We’re Hiring! Start your career at Unilock and 
The title image features Beacon Hill Flagstone and Rivercrest Wall.
Have you ever noticed how pavers determine the feel of an outdoor living space? Choosing the right style, shape, color, and layout can make all the difference in delivering the feel you want. Here are four ways that concrete pavers can expand an outdoor living space or make it feel cluttered in Stafford Township, NJ.
Related Read: Sweeping Curves or Right Angles – Which Path Will You Take?
Size
Large pavers mean less joint lines, and therefore a more solid-looking space. This is especially the case if you choose to use jointing sand in the same color or as close as possible to the main field pavers. The more monochromatic the materials, the smoother and larger the space will appear.
Smaller pavers such as Copthorne from Unilock naturally result in more joint lines, and therefore a visually busier space. The use of the same-color jointing sand can make the paver patio seem spacious. Contrasting jointing sand will create a dynamic but more cluttered space.
Laying Patterns
Laying patterns can make a space feel cluttered or clean. Small pavers are typically laid in repeating patterns such as herringbone, running bond, stacked bond, or basketweave. All of these patterns can be made busier using lighter- or darker-colored jointing sand, and more expansive using same-color jointing sand.
An ashlar pattern, which is a random-looking but structured pattern using three or four squares and rectangles such as found in the random bundles of moderately sized Richcliff pavers from Unilock, breaks up the lines created by repeating patterns.
Large format pavers are typically laid corner-to-corner, which creates a clean and simple look. It can look somewhat busier if they are laid at a 45-degree angle to the home, simply because there will be half-cuts (triangles) along the perimeter that can visually “squeeze” the space.
Colors
Lighter colors generally make a patio feel more spacious, and darker colors make it feel smaller. But this has a lot to do with the surroundings as well. If there is a strong contrast in color between the landscape and the hardscape (for example, a light sandstone patio next to a grove of dark green spruce trees), then the contrast will visually shrink the hardscape. For a more expansive look, choose hardscape colors that blend into the landscape.
Blended colors such as the mottled and graduated colors of Umbriano pavers from Unilock make a space feel larger because they remove the emphasis of joint lines, but for the least cluttered look, choose mid-tone or lighter jointing sand, which won’t create as much contrast.
Borders and Accents
To visually shrink a space, choose a contrasting border made up of one or two pavers that are different from the main field, and add one outside row using the field pavers. This approach adds a lot of drama, but it can also feel cluttered if the space is small. It’s a technique best reserved for spacious patios and pool decks.
Contrasting accents break up a space and add an element that can, if not positioned properly, add clutter. For example, if you create an outdoor “rug” using contrasting pavers, you want to place it squarely under a seating arrangement or dining table, and not awkwardly between spaces.
Get the Best Results
To get the best results, connect with a Unilock Authorized Contractor that is an expert in landscape design and installation of beautiful and practical outdoor spaces.
