Paving is a great way to transform a bland, featureless area into something more beautiful and functional. Bunnings National Landscape Buyer Katrina shares some ideas on how you can improve your outdoors with paving.
“With the right colour, texture and pattern combination, you can create a stunning outdoor space that can also become an extra living area, especially during the warmer months,” says Katrina.
Before you start, look online, on social media or in magazines to find some inspiration. Once you have some ideas on what you like, it’s time to start planning your space.
Plan and prepare your outdoor space
You may have a particular location for your new outdoor space in mind already. So now it’s just a matter of making sure that space works. Keep in mind things like soil depth and density; you’ll need to dig down 15cm to 20cm and it needs to be free of obstructions like vegetation and tree roots. You’ll then need to level the area and install a tightly compacted gravel base.
Choose your paver
There's no shortage of colours, shapes, textures and materials to choose from when it comes to outdoor pavers. From natural stone and cement, to ceramic, brick, and more. Things to consider are durability and maintenance, suitability for the area (i.e. non-slip for near pools) and of course, choosing a colour that'll complement your home and surroundings. Head into your local Bunnings for helpful advice on this and to see the huge range of pavers available.
Lay your pavers
The great thing about paving is that it’s not a hard D.I.Y. project to undertake. Just make sure you follow a few simple rules like ensuring your pavers are laid straight and level, also making sure there’s a 5mm gap between each one. Once laid, it’s best to wait 24 hours before walking on your new pavers. Check out our helpful how-to video for a step-by-step guide on how to lay pavers.
Paving is an easy, attractive and low maintenance way to transform your outdoor space, create a pathway or even install a driveway.
More ideas for your backyard and garden
We've got plenty more landscaping and paving ideas to help you transform your outdoor areas.