Using Colored Pavers in Your Patio Project
So you’ve decided to add a patio
to your landscape design. You want the extra seating, maybe you’ve added a fire pit, and you’re looking forward to having a space in your yard where you and your family can relax. But then comes an essential question: what color should your new patio be?
Luckily for you, patio pavers come in a wide variety of colors, so you’re bound to find something you like. In this post, we’ll look at a few of the most popular options and how to choose the perfect colors.
Color Options
We work with many varieties of patio pavers
here at KG Landscape
, but here are some of our favorites. Who says you have to stick with plain gray or plain red brick?
A patio is an extension of your home, so naturally you want them to complement each other.
One method of choosing paver colors is to opt for a hue that will harmonize with your home, and this can be done by choosing a color a few shades lighter than your home. This way, the patio won’t draw attention away from the house, letting the main attention stay on your house. If your home is blue, for example, consider getting bluestone pavers for your patio. The color isn’t a true blue, per se, but the hues will harmonize nicely.
There are other ways to complement your home’s siding. For example, if the exterior of your home is brick, it’s recommended to stay away from brick patio pavers, as the result can be too much red. Instead, consider gray for your hardscapes. This will help soften the overall look and provides a nice contrast. If your house has wood siding, however, brick pavers help add brightness to the area, again providing contrast.
Some people also recommend matching the paver color to the color of your home’s roof. They wouldn’t have to match exactly, but should be in the same hues if you choose this option.
Warm or Cool?
Whether you choose warm or cool colors for your patio depends on the kind of feel you’re going for.
Warm-colored pavers are those in shades of red, orange, and yellow. These colors tend to make people feel more energized. With this in mind, warm colors could be considered for spaces where you’re planning on doing a lot of entertaining. Warmer colors tend to be a little darker, and can make a space feel smaller or more intimate.
Cool-colored pavers are those in shades of blue, green, and purple. These colors tend to make people feel calmer, so are good for spaces where you’d like to feel more relaxed, even meditative. Cooler colors tend to be a little lighter, and can help make the space feel more expansive
.
Consider Natural Light
How does the sun hit your patio space? Pavers may look different depending on the angle of the sun—this is especially true with pavers that have more textured surfaces (such as the Afton Non-Tumbled above), as the slight variations in height can create shadows that change how the colors look. The color may look different, too, depending on the amount of shade the patio receives. This certainly shouldn’t discourage you from choosing a color you like, but is something to keep in mind. The color variation should be something to embrace and enjoy.
Designs
Don’t be afraid to get creative! Some people like to create a splash with a paver design within their patio or driveway. If you go this route, you can either choose colors that will contrast each other to really pop (like the photo here), or choose colors closer together for a more muted effect (for example, orangeish pavers on a yellowish or light natural background).
Ready to start your patio project? We’d love to help. Give us a call at 763-568-7251 or fill out a quick quote form
today to get started.
The post Using Colored Pavers in Your Patio Project
appeared first on KG Landscape Management.
Plymouth’s clay soil causes soggy lawns, sinking patios, and constant sump pump issues. Learn how smart drainage design fixes it for good.
Minnetonka snow removal done right means safety, efficiency, and property protection—not just plowing. Learn how true winter care works.
Plymouth drainage problems? Fix soggy clay soil and prevent foundation and patio damage with smart drain tile, grading, and discharge solutions.
Edina lawn fertilization: seasonal strategies for lasting color and health. Expert insights on timing, topdressing, and soil care.
Design a Minnetonka outdoor kitchen built for all seasons — cedar, stone, and smart drainage make year-round living effortless.
Medina lawn experts explain how healthy soil—not chemicals—creates lasting weed control through aeration, overseeding, and topdressing.
Medina drainage experts explain how French drains and drain tile systems fix clay soil water issues and prevent muddy lawns and shifting patios.
Edina patio and pool drainage: protect your investment with smart design and precision installation that keeps surfaces beautiful, safe, and stable year-round.
