When you’re working on the design for your paver patio, you may decide you want to use different colors, shapes, or sizes of pavers. Doing so can make your patio look very different and make it really stand out, but it does take some planning. If you don’t plan everything out from the beginning, you may find that the final product isn’t exactly what you wanted. Here are a few tips to help you balance paver size, color, and shape.
Size
If you’re going to mix paver sizes, you first want to consider what sizes to mix. It’s much easier to mix in small pavers that, when combined, are the size of the large paver. For example, if you’re using a 12 inch by 12 inch large paver, look for small pavers that are 6 inches by 6 inches. This way, you don’t have to cut pavers, so everything will be the perfect size. When laying the pavers, also consider how busy you want the patio to look. If you alternate large-small-large-small, the patio is going to look busier than if you did the set of small pavers less often.
Color
How much contrast do you want between your different colored pavers? Doing a full mix of different colors, especially if they’re very different, may turn out a little overwhelming. Instead, balance color by using it carefully. For example, you can do the outer edge of the patio in a different color to create a border. You could also do a design in the patio using different colored pavers. Using color with purpose will stand out. Using color randomly may end up looking like a mess.
Shape
Mixing various shapes into your paver patio can also make for an interesting look, but again, you want to be sure you have a plan instead of adding shapes randomly. As with size, you also want to think about how different shaped pavers will link together. You may need to use additional polymer clay between these pavers, which will change how your overall patio looks and even functions.
Balancing these shapes, especially if you use different shaped pavers that are different sizes and colors, can be tricky. However, if you draw out a plan beforehand, it can also create an amazing patio. If you need any help with your planning or with finding the right products, contact the team at Island Block & Masonry Supply. We can help you find everything you need.
