Decorative Pathway Paver Ideas
Decorative pathways add an architectural component to your landscape, particularly when choosing the right materials, leading to a garden, greenhouse or just the front door. The surface quality, appearance, repair, longevity and expense are several considerations to keep in mind when using pavers. Edging is also an important element when using pavers and adds to your destination stability as well as a visual reference.
Stone
Stone pavers provide your garden path with stability and durability. Stone fits well with virtually every plan in the landscape. For formal, casual, rugged, rough-hewn or rustic settings, granite, flagstone, calcareous, sandstone and other varieties can be used. To provide a more formal and sturdy decorative course, put stone pavers closely together or leave spaces between them for rock plants that can withstand stepping on such as fleshy sedums. Using broad, smooth cobblestones in a meandering layout for a “bubbling brook” effect.
Brick
Brick pavers are more hard-burned or baked than building bricks which make them more durable. Brick walkways can be broken down or laid on sand and arranged in a wide range of designs. To save a few pennies, buy used brick pavers and arrange them in either a basket-weave, pinwheel or herringbone design. When shopping for brick pavers, you might find molded bricks that look like cobblestone, flashed bricks that have a color pattern, repressed chamfered that resist chipping, common bricks that have a rough surface providing good pathway traction for wet spots and replica used bricks that are made to look old.
Adobe
Adobe pavers have rounded edges, a smoother, more natural texture, and dry, earthy tones. Adobe fits well in a large area surrounded by the smaller pavers. However, when wet, adobe can be slippery, so these pavers should not be used where most of the time the ground remains wet. Use a sand base and low-growing ground cover and moss in the joints for a decorative rustic pathway.
Interlocking Pavers
For almost any landscape design, interlocking pavers provide a decorative feature. These pavers are virtually maintenance-free other than sweeping or hosting from time to time. Easy to build, interlocking pavers made of concrete are available in a wide range of contemporary designs, colors and sizes. They can be used for medium-wide meandering walkways, available in circles, squares, triangles and hexagons, and usually smaller than other types of pavers. Choose your favorite paver model and produce an impact on the wagon wheel. Place an item of the landscape in the middle, like a bird bath or fountain.
Rich Texture or Smooth? Choosing Concrete Pavers for your Hardscaping
The right texture for your pavers will rely on a variety of factors, from your hardscape’s aesthetics to your home’s architectural style. The main goal of choosing a specially textured paver is to complement the other materials used in the hardscape with that finish. This can be done either by balancing the texture or by making a smooth and rough contrast. Contrasts can be accomplished by adding accent pavers and borders or simply by allowing the property’s plant life to stand in direct juxtaposition with the materials used for hardscaping.
