Options for small gardens – Paving & Aggregates

If you’ve got a property with a small garden, you’ll want it to be an oasis rather than a downtrodden area for storing your bins. You might not think this in the winter months, but when summer hits, your small garden could be your saviour, providing a place to eat, drink and unwind.

A great way to make a small garden more useful and attractive is through paving and aggregates. This month we’re taking a look at the best stones and aggregates, as well as the consideration you should give to certain design aspects.

Popular Paving Stones

Whether you’re thinking of going for Yorkstone or sandstone, both come in shades of creams and greys. Yorkstone is often livelier to look at, while sandstone is a popular option in the UK for economical paving. You can get both these stone types in differing sizes depending on preference.

There are also some slightly more expensive stones such as granite, limestone and basalt – all with their own qualities – so you’ll never be stuck for options when it comes to overhauling your small garden.

Popular Aggregates

If you’re not sure about laying slabs and filling out the space neatly – or even if you want to mix up the style visually by pairing an aggregate with paving – there are plenty of aggregate options. A popular choice for many at the moment, slate chippings are a great way to bring texture and colour to a garden with minimal effort needed to lay them.

Pebbles and small stones rarely go out of fashion, helping to break spaces up and provide edging for areas – filling an entire garden however, even a small one, could end up looking bland as well as being precarious to place garden furniture on.

Other things to consider

Texture – Many people often overlook the need to consider textures. Not only are there aesthetic concerns to be contemplated (matte finishes can feel a tad flat), but you also have to think about how slippery stones could get. Attracting algae, many stones can become hazardous unless they are coated, regularly washed, shawn or naturally slip resistant.

Colour – As mentioned previously, grey and cream are the popular choices and are widely available. But consider purples, blues and reds for a different hue – especially in aggregates – contrasting on what might be slightly tame surroundings, adding a little extra joy to your small pocket of comfort.

Size – Think about the size of the materials you need. A small space is easy to cover with a few large slabs, but this might not break the space up enough and may also prove tricky to fit. Aggregates are more adjustable if you think your garden outline is too varied for laying slabs.

Laying – When it comes to laying the slabs in your garden, do you need to cover the whole area, or just a small portion? You may even want to simply lay a path from one area to another. Have an idea of how you want to lay the stones or aggregates out first, whether it be simple, tessellated or sporadic, and bear in mind the impact this will have on your space.

If you’re converting your small outdoor area from a hovel to a haven, then look no further than Elsons. We stock a range of aggregates, bricks and paving to help you get the job done. Visit our branches in St Albans, Islington or Holloway to find out what we have available or, alternatively, you can give our friendly team a call.