Permeable paving offers an alternative to concrete or other solid materials you might consider for the walking, relaxing or dining areas in your yard. In fact, some locales may even require it. Choosing a pervious ground material for at least some of your outdoor surfaces can improve your yard’s drainage, percolate stormwater, keep runoff out of storm drains and beautify your space. To get the ideas flowing, check out these 15 spaces on Houzz that feature a variety of permeable paving options.
1. Secluded Retreat
A blend of dry-set flagstones and decomposed granite forms the base of this secluded front yard patio by FormLA Landscaping at a Los Angeles home. The combination allows water to drain into the soil, preventing puddling and providing natural irrigation to the native foliage that encircles the space.
Bands of rock traverse the sloping driveway around the corner of the house and direct runoff into the space and out of storm drains. As a bonus, the rocks create shallow bowls of water for birds and other pollinators.
A blend of dry-set flagstones and decomposed granite forms the base of this secluded front yard patio by FormLA Landscaping at a Los Angeles home. The combination allows water to drain into the soil, preventing puddling and providing natural irrigation to the native foliage that encircles the space.
Bands of rock traverse the sloping driveway around the corner of the house and direct runoff into the space and out of storm drains. As a bonus, the rocks create shallow bowls of water for birds and other pollinators.
2. Cobblestones Revisited
Cleft-stone-style pavers give this Palo Alto, California, driveway European flair, which plays off the home’s historic style. Verdance Landscape Architecture spaced the pavers to allow runoff to filter through to the soil, rather than draining to the sidewalk and street (especially beneficial with driveway runoff). The architect carefully considered drainage and permeability throughout the project, as the home lies in a 100-year floodplain.
3. Modern Shades of Gray
A crisp rectangle of gray gravel defines a fire pit area at this contemporary Salt Lake City home by DayHouse Studio. The stone color picks up tones used on the house and pergola and sets the space apart from the backyard’s other outdoor rooms. The permeable material helps channel water from the patio and walkway into the soil below, keeping the space tidy, safe and freely draining.
A crisp rectangle of gray gravel defines a fire pit area at this contemporary Salt Lake City home by DayHouse Studio. The stone color picks up tones used on the house and pergola and sets the space apart from the backyard’s other outdoor rooms. The permeable material helps channel water from the patio and walkway into the soil below, keeping the space tidy, safe and freely draining.
4. Planting Between the Lines
Rectangular grass block pavers combine the beauty of a green space with the hardiness of a more solid surface at this Indianapolis home by WERK / Building Modern. The permeable blocks transition to solid pavers under the pergola and patio furniture, with a stepped herringbone pattern smoothly integrating the two materials.
If you’re considering permeable blocks for your own yard, opt for a low-growing grass, as seen here, or a walkable ground cover to minimize maintenance.
Rectangular grass block pavers combine the beauty of a green space with the hardiness of a more solid surface at this Indianapolis home by WERK / Building Modern. The permeable blocks transition to solid pavers under the pergola and patio furniture, with a stepped herringbone pattern smoothly integrating the two materials.
If you’re considering permeable blocks for your own yard, opt for a low-growing grass, as seen here, or a walkable ground cover to minimize maintenance.
5. Woodland Beauty
A meandering path encourages wandering in this Seattle yard. Here, planted pavers connect the deck off a home by RW Anderson Homes and a petite backyard lawn. The naturalistic design features shade-friendly plants and a low-growing ground cover around dry-set pavers, creating the sensation of walking on a woodland path.
A meandering path encourages wandering in this Seattle yard. Here, planted pavers connect the deck off a home by RW Anderson Homes and a petite backyard lawn. The naturalistic design features shade-friendly plants and a low-growing ground cover around dry-set pavers, creating the sensation of walking on a woodland path.
6. Refuge in the City
This gravel-and-brick courtyard by EVM landskab nestled behind a home is a reprieve from the bustling city life of Copenhagen, Denmark. The gravel and dry-laid brick keep the yard drained when the weather is damp. They also provide a graceful transition between the traditional homes and modern outbuilding that serve as the courtyard’s walls.
This gravel-and-brick courtyard by EVM landskab nestled behind a home is a reprieve from the bustling city life of Copenhagen, Denmark. The gravel and dry-laid brick keep the yard drained when the weather is damp. They also provide a graceful transition between the traditional homes and modern outbuilding that serve as the courtyard’s walls.
7. Terraced Destination
A bluestone terrace provides a vantage point for the landscape, designed by Offshoots, at this Brookline, Massachusetts, home. The flagstone’s rustic look provides a pleasing contrast to the more formal appearance of the bluestone on the patio just below. Additionally, the dry-laid stones create a somewhat smooth surface (helpful for mobility and furniture legs) that still encourages more drainage than an impervious slab would.
A bluestone terrace provides a vantage point for the landscape, designed by Offshoots, at this Brookline, Massachusetts, home. The flagstone’s rustic look provides a pleasing contrast to the more formal appearance of the bluestone on the patio just below. Additionally, the dry-laid stones create a somewhat smooth surface (helpful for mobility and furniture legs) that still encourages more drainage than an impervious slab would.
