7 Tips for Designing the Perfect Patio With Pavers

Justine Harrington
Updated May 2, 2022
A white wooden fence and green artificial turf surface
Photo: John Keeble / Moment / Getty Images

Take your outdoor space from drab to fab

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If your idea of a perfect evening involves eating a homemade meal and drinking wine alfresco with good friends, you’ll want to make sure your outdoor space looks and feels as inviting as possible. The right patio pavers provide you with the perfect space for entertaining. Plus, due to the sheer availability of colors, patterns, and materials, you can easily customize your pavers as you see fit. If you’re wondering how to transform your outdoor space with patio pavers, keep reading for some tried-and-true tips about how to design the best pavers for a patio.

1. Create a Budget

Before you start planning out your perfect patio paver design, it’s important to have a budget in place. According to HomeAdvisor, pavers generally cost about $8 to $25 per square foot to install, although you can expect to pay more for high-end materials. Set your budget according to the square footage and materials you want to use, and go from there.

2. Consider Your Space

Take measurements and figure out how big you want your paver patio to be before you start picking out material and choosing your design. You might want to also consider your home’s exterior so that you can pick your pavers’ material, color, and design based on the architectural style of your home.

3. Use the Right Materials For Your Space

An old english country cottage
Photo: John Keeble / Moment / Getty Images

The most popular pavers for your patio are usually made from brick, natural stone, or concrete. That said, there are a ton of different designs and materials to choose from. Don’t get stuck using the same old materials if you’d rather branch out and try something new. And on that note, check out the next tip.

4. Indulge Your Creative Side

Since many natural and concrete pavers aren’t uniform in color, to avoid a cookie-cutter look, it’s best to blend materials to achieve a more natural appearance. Whatever you do, don’t be afraid to get bold and creative with the color and pattern of your pavers. Go with a lighter color, mix and match colors, or opt for a unique-looking pattern like textured diamonds or sleek squares. 

The sky’s the limit (as long as your budget can handle it, that is).   

5. Allow for Proper Drainage

Keep in mind that your patio needs to slope away from your home’s foundation to allow for proper drainage. So, when conceptualizing and installing your patio pavers, make sure everything slopes away from the house.

6. Get a Precise Cut

If you’re looking to create more complex patterns, you may need to cut some of the stone or bricks. Consider renting a wet saw to get the most precise cut possible. You can also hire a mason to help perfectly cut your pavers.

7. When in Doubt, Consult the Pros

A professional patio paver near you can help you achieve the most functional, attractive paver patio imaginable. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the pros; you won’t regret it when you have the outdoor entertaining space you’ve always dreamed of.

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