A paver patio is more than a hardscape surface. It’s where your family will enjoy summer barbecues, birthday parties, quiet mornings with coffee, and cozy fall evenings under the stars. Choosing the right color palette will enhance your enjoyment: whether your approach is to blend with natural surroundings, make a personal style statement, or evoke treasured travel memories.
The Power of Color
Color is a powerful tool in outdoor design. It has the unique ability to influence mood, create harmony, and define the overall vibe of your patio. Choosing the right color palette isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about crafting an experience.
When considering your palette, it helps to understand the emotional and stylistic impact of warm tones versus cool tones:
- Warm Tones: Think terracotta, sandstone, and golden hues. These colors evoke feelings of warmth, energy, and coziness. They’re perfect for creating inviting spaces that feel lively and approachable. Warm tones often pair beautifully with rustic or Mediterranean-style homes, complementing outdoor features like fire pits and wood accents.
- Cool Tones: Shades like slate gray, soft blues, and greens bring a sense of calm and relaxation. Cool tones are ideal for creating tranquil, spa-like environments. They’re often used in modern or minimalist designs, as they lend a sleek, sophisticated look that pairs well with water features, metal accents, and lush greenery.
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Blending warm and cool tones can also strike a dynamic balance. For instance, you might use warm tones for the main patio area and cool accents in the surrounding landscaping. This approach ensures a cohesive yet visually engaging outdoor space.
By considering the emotional qualities of colors, you can ensure your patio becomes a seamless extension of your home while reflecting your personal style and the purpose of the space.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Color Palette
SurroundingsÂ
Look at your home’s exterior and natural environment. Do you want your patio to blend in or stand out? Neutral tones often harmonize with nature, while bold colors can add visual interest.
Purpose of the SpaceÂ
For entertaining spaces, consider vibrant hues to energize the atmosphere. For a peaceful retreat, softer, calming shades work best.
Lighting
Look at material samples in both natural sunlight and evening lighting to make sure you’re happy with how the lighting affects them.Â
Trending vs. Timeless Color Palettes
Choosing between trendy and timeless palettes doesn’t have to be an either/or decision. Here’s how to strike the perfect balance:
- Trending: Bold choices like deep blues, rich terracottas, and vibrant greens are making waves in outdoor design. These colors create striking, statement-making patios that stand out. In 2025, many homeowners are sunsetting their cool gray palettes and rediscovering earthier tones like 2025’s Pantone color of the year, Mocha Mousse.
- Timeless: Neutral tones and monochromatic schemes offer versatility and lasting appeal. These options never go out of style, ensuring your patio remains elegant for years to come.
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Pro Tip: Start with a timeless base and incorporate trendy accents with accessories like furniture, cushions, or potted plants. This approach keeps your patio fashionable without locking you into a fleeting trend.
Draw Inspiration from Nature and Places Around the World
If you’re planning a new installation or upgrades for your paver patio, let your favorite landscapes or urban environments be your guide when looking for inspiration.Â
Roman Holiday at Home
Warm travertine and earth-toned tile roofs adorn a modern city with old-world roots in Rome, all nestled within its seven lush hills. The aging copper-clad domes throughout the city add a pop of coolness to the urban landscape.

Our clients at this property didn’t stop at the color palette with a pop in bringing the wonders of Rome to their backyard. The Belgard Mega-Arbel patio with accents in Brittany Beige evokes the warm limestone of Rome’s iconic cityscape. Complete with a bocce court, this outdoor space is the ideal backdrop for making memories with great food and family fun. View the full project here.
Desert Oasis
The deserts of the American Southwest are anything but barren. Red rocks rise from the warm sands, dotted with arid-climate-loving plants against a striking blue sky.

We took inspiration from the variation in layers of desert rock when complimenting the slab style of this patio with accent stones and the red-tinged paver coping from Belgard around the shimmering pool. View the full project here.
Crisp Alpine Air
The cool gray stone of the Austrian Alps is clustered with deep green conifers and crowned with snow, creating a serene atmosphere that’s majestic in its austerity.

A study in neutrals, the sprawling light concrete pavers here are accented by varied gray tones in the pool coping, pool jumping rock, built-in fire pit, and outdoor kitchen. The pool’s interior finish gives the water an inky look that builds drama in this outdoor space. View the full project here.
Woodsy Mountain Retreat
The warm timber of a rustic mountain lodge tucked into the majestic rising rocks behind gives a sense of escape, a place to forget pinging notifications and packed calendars.

This sprawling woodland residence gives these homeowners the same feeling, with rustic pavers throughout the outdoor kitchen and dining space, leading down to the spacious built-in fire pit. The rustic aesthetic is complimented by timber accents and xeriscaping throughout the landscaping beds. View the full project here.
Sugary Sands
Just by looking at this photo, you can almost feel the warm sand between your toes as cool surf laps around your ankles. Who wouldn’t want to bring a bit of this sun-kissed paradise into their own backyard?

The light, sandy tones of Belgard Dimensions pavers in Scandina Gray are ringed with accent stones in Black Diamond from the same line, evoking the look of a wave-lapped beach. The coastal colors of the patio are complemented by the aquamarine finish of the in-ground pool’s interior. View the full project here.
Start budgeting your paver patio project.
Are you deep into the research phase for your new or upgraded outdoor patio? Read this guide for tips on what to budget and how pavers compare with alternatives.
Let’s Plan Your Dream Patio
A paver patio can be a big investment, and the right material selection is an important decision that plays a big role in your overall satisfaction with the finished product. The best first step is to invite one of our design experts to your home for a free consultation. We know exactly what questions to ask to create a design that fits your style and your life. All you have to do is fill out a quick form about yourself and your project, and we’ll get the process started!