07 Jun 2023
Modern Outdoor Trends: Minimalist Designs and Finishes
There is nothing quite like enjoying a delightful meal under the open sky in the company of family and friends. Whether you’re throwing a party for a bunch of close friends or relishing a casual barbeque night with your family, Sydney’s welcoming weather sets up a stunning ambience to create beautiful memories. And to top it all your patio or alfresco can provide an amazing backdrop for these picture-perfect moments. So, having a stylish yet welcoming outdoor dining space is the key. Many elements are involved in designing a perfect outdoor space but one that plays a crucial role is your choice of outdoor pavers.
As the global design industry continually evolves, there’s been a strong inclination towards minimalist design and sleek finishes. Sydney’s modern trends focus on simplicity and clean layouts.
Whether you’re thinking of giving a complete makeover to your space or just upgrading a specific portion of your outdoor area, integrating simple and stunning outdoor paver designs can restyle your space into a contemporary oasis.
In this blog post, we'll explore the outdoor paver trends in Sydney, highlighting the pavers that beautifully adapt to its changing weather. We’ll also explore some inspiring ideas to enhance outdoor dining spaces and include maintenance tips.
Let’s begin with Sydney’s current favourite outdoor paving trends that are transforming outdoor areas into inviting and minimalist retreats.
- Smooth finish for a sophisticated look
- Modern & minimalist designs
- Create a seamless look
- Monotone look with neutral colour tones
- Blending the outdoors with the indoors
Smooth surfaces and neat textures are significant attributes of modern outdoor paver trends in Sydney. Pavers with Honed finishes bring a sophisticated appeal to your space and add a touch of modernity to any outdoor area. These finishes not only elevate the visual aesthetics but also offer other benefits like ease of maintenance and stain resistance. Silver Travertine outdoor pavers, for example, provide a sleek and stunning surface to your patio and alfresco areas and a grand look to your balconies.
Modern outdoor paver trends are all about clean lines and clutter-free designs. Minimalism is focused on using fewer elements and keeping it simple. This look can easily be achieved by using large-format pavers in square or rectangular spaces or clean geometric shapes. Go for neutral colour tones such as grey, beige, cream or white to bring calm and minimalist vibes to your space.
This modern design layout using large pavers is quite popular in the outdoor design scene and is suitable to highlight expansive balconies, sprawling patios and pool decks. Oversized outdoor pavers when placed in an endless format create a seamless look for your spaces while adding a sense of grandness and panache. These oversized pavers create a uniform look, enhancing the visual impact of your beautiful outdoors.
If you have a beautiful landscape surrounding your patio, alfresco or backyard it’s obvious that you would want to highlight it. A simple way of doing it is to go for an understated monotone look. Shades of grey, white and black are usually preferred to achieve this look and maintain a cohesive design scheme. These neutral hues when used as pavers allow other design elements such as outdoor furniture, dining table, plants, flowers or water features to stand out and make a stunning statement.
Doing away with the boundaries between your indoor and outdoor living spaces is another modern outdoor paver trend. It’s popularly called bringing the outdoors inside. Expanding the same paver style or material from indoor spaces to outdoor areas creates a harmonious flow and a sense of continuity. It’s very common to have an alfresco dining area or an extended patio set up, so blurring the differences between these two enhances the overall design cohesion and gives the impression of a seamless extended living area.
When it comes to choosing outdoor pavers, in addition to what’s trending another important thing to consider is Sydney’ changing weather patterns. From sunny summers to mild winters to everything in between, one should look for a paver that adapts well to the climate all year round.
Pavers that adapt well to changing climate
- Heat-bearing pavers for summer
- Water-sustaining pavers for rainy seasons
- Penetrable pavers for supporting drainage
- Temperature regulating pavers for winter
Summers can get uncomfortable, with extreme temperatures and prolonged sun exposure. When selecting outdoor pavers, opt for a material that can bear the heat. If you’re going for natural stone consider Travertine, along with its timeless design it can absorb and dispel heat. It has a cool underfoot and gives a comfortable barefoot walking experience outdoors. That makes it perfect to use as a garden pavers as well. Isn’t it?
Your outdoor surfaces can get slippers, especially during the rain. To maintain safety and prevent slips and falls, choose a paver with a secure grip on the ground. Coarse or grainy surfaces, like those found on Sandstone, offer exceptional slip-safe features and better traction even when the pavers are wet. No wonder Himalayan Sandstone and Teakwood Sandstone are popular choices for pool areas and other outdoor living spaces such as patios, courtyards and walkways.
