1. Sustainable Paving
While many of us are aiming to keep hard landscaping to a minimum in our gardens, a patio surface is a must if you want somewhere to set up a stable dining table or outdoor sofa. Luckily, it’s possible to create a paved or gravel area that’s both sustainable and perfect for a well-functioning patio.
Consider asking your builder or landscaper to use reclaimed materials, such as flagstones, cobblestones or bricks. Not only will they have a smaller carbon footprint, they’ll have a timeless feel that will contribute to the relaxed mood. Permeable materials, such as gravel and decomposed granite, provide a firm surface for furniture while keeping rainwater on-site. Responsibly sourced wood decking or composite decking made from recycled materials are good options too.
Also think about creating pockets of greenery amid the paving to soften the feel and aid drainage. As long as you have a large enough area to hold furniture legs, some paving stones, bricks or decking boards could be skipped in favor of low-growing plants, such as baby’s tears (Soleirolia soleirolii, USDA zones 9 to 11; find your zone), woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus, zones 5 to 8) or small succulents set into gravel, to bring greenery up close.
Find a landscape designer near you on Houzz
By
/ June 15, 2025 
While many of us are aiming to keep hard landscaping to a minimum in our gardens, a patio surface is a must if you want somewhere to set up a stable dining table or outdoor sofa. Luckily, it’s possible to create a paved or gravel area that’s both sustainable and perfect for a well-functioning patio.
Consider asking your builder or landscaper to use reclaimed materials, such as flagstones, cobblestones or bricks. Not only will they have a smaller carbon footprint, they’ll have a timeless feel that will contribute to the relaxed mood. Permeable materials, such as gravel and decomposed granite, provide a firm surface for furniture while keeping rainwater on-site. Responsibly sourced wood decking or composite decking made from recycled materials are good options too.
Also think about creating pockets of greenery amid the paving to soften the feel and aid drainage. As long as you have a large enough area to hold furniture legs, some paving stones, bricks or decking boards could be skipped in favor of low-growing plants, such as baby’s tears (Soleirolia soleirolii, USDA zones 9 to 11; find your zone), woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus, zones 5 to 8) or small succulents set into gravel, to bring greenery up close.
Find a landscape designer near you on Houzz