Are you about to lay down some new paving as part of new garden or a garden renovation? Are you wondering what type of paving pattern might best suit the style of your home and your garden? Would you like to know more about the most popular paving patterns?
At Whyte Gardens we know paving very well. We've designed and laid paving in different patterns for our clients all over Melbourne & the Peninsula literally hundreds of times in the past 30 years. We know the distinctive characteristics of each paving pattern which we'll share with you in this article.
By the end we hope you will almost be a paving pattern expert yourself. You should then feel confident about choosing the right paving pattern for your garden.
A quick summary of popular paving patterns
There may be a few other paving patterns out there, but these are the most popular, and timeless styles of paving being used today:
- Stretcher Bond
- Stack Bond
- Modular/French/Ashlar
- Random Length
- Herringbone
- Crazy
- Filetti
- Tessellated
Your eyes have it
One of the factors that most often dictates which paving pattern people end up choosing is the "eye line" that the pattern produces. Every pattern will tend to have a different effect on your eyes and make your eye want to follow certain lines or the repeating elements of a pattern.
So when looking at these different paving patterns, try to make note of what your eye does when looking at the pattern. Remember you will be looking at this pattern every day for a very long time, so you want to make sure that it is personally pleasing to you.
If you want to get a better idea of what the different patterns will do to your eye line, we encourage you to go to the showrooms of various paving suppliers. There you can look at some paving patterns laid out on the ground to see for yourself what you feel is most pleasing to your eye. You will get a better idea than just by looking at pictures online.
Stretcher Bond
This pattern is often referred to as a 'brick pattern' as it mimics the way bricks are traditionally laid. It's a very common paving pattern that provides a strong bond because of the way the joints are staggered.
As with all patterns, your eye will tend to want to follow the pattern in a certain way and in a flowing line. As you walk towards this pattern your eye will follow a certain line in the pattern but if you approach the pattern from a different angle, such as 90º to one side, your eye will tend to follow a different line.
So when laying a pattern like this, consider which direction you will be looking at this pattern from most frequently, and whether you prefer the way your eye follows the pattern in its widest form or longest form.
Stack Bond
For this Balwyn North project we used Torino Bluestone from Italy supplied by Eco Outdoor. We laid it in a stack bond pattern where the pavers are laid stacked on top of one another with no offset or overlap.
This pattern is particularly suitable to large pavers because it allows your eye to take in the whole space rather than be drawn into the pattern. It provides a completely seamless feeling to a space because your eye barely even notices the joints between the pavers.
Modular/French/Ashlar
The three different names for this paving pattern are used by different suppliers but they all mean the same thing.
This very popular and contemporary patten is created by using either 3 or 4 different sized pavers to create a pattern that has elements of both irregularity and repetition to it.
While this pattern is more expensive to purchase due to all the various sized pavers and slower (and more costly) to install, many people love it for its uniqueness.
It tends to make your eye not want to follow any one particular line in any direction as the lines keep changing. Overall it can give you a peaceful feeling of open space.
Random Length
Random length is a pattern which uses different lengths of pavers but laid in the same way as stretcher bond.
The random lengths of the pavers give a softer view to the eye than the more strictly regular pattern of stretcher bond.
We used this paving pattern for this project in Essendon. It gave the property an authentic feeling due to it being perceived as an older style pattern.
Herringbone
Herringbone is a timeless and classic pattern so named because of its resemblance to the bones of a herring fish.
It is often used for paving an entire area or to provide a feature within a main body of paving with a different border pattern around it.
Most often you will see a herringbone pattern used with bricks known as 'old reds'. It provides a very strong bond between the bricks and is visually pleasing on the eye.
Crazy paving
Crazy paving has seen a renaissance in recent years. It has a random nature that really has no pattern at all.
It can be used in both classic style gardens as a feature or in more creative and artistic style gardens.
Because there are no straight lines in crazy paving, the eye tends to rest upon it as if you were looking at an abstract painting hanging on a wall.
Like herringbone you can also add a regular patterned border to crazy paving to designate the area more broadly.
When you see a curved path using a stretcher bond pattern it often feels like the pattern has been forced into a curve. But when you use crazy paving for a curved path its irregular nature feels more comfortable, making you feel like the path actually invites you to wander down it.
Filetti
Filetti is a very old Italian style of paving that uses very thin pavers of varying length (and sometimes width) laid in a semi-irregular patten. (Filetti comes from the same word as 'fillet' which is a thin slice of fish or meat.)
Just like crazy paving, a curved path somehow feels right using a filetti pattern.
Wherever you pave with filetti pavers, whether a path or other area, you will create a statement piece that speaks of artistic expression in a rustic style.
Many people like to use this style when creating a very rustic garden that may incorporate other elements like rusty old iron pieces etc. But equally it can look perfectly at home in a more contemporary styled garden with a modern house anywhere in Melbourne or on the Peninsula.
Perhaps more than some other paving styles, a filetti pattern makes a great statement piece for your garden.
Tessellated Tiles
Tessallated tiling is another classic, timeless style of paving. This pattern can be traced all the way back to ancient Sumeria circa 4000 BC.
There are numerous different styles available in a Tessellated tile pattern. We used one here for the verandah of this heritage listed Malvern home when landscaping their garden to help restore the period style of the home.
Tessellated tiling patterns create a statement piece of authenticity in period homes and can be used in many ways around the home, both interior and exterior.
If you would like to see some of the stunning varieties of Tessellated Tiles available today we recommend you visit Olde English Tiles in Richmond.
A note of caution in choosing a paving pattern
There are some quite dramatic paving patterns available today which can really make a very strong statement in your garden. Like many fads and trends these will tend to come and go. They become all the rage for a short period then fade away.
The patterns we have shared in this article are some of the most enduring paving patterns of all time. They have an elegance, beauty and style that makes them almost timeless.
Unless you are someone who REALLY wants to make a bold and dramatic statement in your garden, we suggest you restrict your choice to one of these patterns listed above. Remember you may be looking out over your paving for decades to come and anything too dramatic can tire very quickly.
We hope this article has helped you decide which is the right paving pattern for you. You might also find one or all of the following articles helpful to you if you are about to embark on a landscaping project for your home:
Related articles on various aspects of Landscape Design and Construction in Melbourne...
What are the best kinds of pavers to use around my pool?
Choosing the right concrete finish for your garden
How to compare quotes from different landscapers
Of course, if you are feeling like you want to talk to someone about your plans for a new garden, including some gorgeous new paving, please feel free to reach out to us.
Did you know you can book an obligation-free consultation with one of our landscape designers to have a chat about your thoughts and ideas for your garden? It's at no charge to you and it may provide an opportunity to bounce some ideas around, clarify some thoughts or directions or even get some idea of possible budgets and costs.
You can even use it get more detailed advice on the right paving pattern for your new garden.
Feel free to click here for an appointment at a time suitable to you:
