Choosing the Right Pavers: Color, Pattern & Style for Your Patio

Once you've decided on pavers over concrete, the fun part begins: choosing the look. With so many colors, shapes, and patterns available, it helps to have a framework. Here's how we guide Spokane-area homeowners through the choices.

Start With Your Home

The best paver choice complements your home's exterior — its siding, stone, trim, and roof. We usually pull a color that echoes an existing tone on the house so the patio feels connected rather than tacked on. Warm earth tones suit most Inland Northwest homes beautifully.

Consider the Paver Shape and Size

Larger-format pavers read modern and clean; smaller cobble-style units feel classic and traditional. Mixing a couple of sizes in a single installation adds visual interest and a custom, high-end look.

Choose a Laying Pattern

The pattern changes the whole feel of a space. Running bond is simple and contemporary; herringbone is strong and traditional (and excellent for driveways because it interlocks under load); basket-weave and modular patterns add texture and detail.

Use Borders and Accents

A contrasting border, or "soldier course," frames the patio and gives it a finished, intentional edge. Accent bands and inlays let you define zones — like a dining area versus a lounge area — within one continuous space.

Think About Texture and Finish

Smooth, tumbled, and textured finishes each wear and feel differently underfoot. For pool decks and high-traffic areas we lean toward slip-resistant textures; for a refined patio, a tumbled antique finish adds character.

Don't Forget the Base

None of it matters if the base isn't built for our climate. Great-looking pavers over a poor base heave and shift after one winter. Color and pattern are the finish — proper excavation, compacted crushed rock, and edge restraints are what make it last.

See Samples in Person

Photos only go so far. Contact PNW Lawncare for a free design consultation and we'll bring paver samples to your home so you can see the colors against your house in real light.