Paver Patio Designs - Adding Creative Features

Paver patio designs are extremely popular. They are not too expensive and are easy to install.Yet, what makes a paver design for a patio different than one for either a driveway or a walkway? There are a few answers to this question.

First of all, a patio is a place where you most likely will be spending a fair amount of time. It is an outdoor living space, not an area that you are passing through, such as landscape walkways or driveways.

In addition, paver patio designs are typically an integral part of the overall landscape design. It's not that walkways or driveways are not important. They are very important, but there are less creative elements to add to these outdoor hardscapes. You wouldn't add a seat wall to a driveway nor would you add a circle kit design to a walkway.

Paver Design - The Challenge

All elements of landscape design should be to scale, and this is true for patio paver designs too. Due to the fact that patios have a rather large field of concrete pavers, the paver patterns, colors and details must be thought out carefully as they will have a large impact on the total landscape design. In addition,, it is a challenge to create and interesting paver patio design and avoid monotony.

For example, paver patterns of small pavers, such as a small, three sized cobble design, or even your typical brick shaped paver, used as the complete design on a large patio can easily become tedious. There are no breaks...just a sea of pavers.So, how do we create interest with pavers in these situations? There are some creative features that you can add. Some are simply breaks, others add a lot of interest, and still others actually function.

Paver Patio - Interesting Features

One of the ways to add interest to paver patio designs is to add a double soldier course around the perimeter of the patio. This is simply two rows of one of the paver sizes laid parallel or perpendicular to the edges so as to form a border. Thus your eye has someplace else of interest to look. This border may be the same color as the rest of the patio. Alternatively, the border color may be slightly different, blending well, or it can be a complete contrast.

Another ideas is to add a circle kit to the center of the patio, or even to a prominent corner. This is a circle of pavers radiating outward within the patio design. Once again, it can be the same color as the rest of the patio pavers, where the circle itself creates the interest, or the circle may be a different color. You can even make the circle the same color and place a circular border in another color around the perimeter of the circle.

There is also something call Paverart. Here, an actual patio paver design, like artwork, can be inserted into the patio design. Companies that provide Paverart offer both stock and custom designs.

Seat walls are another feature which will add interest to the overall paver design. These can be created out of coordinating block, often available from the paver company, or it might be made of natural stone. If choosing stone, be sure to coordinate the stone size and color with your paver selection.



Patio Pavers - To The House...Or Not?

Paver patio designs and the pavers themselves do not have to extend directly up to the house. You can create a planting bed, softening the space between the patio and home. Flowering vines look great, if you are not opposed to having them grow on your home.

You can also be very daring, and leave out a few of the pavers. In their place, plant low growing plants, such as thyme or sedum. Both of these plants grow in dry conditions, so they are suitable to use in this way. Occasional watering will be needed.

You might also consider an outdoor pergola for shade. This adds lovely architecture to an otherwise flat surface. It provides shade and can be designed to be just part of the patio or it can be a covering over the entire outdoor living space.

Some well known paver suppliers are Belgard, Cambridge, Techo-Bloc, and Eagle Bay. (Go to that page to read about some of my recommendations.) They each offer their own paver patterns, textures and colors, although many are similar. Match your pavers to your house material and color and also to any other existing hardscape in your landscape design.

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