When Pergolas Don’t Last, There’s Always a Reason After nearly two decades of building outdoor spaces across Medina, I’ve seen what happens when pergolas aren’t designed for Minnesota’s conditions. You can spot them a mile away—posts that lean, beams that twist, and concrete pads that have heaved out of level after just a couple of winters. It’s not because homeowners cut corners intentionally. It’s usually because whoever built it didn’t account for what our climate really does to structures that aren’t anchored right. Medina’s heavy clay soil doesn’t drain well. It holds moisture, freezes solid, and then expands like a hydraulic press pushing on everything above it. When pergolas are set on surface-level post bases, that pressure has nowhere to go but up—and the whole thing moves. Even small shifts can cause joints to separate, wood to crack, and hardware to loosen. That’s how a $15,000 structure starts looking tired after a few years instead of standing straight for decades. The truth is, pergolas here aren’t just about shade or looks. They’re about structure, drainage, and how every piece ties into the patio beneath it. A pergola that stands tall through Minnesota winters is built on the same principles as a good foundation—it’s only as strong as what’s underneath it. If you live in Medina and want to enjoy your backyard without worrying about your investment warping or sagging, start with design that respects the environment it’s built in. That means thinking beyond lumber and stain colors. It means understanding soil movement, water management, and the importance of integrating your pergola with the patio below it.
Solutions for Properties in Minnetonka You can always tell a Minnetonka yard that’s fighting its slope. Water doesn’t lie, it finds the weak spots every time. I’ve walked plenty of properties where a backyard starts beautiful in June, but by September, the patio is heaving, the grass near the pool looks like a marsh, and the homeowner is wondering how it got so bad so fast. The truth is, when you’re dealing with rolling terrain and heavy clay soils like we have around Minnetonka, you can’t just move dirt and hope gravity behaves. You need a plan that manages water from the surface all the way down through the subsoil. This is what I’ll walk you through here. You’ll see what actually causes drainage issues on sloped properties, how poor planning leads to cracked patios and shifting pool decks, and the smart drainage systems that can stop those problems for good. Whether you live near Lake Minnetonka or up in the higher ridges closer to Deephaven or Woodland, understanding how your yard sheds water is the difference between a property that lasts and one that’s constantly under repair. The Real Challenge of Sloped Minnetonka Yards Minnetonka is known for its hills, lakefront properties, and mature trees, but all that beauty comes with a set of challenges below the surface. Most of the soil here is dense clay. It holds water like a sponge and drains slowly, which means after every heavy rain, that water looks for a way downhill. If it doesn’t have a proper outlet, it ends up collecting right where you don’t want it, like along your patio, at the base of a retaining wall, or near your pool deck. I see this every season: homeowners trying to solve slope problems with a quick regrade, a layer of rock, or a simple surface drain. Those things might help for a while, but they don’t address what’s really happening underground. Clay soil doesn’t just get wet—it becomes saturated, expanding and contracting with every freeze-thaw cycle. When that happens under a patio or wall, it doesn’t matter how well-built the surface looks. The ground will move, and that movement cracks stone, shifts pavers, and slowly tears apart everything on top. The other challenge with sloped lots is how water interacts with gravity. It accelerates downhill, gaining momentum as it goes. When it hits a flat area like a patio, the water loses speed but not volume, pooling instead of flowing. That’s why I tell clients that “flat spots” on a sloped property are both an opportunity and a responsibility. They’re the best spaces to create usable outdoor areas, but they have to be engineered to handle water movement. I’ve worked on plenty of Minnetonka yards where the backyard has a beautiful view but terrible grading. You can have a perfect slope on paper, but if it directs water toward your house or creates a bowl effect between structures, you’ll end up with soggy soil and standing puddles that never dry. The goal is to move water off and away while keeping the surface level enough for comfort and usability. It’s a fine balance, but when it’s done right, it completely transforms how a property functions.