When it comes to modern landscape design, few spaces are complete without a paver patio. Patios have come a long way from one-note concrete slabs of the past. Today, concrete pavers allow for experimentation in design and function. At Water and Earth, we work with some of the top paver brands in the industry, including Techo-Bloc. From edgy patterns to dynamic color schemes, here is some of our favorite paver patio design inspiration from some of our recent projects.
Contrasting Shaped Patio Pavers
A lot of patios are one note in terms of design. While the function of a paver patio is to create usable, durable space, something that takes up so much room in the design should also be interesting to look at. One of our favorite ways to break up a large paver patio without distracting from the rest of the design is to mix shapes.
In the project above, patio paver inspiration takes the form of mixed shapes. At the front of the image, you can see how hexagonal pavers lead homeowners away from the house. However, this pattern is quickly broken up on either side. Leading around the back of the home, large, square pavers gradually intersect the hexagons. In the other direction, long, rectangular pavers mimic the slats of the pergola and privacy screen.
Each of these shapes is distinctly unique in size and form. However, the uniform color allows the final impact to be visually interesting without clashing. The final effect is a paver patio that is dynamic and unexpected, without impeding the success of the final design.
Purposefully Patterned Patio Pavers
Design is meant to be fun. In the next paver patio example seen above, the patio paver design mimics indoor comfort in an outdoor space. The perimeter of the patio is outlined in long gray pavers, acting as a trim for wider, blue rectangular pavers. In the center, the same gray trim separates the outer ring from a small box of dark gray, organically shaped pavers. At the very center, the trim reappears to enclose the “bullseye” of the patio, done in dark gray squares.
Looking at the finished design, you can see how these layers work to create a rug-like effect at the center of the patio With the dining table placed on top, you see how modern outdoor materials mimic the look of indoor comforts. Thanks to modern materials and colors, the effects remain subtle while elevating the space as a whole, and marking the paver patio as a destination for outdoor dining.
Mixed Material Paver Patio
Some people may have the impression that paver patios are always cold, hard, or colorless. In fact, none of those assumptions would be true. Great design allows for contrasting ideas like comfort and aesthetics, or color and minimalism to coexist. When it comes to paver patio inspiration, these ideas do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Above, you see a new iteration of a paver patio design. Instead of interlocking pavers, the light gray blocks have been set into turf. Overall, this allows the paver patio to remain functional for foot traffic and outdoor furniture, without feeling cold or unwelcoming. Laying the pavers into the green turf allows a pop of color to exist alongside the modern, minimal lines of the pavers.
From this patio, the homeowners can step up onto a large deck, or continue onto the putting green, which feels connected to the space by the turf. The overall effect is a design that feels fresh, functional, comfortable, and in sync with the client’s vision for their space.
Concrete Paver Walkways
When designing an outdoor living space, you need to consider how the homeowners will navigate the space. Upon creating accents like an auxiliary patio, it’s important to understand how it will be tied into the space as a whole. A paver patio or paver walkway is one of the most effective ways to do this.
In the project above, a paver patio weaves around the entire space. Stepping out of the back entry to the home, the clients find themselves on a geometric patio. In varying shades of grays, blues, and browns, the pavers interlock in different sizes and scales to create a dynamic pattern that carries through the space. From the angle in the photo above, you can see that a dark gray trim anchors the paver design, and creates natural walkways throughout the finished space.
From the far side of the home, to the pool, to walking up pathways toward the auxiliary patio, the entire space feels cohesive without feeling redundant. The bold contrast of gray gray trim and neutral pavers provides visual interest while also creating clear and functional through lines. The finished project is modern, beautiful, and the perfect compliment to a highly functional outdoor living space.
Simple but Stylish
Sometimes, you need to let the view speak for itself. When we are lucky enough to work on a space with an incredible view, it’s our job as designers to create a backyard that highlights the home’s location without competing. This means drawing eyes toward the view, and using design elements that work to accomplish this while still looking intentional.
The project above has magnificent mountain views, and we wanted to make sure that the homeowners didn’t feel like anything in the design would detract from that. To do this, the paver patios we used blend seamlessly into the fire pit and mimic the colors and tones of the natural landscape. However, even in the simplest design, it’s important that we create detailed interest.
This paver patio uses parallelogram-shaped pavers to create a chevron-like pattern. This pattern functions almost like arrows, drawing the eye along the lines and up over the edge of the property. This unique design is great patio paver inspiration for folks who want to strike the perfect balance of simplicity and modern appeal.
Multi-Colored Paver Patio
We’ve played with patterns, shapes, and pavers that draw the eye, but what about color? If you think that your paver patio has to be all one-tone, we’re happy to disprove that theory. Modern pavers come in a huge range of colors and tones. This means that every single color palette can be played with, for a huge design payoff.
In the space above, boldly contrasting tones of light, dark, and medium gray push up against one another. The pattern is not perfectly plotted, but rather organic. This is a nice contrast to the clean, straight lines of the paver itself. The multitude of tones here allows this central paver patio to tie in easily with the retaining wall at the rear of the property, as well as the pool coping.
View More Patio Paver Design Inspiration
From paver patios to pergolas and pools, we’ve got design inspiration for any backyard project on the blog. View completed designs, or get your questions answered. For a day to day look at what we’re up to, follow us on Instagram!