8. Distinct Dining Area
Each outdoor room at this Lutherville, Maryland, home by Pinehurst Landscape has a distinct look and feel, with coordinating colors and materials tying them all together. This alfresco dining area has a naturalistic, European feel, with its rustic gravel base and soft planted borders, while the color of the stone complements the bluestone pavers used in other parts of the yard.
Each outdoor room at this Lutherville, Maryland, home by Pinehurst Landscape has a distinct look and feel, with coordinating colors and materials tying them all together. This alfresco dining area has a naturalistic, European feel, with its rustic gravel base and soft planted borders, while the color of the stone complements the bluestone pavers used in other parts of the yard.
9. Rain Garden Borders
Pervious pavers cover the front courtyard of this tight Seattle lot, improving on-site drainage while also creating space for front yard lounging. The landscape, designed by SJC Studio Landscape Architecture, also features lush planted rain gardens for added stormwater management.
Pervious pavers cover the front courtyard of this tight Seattle lot, improving on-site drainage while also creating space for front yard lounging. The landscape, designed by SJC Studio Landscape Architecture, also features lush planted rain gardens for added stormwater management.
10. Water Management
The casual and rustic look of this Ventura, California, patio by Sweet Smiling Landscapes disguises the crucial role it plays in managing the excess water that used to plague this space. The flagstone-and-gravel mix sits atop a regraded base that funnels water away from the house.
The stone wall hides and reinforces the existing retaining wall, further stopping water from reaching the patio itself. It also doubles as a seating wall, with room behind it for a planting bed.
The casual and rustic look of this Ventura, California, patio by Sweet Smiling Landscapes disguises the crucial role it plays in managing the excess water that used to plague this space. The flagstone-and-gravel mix sits atop a regraded base that funnels water away from the house.
The stone wall hides and reinforces the existing retaining wall, further stopping water from reaching the patio itself. It also doubles as a seating wall, with room behind it for a planting bed.
11. Classic Style
A classic herringbone brick patio is the perfect match for this Cambridgeshire, England, home. Charlie Day Garden Design used a dry-set installation, rather than mortaring between the bricks, to make the surface more permeable. Extensive drainage added below lawn level also helps with on-site drainage.
12. Modern Marvel
Permeable pea gravel adds texture to this sleek contemporary home by Specht Novak Architects in Dallas. Darker colors in the stone ground the outdoor space while still enabling it to blend in with the mostly neutral and monochromatic home and outdoor furnishings.
Permeable pea gravel adds texture to this sleek contemporary home by Specht Novak Architects in Dallas. Darker colors in the stone ground the outdoor space while still enabling it to blend in with the mostly neutral and monochromatic home and outdoor furnishings.
13. Farmhouse Chic
An expansive gravel patio enhances the farmhouse style of this historic Ojai, California, home by Sol Haus Design. The golden stone has an almost sand-like appearance, beautifully contrasting the white wood siding and complementing the warm wood furniture pieces. Stone found on-site forms the patios and paths surrounding the open area, and serves as a barrier for the gravel between the yard and home.
An expansive gravel patio enhances the farmhouse style of this historic Ojai, California, home by Sol Haus Design. The golden stone has an almost sand-like appearance, beautifully contrasting the white wood siding and complementing the warm wood furniture pieces. Stone found on-site forms the patios and paths surrounding the open area, and serves as a barrier for the gravel between the yard and home.
14. Sense of Flow
Dry-laid pavers on top of a thick gravel base replace an old paved driveway at this home in the Washington, D.C., area, as part of the homeowners’ desire for a more environmentally friendly yard. Landscape designer Cathy Carr of GreenHeart used the same material along the side of the home. She then extended the paving to create a dining patio just off the kitchen, creating continuity between the spaces and updating the yard’s overall look.
Dry-laid pavers on top of a thick gravel base replace an old paved driveway at this home in the Washington, D.C., area, as part of the homeowners’ desire for a more environmentally friendly yard. Landscape designer Cathy Carr of GreenHeart used the same material along the side of the home. She then extended the paving to create a dining patio just off the kitchen, creating continuity between the spaces and updating the yard’s overall look.
15. Patchwork Pattern
Irregularly shaped flagstones form a naturalistic patchwork for this front yard patio while allowing water to dissipate, a plus in rainy Seattle. The sunken patio, by Board & Vellum, replaces what had been a mass of impervious concrete and now features a built-in bench, lush plantings and a Cor-Ten fire pit and retaining walls.
Irregularly shaped flagstones form a naturalistic patchwork for this front yard patio while allowing water to dissipate, a plus in rainy Seattle. The sunken patio, by Board & Vellum, replaces what had been a mass of impervious concrete and now features a built-in bench, lush plantings and a Cor-Ten fire pit and retaining walls.
Content provided by Marianne Lipanovich at Houzz.com
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