Yardzen
A paver patio gives your outdoor space a solid, ground-level foundation and a natural, organic look. It's also a versatile approach, with a paver style for almost every aesthetic, from asymmetrical shapes with rustic edges to crisp rectangles with contrasting grout.
Whether you're installing an intimate dining area, a cozy fire pit, or a spacious poolside retreat, a paver patio is a beautiful way to celebrate the great outdoors. Here, we gathered a few of these eye-catching designs to help inspire your next backyard makeover.
Choose a Herringbone Layout
A Blade of Grass Landscape Design
Narrow pavers—measuring at just under 8 inches long and about 2.5 inches wide—add visual interest when placed in a herringbone pattern. In this example from landscape design company A Blade of Grass, the varied shades of gray are arranged at random and beautifully enclosed by lush, leafy foliage.
Choose a Cool Material
Dana Dore
A South Carolina vacation inspired these homeowners to select silver travertine for their patio, which was designed by Roots Landscape. This stone stays cool even in direct sunlight, with varied blues complementing the historic stonework and bluestone stair treads.
Add Contrasting Edges
Yardzen
Small, square pavers can make a major impact when paired in groups of four. Here, the diagonal layout makes this dining area feel even wider, while the contrasting pavers draw the eye toward the spacious, open pool deck.
Incorporate Multiple Colors
Yardzen
In this relaxed seating area, no two pavers are alike. The varied edges and hues create an unfussy aesthetic that complements the other materials within the design, including wood planters, a metal table, wicker chairs, and plants.
Vary Paver Size
Yardzen
These rustic, natural pavers are puzzled together to form a dynamic layout for the backyard patio and fire pit. The mix-and-match shapes create an intricate contrast to the sharp lines of the adjoining deck, as well as the dark siding on the house.
Create a Natural Ambience
Large, natural stone pavers arranged in an asymmetrical layout can serve as a tidy, elegant anchor for an outdoor sitting area. Here, bright yellow chairs pull out the pavers' sunny undertones, while more neutral hues match the white brickwork.
Mimic a Secret Garden
Lisa Romerein
The imperfect lines of these brick pavers give this quaint patio a bucolic look. The potted plants and blooming flowers provide a lush, natural contrast—creating a secret garden-like feel.
Pair Dark and Light
Stacy Zarin Goldberg, Richardson & Associates
To keep these indoor and outdoor spaces cohesive, the homeowners chose patio pavers in a medium gray and paired them with white sand highlights. The cool color and offset arrangement complement the warm wooden walls, as well as the space's geometric lines.
Keep It Geometric
Yardzen
The earthy, natural colors of this stone paver patio serve as a textural backdrop for the bright landscaping and colorful, raised-bed plants. The mix of square and rectangular pavers is an eye-catching focal point.
Keep It Simple
Adam Kane Macchia
Here, Roots Landscape collaborated with Formwork Architecture to create a "rooted and refreshed" patio. They used a thermal bluestone in a lattice layout, pairing square and rectangular pavers to form a layered pattern.
