Using Textures to Add Interest to Patios in Westerville and Worthington OH Areas

When it’s time for a patio upgrade, you may be wondering what textures to choose. Adding or removing textures underfoot can transform a patio depending on the look you want to achieve. Here are our tips for using textures to add interest to patios in Westerville and Worthington, OH, areas.

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Patio Materials: Natural Paving Stones and Concrete Pavers

In general, you will achieve a more textured look using pavers that are small- to medium-sized. This holds true whether the pavers themselves are textured. Texture isn’t just about the texture of the pavers. For example, you get a lot of texture with small pavers such as brick. Even if the bricks are smooth, the many joints between them contribute to a more textured appearance. In this case, the texture is more visual than tactile.

Large format pavers will give you a less textured appearance because there are fewer joints. Of course if you use highly textured large format pavers, you’ll still achieve a textured surface but it won’t be as “busy” visually as if you were to use smaller pavers. In the case of large textured pavers, the texture is more tactile than visual.

As you go through the process of choosing materials for your patio, keep in mind visual texture and tactile texture. Also keep in mind the effects of the jointing sand. To create more visual texture, you could opt for jointing sand that’s lighter than the paver. For a sleeper look, use jointing sand that is the same color as the paver, or very slightly darker.  

With modern landscape design, you have the most choices in how you want to express yourself artistically. Modern design is typically sleeker, with less texture and less ornamentation. However, one of the fun aspects of modern hardscapes is that you can create interest by using contrasting textures, such as a flagstone-textured patio with tumbled or completely smooth accents.

Since modern hardscapes tend to have less ornamentation, consider using the same color in both the smooth and textured materials. This will result in a more subtle look that may require a second look - but it’s a look that will linger.

One of the most time-honored building materials that is perfectly suited for traditional landscape design is brick. Brick brings warmth and character to your landscape with earthy colors and subtle textures. Brick pavers are available in several finishes, including relatively smooth (these may come with a semi-gloss finish), traditional dimpled, and weathered. Bricks that look weathered can complement the aesthetics of a traditional home. 

If you want a less visually textured look and more tactile texture, you could opt for natural bluestone or flagstone. Or, if you want the look of bluestone or flagstone but in a smoother texture, there are concrete pavers that will give you the blended colors without the inherently uneven surface of natural stone.

Patio Materials: Walls and Other Verticals

Walls and verticals are a great way to add complementary or contrasting textures to the patio. A sleek modern look could be achieved using smooth materials throughout - which isn’t less interesting, just different, than if you created textured horizontal and vertical surfaces.

Contrast is often the most interesting way to create an interesting patio. Smooth materials underfoot with rustic stacked flagstone walls and other verticals are a popular way to create contrast and interest.

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