Great Ideas: Patios That Use Mixed Materials

Outdoor patios can be attached to a house or detached. They are often designed and oriented to the landscape. Patios are versatile: they can take on any shape and be built with various materials, like concrete, pavers, stone, tile, brick or gravel. Most patios are set on a concrete slab or a sand and pebble base.

Once you’ve decided to build a patio and chosen a site, there are other design considerations:

• Space: Available space will determine your patio’s size.
• Shapes: Squares, rectangles, ovals.
• Levels: Multidimensional surfaces work well with slopes and uneven levels.
• Drainage: Working with existing runoff systems or determining the best place to build one.
• Grading: Deals with soil redistribution for a flat, even patio base.
• Privacy Screening: Walls and enclosures turn a patio into an outdoor room.

Patios are versatile: they can take on any shape and be built with various materials, like concrete, pavers, stone, tile, brick or gravel. Most patios are set on a concrete slab or a sand and pebble base.

Division of space and suggesting a separation or another area outdoors can be achieved by altering the direction of pavers or bricks, or by mixing materials.

As you look at this patio, keep in mind that there was no mixing of mortar involved. Using the circular fountain as a focal point, the gray stones radiate out in a sunburst pattern from the edge of the fountain. Underneath is a loose material—pea gravel. The larger flagstone pavers can be spaced apart for pathways or butted-up closer together and leveled for a seating area. When designing a patio surface, remember that there’s no hard-and-fast rule about using just one paving material.

Loose materials like gravel are an easy way to create an almost-instant patio or hardscaped area in any part of your yard. Gravel is much easier and more forgiving than the concrete-pouring process or even a brick-and-sand patio. Round aggregate pavers in assorted sizes were common and available at hardware stores and garden centers in the mid-20th century, and are once again finding their way into yards and on pathways as an interesting alternative.

Flagstone pavers on this patio floor get a framing effect with a mosaic border of Mexican river rock. The smooth rocks used for this mosaic are usually laid flat — note how these are turned on their “sides” for a more richly textured and unusual look.

The three aqua / turquoise ceramic planters are tall and architectural, making a visual impact without taking up lots of space. Tall modern planters and clean lines look good with architectural-looking plants, like broad-leafed grasses and succulents.

A study in contrasts, both in shape and color: terracotta-colored square brick pavers of a patio are edged or filled-in with black-rock gravel. The result: even though both are on the same level, you know where one ends and the other begins, or vice versa.

It’s a striking, geometric, modern look – and not all types of plants would look good in this planting bed. The cacti and succulents work well here; a cottage garden would not.