Sydney experiences episodes of heavy rainfall, which can lead to water pooling in outdoor areas. To ease this issue and prevent your outdoor surfaces consider using porous or penetrable pavers that allow water to pass through the paver itself. This aids effective drainage and helps prevent puddles, keeping your outdoor area dry and the surfaces safe.
During the cool winter months, people tend to spend a lot on heating systems. How about installing outdoor pavers that can trap heat in the winter and cool in the summer? Limestone and sandstone both provide thermal insulation properties offering a comfortable living experience all year around and saving on energy consumption.
From warm and earthy tones for a cosy winter to cool and contemporary finishes for a refreshing summer, the design possibilities are vast with outdoor pavers, allowing you to create an outdoor space that suits every season.
Outdoor paver ideas for enhancing Sydney's outdoor dining spaces
Hosting outdoor parties and family gatherings is a thing in Sydney. Outdoor pavers can play a big role in making your outdoor spaces party ready! Let’s explore some inspiring paver themes specifically suited for outdoor entertaining and dining spaces.
- Refined Elegance with Travertine
- Seaside Charm with Bluestone
- Rustic Charm with Sandstone
- Modern Simplicity with Limestone
- Luxuriously chic with Marble
For a touch of timeless elegance, consider using Travertine pavers for your alfresco or patio dining areas. The warm beige tones of Classic Travertine create a sophisticated ambience, and its natural texture adds character. Pair it with contemporary outdoor furniture for a modern look or go for wrought iron pieces for a more classic vibe.
The look of the seaside can be effortlessly reflected in your outdoor dining space with Bluestone outdoor pavers. The cool blue-grey tones and natural texture of Bluestone create a relaxing and serene atmosphere. Complement the pavers with a coastal-themed decor, such as white furniture with blue cushions or sea-inspired accessories, to complete the charm.
Capture the rustic charm of a countryside courtyard by using Sandstone outdoor pavers for your alfresco dining area. The warm earthy tones and sand-like texture pleasantly blend with your outdoor landscape and create a cosy and inviting space. Pair it with wooden furniture, vibrant fabrics and potted plants to evoke a warm and welcoming ambience.
For a smooth and contemporary look, choose Limestone pavers in your outdoor dining space. These pavers offer a clean and minimalist aesthetic that can easily complement various design styles. To add a style statement, experiment with different shapes and sizes of Limestone pavers, or lay them in interesting layouts such as French patterns and Crazing Paving style.
If you're seeking to create a luxurious look for your alfresco dining area, Marble pavers are an excellent choice. Available in stunning colours, with an intricate veining pattern, marble pavers can exude a lavish vibe while offering enhanced durability and long-lasting beauty. Create a seamless flow by extending the same Marble pavers from your outdoor dining space into your living spaces or your other outdoor areas such as the pool, patio and corridors.
Outdoor pavers add long-lasting aesthetics to your space in numerous ways, so, it is important to follow some simple and quick maintenance tips to keep them in their best condition:
- Use a broom to sweep away debris and leaves regularly.
- Be prompt in cleaning spills to prevent staining, the sooner the better.
- Use a hose to wash the pavers and scrub with a mild pH-neutral cleaner periodically to prevent dirt getting accumulated.
- A sealant application is a must. Choose a sealant, depending on your paver type to protect against weathering and to get enhanced longevity.
- Reapply the sealer every two years or sooner depending on the use of your space. It will help to create a protective coating against moisture, sun damage and staining as well as keep your pavers in top condition in all seasons.
Let’s sum it up! With the right choice of outdoor pavers, you can create a captivating and functional outdoor dining space and make the most of the beautiful Sydney weather. Whether you prefer the elegance of Travertine, the rustic vibe of Sandstone or the modern simplicity of Limestone, there’s a paver option to suit every style and preference. So, wait no more, enhance your outdoor entertaining experience by incorporating these pavers and create the perfect backdrop for a vibrant set-up.
You can reach out to our stone experts to understand the outdoor paver options and the distinct looks you can achieve with them.
*Disclaimer: All information and advice given above in the blog are to the best of our knowledge. Please reconfirm at your end before execution.
