How To Use Stone & Paving To Transform Your Outdoor Space

Who says outdoor spaces have to have a set look? With so many different types of gardens, there’s certainly not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution! Whether you’re a homeowner creating your own oasis, a landscaper enhancing a complex layout, or a garden designer looking for something spectacular, stone brings multiple advantages to your outdoor space.

In this article, we show you how to harness the potential of stone and paving, highlight our top-tier products and the benefits of switching from traditional turf to statement stone.

What Type of Stone Is Best for Landscaping?

With a variety of natural stone available, there’s always a perfect match for your style, budget and landscaping needs. Here are our best recommendations:

• Porcelain paving slabs: Offering sleek, low-maintenance patios with a modern stone finish.
• Cobble Setts: Tremendously strong, making them perfect for charming courtyards and rustic pathways.
• Decorative Aggregates: Add colours, depth and texture to your landscaping with decorative stone. Ideal for small or larger ground cover.
• Riven Indian Stone: Available in sturdy limestone, sandstone or setts, the beautifully riven surface offers natural texture and realism to your landscaping.
• Indian Limestone Setts: Our Black Limestone Cobbles create a statement piece for a traditional look and feel.
• Indian Sandstone Setts: Consistently robust and reliable, sandstone is a popular choice. Especially the bright shade of Kandla Grey.
• Natural Granite: A classic stone material. Thanks to its durability and timeless sophistication, it’s a go-to stone option.

Why Choose Stone & Paving for Your Landscaping?

When we think of gardens and public spaces, we automatically think of lush lawns and bright green grass. There’s a worry that stone can appear cold and lifeless. But, when incorporated within the right garden design, stone and paving can make a dramatic difference.

For many, it can also offer a more manageable garden with little maintenance, energy and cost savings on water and mowing, and opportunities to personalise with garden accessories or potted plants.

8 Benefits of Stone and Paving in Your Landscaping

1. Durability & Longevity

Made from natural stone, slabs and pavers provide incredible strength and high resilience. Depending on the type of stone, it can withstand heavy foot traffic, as well as all weather conditions and daily wear and tear. Offering a high return on investment.

2. Aesthetic Appeal & Variety  

Stones offer a vast palette of colours to choose from. From the pastel creams and pinks of Fossil Mint and elegant silvers of Porcelain to the warm browns of Rippon Buff, there’s a shade of stone to complement everyone’s style.

3. Low-Maintenance Gardens

If you don’t have time to maintain a lawn or no room to store a lawnmower, a stoned or paved garden is ideal for you. With compatible paving grout, no further staining or sealing is required. A sweep or jetwash now and then will keep it looking pristine.

4. Versatility & Accessibility

Stone is used in various landscaping applications, such as patios, steps, driveways, courtyards, borders, balconies, and more. You name it, stone can create it. It also aids with uneven surfaces by installing sturdy steps or gentle slopes for improved accessibility.

5. Make it Your Own!

With so many different styles of stone, you can choose the stone that reflects your style. Whether that’s the sleek, sophisticated look of Black Slate or the charming, rustic feel of Cobbled Setts, stone and paving add a touch of colour and texture to your garden.

6. Easy, Cost-Effective Ground Cover

If you’re unsure what to do with a space, stone is an easy and convenient way to create a blank slate. Whether you stick to one style of stone or incorporate different patterns, a paved floor offers lots of possibilities to accessorise and utilise.

7. Make Small Spaces Seem Bigger

Garden designers and landscapers are extremely innovative in using different materials to create the illusion of more space. By including stone in your design, such as a small patio, paved path or a flowerbed border, you create sections within your garden, which makes it appear larger and multi-purposeful.

8. Long-Lasting Results

Natural stone has survived thousands of years, through extreme weather conditions and high levels of foot and vehicle traffic. It’s hardy, resilient and highly versatile. Designed by nature, it’ll offer peak performance for many years, making it a fantastic investment.

Where To Add Stone And Paving To Your Outdoor Space

One of the best properties of stone? It’s versatility! Some of the most popular uses of stone and paving in landscaping include:

Pathways

Paved pathways not only provide a clear route for guests, but they also ensure a stable path underfoot, one that won’t erode, move or crumble. You can have a lot of fun with paved paths, as you can create different shapes and use various types of pavers depending on the look you want to achieve. For example, a meandering cobbled path, a grand porcelain path, or a more casual gravel pathway.

Patios

A stunning patio can become the heart of your outdoor space. The perfect spot to sit and relax or entertain, you can create a welcoming space that is ready to use all year round. Add your garden furniture or garden kitchen setup, and you have everything you need to wow your guests.

Driveways

Stronger stone, bricks or cobbled sets make for fantastic-looking driveways. With the flexibility of how you can lay your pavers, you can create a unique design, while having the peace of mind that your driveway can withstand heavy weight and constant vehicle traffic.

Stone Walls

Stone walls are a great way to use up any leftover pavers or stone. They can be used to help section areas of your garden, as borders for raised flower beds, or as seats. Gabions make for brilliant stone-walled features and are easy to install, too.

Focal Points

Whether you create a mosaic pattern, a circular patio, or a paved area for a cosy firepit, you can use stone and pavers to add colour, texture and draw people’s attention. You can layer accessories on top, such as a water feature, potted plants or a BBQ, or leave it to make a statement by itself.

Stone Planning & Installation Tips

Our landscapers share how to get the most from your stone investment with the best preparation and installation advice.

1. Measure with Precision: Make the most of our slab calculator or gravel calculator to accurately estimate quantities and avoid waste.
2. Choose the Right Underlay: Ensure proper sub-base preparation, especially under heavy-use areas such as patios or driveways, to maintain evenness and longevity.
3. Sample First: Take advantage of our stone displays at St Albans to see, feel, and compare your stone choices before committing.
4. Choose Complementary Grout & Finishes: The right patio grout can enhance both visual cohesion and practical longevity. Matching or accent grout colours can elevate the paving’s look.
5. Balance with Planting: Softscape integration, like planting greenery along paving edges or between setts, creates soft, welcoming transitions between hard and natural elements.

Why Use George Davies for Stone?

Because we don’t just offer high-end stone material, we deliver high-end service from start to finish.

• A comprehensive “one-stop shop” for landscaping from turf and decking to soil and stone.
• Expert service and delivery from a trusted, award-winning provider, with over two decades of landscaping experience.
• The St Albans stone branch offers a convenient, hands-on environment to explore materials and consult with stone specialists.

Speak to the Experts

Stone paving is more than an installation; it’s a long-term investment in beauty, structure, and ambience. Whether crafting an elegant patio, sculpting a practical pathway, or designing a serene courtyard, the right stone materials and design choices can bring your outdoor space to life. Get in touch with the team at George Davies team to answer any of your stone queries.

Further Stone Advice

• The Benefits of Porcelain Paving Slabs
• How to Lay Cobbled Setts
• Decorative Aggregate: How to Lay it Right First Time