Outdoor Surfacing Ideas With a Difference
Pavers, bricks, gravel and concrete are major surfaces in most yards, so why not make them as interesting as possible?
Crazy paving or coloured concrete, timber or crushed granite? With so many different outdoor surfacing options available today, there’s no excuse for settling for a boring sea of grey concrete or red brick for driveways, paths and patios.
But remember the golden rule when choosing hard ground surface materials: simplicity is key. By all means, mix it up a little but don’t go overboard with the number of different paving materials you choose. Try to stick to two, especially in small gardens, while three will sometimes work in larger outdoor areas.
A good starting point when selecting outdoor surfacing is to try and work with the exterior cladding of the house and other materials already used in the garden. For instance, if the garden has concrete-rendered walls you could use concrete flagstones with a different surface texture. Or use timber inserts within a new area of poured concrete to connect it to an existing timber deck. If your garden has a strong design theme or style, such as Japanese or Mediterranean, then this will also provide surfacing cues.
Still stuck for ideas? Check out the imaginative outdoor surfaces in these Australian gardens and let your creative juices start flowing.
But remember the golden rule when choosing hard ground surface materials: simplicity is key. By all means, mix it up a little but don’t go overboard with the number of different paving materials you choose. Try to stick to two, especially in small gardens, while three will sometimes work in larger outdoor areas.
A good starting point when selecting outdoor surfacing is to try and work with the exterior cladding of the house and other materials already used in the garden. For instance, if the garden has concrete-rendered walls you could use concrete flagstones with a different surface texture. Or use timber inserts within a new area of poured concrete to connect it to an existing timber deck. If your garden has a strong design theme or style, such as Japanese or Mediterranean, then this will also provide surfacing cues.
Still stuck for ideas? Check out the imaginative outdoor surfaces in these Australian gardens and let your creative juices start flowing.
Play with edges
Rather than the standard straight lines defining decking and gravel areas, the designer of this Sydney garden has opted for a more playful solution. The ragged edge of the decking contrasts beautifully with the gravel, the whole composition unified by choosing gravel in a similar colour to the timber.
Rather than the standard straight lines defining decking and gravel areas, the designer of this Sydney garden has opted for a more playful solution. The ragged edge of the decking contrasts beautifully with the gravel, the whole composition unified by choosing gravel in a similar colour to the timber.
Go crazy
Popular in the middle of last century, crazy paving is making a comeback. In this Melbourne garden the designers have used stone slabs to pave this patio, creating a striking effect. Not a project for the unskilled, though, this kind of paving is definitely one for the professionals.
Popular in the middle of last century, crazy paving is making a comeback. In this Melbourne garden the designers have used stone slabs to pave this patio, creating a striking effect. Not a project for the unskilled, though, this kind of paving is definitely one for the professionals.
Use bands of slate
To vary the different paved surfaces of this Sydney garden, the designer has set bands of slate pavers into pebbles. This a great idea for a subsidiary path that is not used as a main circulation route. The colours of the pebbles were selected to complement those of the slate.
To vary the different paved surfaces of this Sydney garden, the designer has set bands of slate pavers into pebbles. This a great idea for a subsidiary path that is not used as a main circulation route. The colours of the pebbles were selected to complement those of the slate.
Add interest to concrete slabs
When concreting large areas, such as driveways, consider adding some form of aggregate such as the pebbles used here in this Brisbane garden. This gives an interesting texture to the concrete and lifts it visually, as does the use of pigments to colour the concrete. Scoring the surface into large rectangles adds further interest.
When concreting large areas, such as driveways, consider adding some form of aggregate such as the pebbles used here in this Brisbane garden. This gives an interesting texture to the concrete and lifts it visually, as does the use of pigments to colour the concrete. Scoring the surface into large rectangles adds further interest.
Create dramatic contrasts
Natural stone pavers laid in a traditional pattern of different size rectangles butt into a curved timber deck, making a bold design statement in this contemporary Melbourne garden. The curved wall adds further emphasis to the organic form of the deck.
Natural stone pavers laid in a traditional pattern of different size rectangles butt into a curved timber deck, making a bold design statement in this contemporary Melbourne garden. The curved wall adds further emphasis to the organic form of the deck.
Interweave plants and slabs
Rather than create one continuous paved terrace adjacent to the house, the architects for this Sydney renovation opted for a series of stone slabs with a ground cover planted in-between. The slabs morph into a stepping stone path, connecting the house to a fully paved outdoor living space further out into the garden.
Rather than create one continuous paved terrace adjacent to the house, the architects for this Sydney renovation opted for a series of stone slabs with a ground cover planted in-between. The slabs morph into a stepping stone path, connecting the house to a fully paved outdoor living space further out into the garden.
Go for gravel
Gravel is cheaper than concrete for large spaces such as this car parking area. It also adds life and textural interest, particularly if you use a warm-coloured stone like this one. Gravel is more environmentally friendly than concrete and stone as it allows rainwater to permeate through it into the ground rather than flowing into the stormwater system.
Gravel is cheaper than concrete for large spaces such as this car parking area. It also adds life and textural interest, particularly if you use a warm-coloured stone like this one. Gravel is more environmentally friendly than concrete and stone as it allows rainwater to permeate through it into the ground rather than flowing into the stormwater system.
Follow tradition
In this traditional Melbourne garden recycled bricks are an obvious choice. Brick can be laid in a variety of patterns and the small size units can be used for tight corners without having to be cut. They are also ideal for circular patterns.
In this traditional Melbourne garden recycled bricks are an obvious choice. Brick can be laid in a variety of patterns and the small size units can be used for tight corners without having to be cut. They are also ideal for circular patterns.
Or go oriental
Stone setts (cobblestones) and slabs are perfect for paving Japanese- and Asian-inspired gardens such as in this Adelaide home. Continuing the setts up into the wall as panels is a novel approach.
TELL US
Does your garden feature pride-inducing surface design? We’d love to see it! Please share a high-resolution photo in the Comments section.
Stone setts (cobblestones) and slabs are perfect for paving Japanese- and Asian-inspired gardens such as in this Adelaide home. Continuing the setts up into the wall as panels is a novel approach.
TELL US
Does your garden feature pride-inducing surface design? We’d love to see it! Please share a high-resolution photo in the Comments section.
Short and longer lengths of concrete paving alternate in this Margaret River beach house, creating a dramatic entrance befitting the stunning contemporary architecture of the house. Opting for non-standard made-to-order paving units will cost you more but the effect is definitely worth it. Making your own custom-made pavers is also possible if your DIY skills are reasonably proficient.