, buff, pink, brown, and black. For more options, see Hardscaping 101: Brick Patios.
Above: In a former printing factory in Paris, garden designer Jacques Leseur softened the industrial backdrop with a brick patio. For more, see Steal This Look: An Industrial Chic Parisian Courtyard.
Above: When choosing a brick pattern, consider such factors as whether you want a space to look larger (or to minimize its bulk); how much money you have to invest (complex patterns are more labor intensive), and whether a pattern will look too busy against other hardscape elements in your garden. For more guidelines for choosing a brick pattern, see Hardscaping 101: Brick Patios.
Concrete Pavers
Above: In Big Sur, Marin-based landscape architect Eric Blasen softened the hard edges of a concrete patio with native plantings and evergreen trees. For more of this garden, see Architect Visit: The Medieval Mist and Mystery of Big Sur.
Above: Concrete pavers offer instant gratification, whether they're the standard-issue variety from the home improvement store or an architect's custom design, says Janet. They're inexpensive, sturdy, and easy to lay. To find out if concrete pavers are the right material for your patio, explore the pros and cons in Hardscaping 101: Concrete Pavers.
Open Grids and Porous Pavement
Above: When Steven Harris and Lucien Rees Roberts built their precisely detailed weekend retreat on a 50-acre swath of land in upstate New York, they laid a porous terrace and planted it with perennial thyme. For more of the project, see Architect Visit: Steven Harris in Kinderhook on Remodelista.
Above: Asking for holes in pavement may sound as logical as wishing for holes in your head. But, using pervious surfaces is the smart and environmentally friendly thing to do," says Janet. See her top choices for open grid concrete and porous pavements at Hardscaping 101: Eco-Friendly Paving Solutions.
Decomposed Granite
Above: Maybe you'd prefer a permeable patio? We like the satisfying crunch of gravel and decomposed granite underfoot. For ideas, see Low-Cost Luxury: 9 Ways to Use Decomposed Granite in a Landscape.
Above: Decomposed granite is like gravel, but finer and more stable. For colors, sizes, and prices, see Hardscaping 101: Decomposed Granite.
Pea Gravel
Above: A circular pea gravel patio invites contemplation in Eugene, Oregon. For more of this garden, see Before & After: A Garden Makeover for a Ranch-Style House.
Above: As gravel goes, it doesn't get any better, says Ellen in Hardscaping 101: Pea Gravel. These rounded fragments of pea-size stone crunch underfoot as satisfyingly as crispy cereal.
Looking for inspiration? See more of our favorite patio designs at:
- Steal This Look: A Boho Chic Backyard Patio in LA.
- Architect Roundup: Our Favorite Outdoor Living Rooms.
- Private Paris: 9 Secret Gardens in the City of Love.
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