Six Design Ideas for Natural Stone Patios

A Yorkstone patio is a great way to improve the look of any garden and you will find a huge range of designs to choose from.

Small square or rectangular patios with Yorkstone paving or Indian flagstones laid in a simple, regular pattern remain a popular choice with people who wish to create an area for outdoor dining or relaxing in the sun within a relatively small garden.

There are a number of online guides to laying this sort of simple patio and most describe it as a “straightforward DIY job”.

This is an optimistic view, as anything from the slope of the garden to jointing may cause problems, but it is certainly possible.

If you have any doubts about your DIY ability, it is sensible to use a reputable landscaping or paving contractor to carry out the work. Choosing a professional will also have the added benefit of allowing you to select a more imaginative patio design.

The range of designs it is possible to achieve using high-quality flagstones and setts laid by experts is huge. Here are a few ideas:

1. Classic patio

Simplicity can be beautiful, as you can see from this Yorkstone patio with stone setts edging, which was laid by York-based The Original Stone Paving Company.

2. Circular patio

Circular designs can ensure the patio is an eyecatching feature in your garden. You could opt for a path out to a stone cobbles circle in the middle of the lawn or, like this example by Clarke Landscapes of Connecticut, choose circular detail on a regular flagstone patio.

3. Sunken patio

Make a quiet spot to enjoy relaxing in the shade with a sunken stone patio surrounded by rustic walls and reclaimed stone steps, such as this one created by Greenmans Yard of London.

4. Cobble pattern

Lay reclaimed granite cobbles / setts in between flagstones to create a characterful pattern, as Timothy Lee Landscape Design of Lexington, Massachusetts did here.

5. Raised patio

A raised stone patio, like this one designed by Frank Shirley Architects of Cambridge, Massachusetts, can work well in a garden with the right elevation.

6. Rustic patio

This mix of sandstone flags and gravel, by Los Angeles-based Richard Hallberg, combines to create a rustic look.

For information about the availability and price of reclaimed Yorkstone flags and other patio materials, please contact Abacus Stone Sales.