When choosing the best garden paving materials, consider how the space will be used, your style preferences, and your budget. Think about durability, maintenance, slip resistance, and how the paving will complement your home’s look. Then explore options like sandstone for warmth, granite for strength, or porcelain for a sleek, modern finish.
Garden paving is a fundamental part of garden design and landscaping. Long-lasting, stylish patios, steps, paths, etc. make your garden more accessible, practical, attractive and enjoyable. Plus, there’s a wonderfully diverse range of garden paving materials available to bring your ideas to life. In this article, we’ll draw on our extensive experience with garden paving projects to help you choose the perfect paving options for your needs.
Garden paving is a form of hard landscaping; in other words, it’s one of the crucial ‘built elements of an outdoor space’, explains House & Garden magazine. Its strength, durability and clean lines offer a pleasing contrast to grass and other soft landscaping features.
We use premium materials such as natural stone for our bespoke garden paving projects, adding elegance and luxury to Devon properties. By browsing our gallery of completed projects, you’ll see how transformative superior garden paving can be – and find inspiration for your own garden.
Garden Paving Has Many Benefits
Adding beautiful paved areas to your outdoor space has significant advantages:
- Garden paving is incredibly low-maintenance compared to large lawns. It needs little more than sweeping and washing. This makes it ideal for busy professionals, young families and people with limited mobility.
- Adding paving is like adding an extra room – it gives your outdoor space purpose and structure (think of all the things you’ll be able to use it for!) and makes it more inviting. Use paving to create ‘zones’ for different activities, either on one or multiple levels, and fulfil your garden’s potential.
- It’s easy to blur the boundaries between outdoors and indoors for a seamless, unified look – simply use the same paving materials in your garden and the room that opens out onto it. What a fantastic way to make a small outdoor space look and feel bigger!
- Garden paving frames and highlights exciting features including swimming pools, hot tubs and pizza ovens. Also, it prevents luxury garden furniture from sinking into the ground! Curved paving slabs excel at creating focal points.
- Premium garden paving materials are a superb investment – they can last for decades while adding value and beauty to your home. Plus, many colours, textures and finishes are available; compare the rustic charm of ridged, tumbled yellow sandstone with chic, smooth, stone-effect beige porcelain, say. There’s something for everyone.
- Mixing and matching garden paving materials lets you make bold, sophisticated statements. For example, Homebuilding & Renovating magazine suggests that using ‘a contrast border for paving to signify a change between materials or levels is a great idea’. Paving sets the tone and expresses your personality.
Our Favourite Types of Garden Paving
When you want to choose the right garden paving for your project, consider the following questions:
What will your paved areas be used for?
Will they be used by many people?
Does your home/garden have a contemporary or classic feel?
Do you prefer bold or understated styles?
What’s your budget?
Your answers will make it easier to identify which materials have the qualities you need.
Now let’s explore five of the best kinds of garden paving, featuring natural stone and man-made options:
1. Sandstone Paving – Characterful
Sandstone’s warm colours (it’s often creamy or yellowish), tonal variations and riven texture give garden paving lots of character.
Sandstone is easy to clean and resists frost. It also holds its rich colours well, ageing beautifully.
2. Limestone Paving – Understated Elegance
For uniform, subtle garden paving, consider limestone with its cool, soft colours and smooth surface. Natural veining adds visual interest.
Sealed limestone paving copes well with sunlight, rain and frost.
3. Granite Paving – Strong and Sophisticated
If your garden is often full of guests, you can rely on granite garden paving – it’s particularly luxurious, robust and resistant to scratches and stains. Choose a flamed finish for superb anti-slip properties.
Silvery-grey granite is particularly popular.
4. Concrete Paving – Superb Stone Substitute
Concrete garden paving is remarkably versatile and hard-wearing. Numerous colours and textures are available – it can even closely resemble natural stone, which is ideal for small budgets.
5. Porcelain Paving – Unbeatable Performance
Porcelain is ideal when you want sleek, anti-slip, high-performance paving. It’s available in many shades and finishes (including stone and wood). Plus, it’s barely affected by extreme weather, high footfall or the passage of time.
Complete, Tailored Devon Garden Paving Service
There’s a garden paving solution for every home – the right design and materials can enhance anything from morning yoga to alfresco dining.
Our comprehensive, tailored Devon garden paving service takes you from concept to completion.
For superior garden paving design and installation, call Jacksons Landscape Designs in Newton Abbot today on 01626 332533.