A beautiful outdoor space in our home makes our lives richer and increases the pleasure we derive from our home. However, even though the majority of San Diego homes have generous yards and outdoor spaces, not all of them show their full potential. A San Diego landscaping project could make a world of difference to the appeal and charm of your home, but you have to get through a lot of design decisions. We have been in this business since 2009, but our experience reaches much further. We are fully aware of the complexity of San Diego landscaping, so in this post we will cover one stage of such a project, and that is – choosing the perfect paver colors. Here is what you should consider.
How big is the area and what is it used for?
If you have a yard that is on the smaller side, light-colored pavers would make it seem bigger. Darker colors don’t have this visual effect. It’s the same principle like when we choose darker shades of jeans to appear slimmer. On the other hand, if you have a large outdoor space, a light-colored patio could feel overwhelming. Then you could think about some color variation, to balance the effect.
Before you pave an area in a certain color, you should also consider what its function is, so that the maintenance and functionality are not compromised. For example, pavers that go around the pool are best if they are in lighter shades because they will absorb less sunshine and go easier on bare feet. A driveway, on the other hand, will do better with dark colored pavers, because tire marks and oil spills will be less visible.
Multicolored pavers are a wise choice for family homes with children and those who like outdoor parties and barbecues. Stains of various nature will be less noticeable on a surface with a color variation. The same goes for bird droppings.
What is it you want to achieve?
If you want to visually single out the entertaining or lounging area, you can achieve that with one-color pavers or a two color combination in which the second color is used for delineating the edges.
If you want the landscape to take the spotlight, a darker-colored patio will ensure the paved area takes a back seat and blends into the environment.
On the note of variation, you should take into account that even uniform-color choices can have some variation. This especially applies to tumbled and rugged pavers that have a relief, resulting in minute shadows.
How much sunshine does the area get?
If you are thinking of paving an area that gets many hours of direct sunshine, you should bear in mind that darker-colored pavers tend to fade in the sun. In any case, consult experienced and knowledgeable San Diego landscaping contractors for advice and thoughts – after all, every yard and home are unique.
What will you connect the colors to?
When you do paving in your outdoor area, you want to choose colors that will strike a sense of unity between your home and yard. A basic way to do that is to go for color and hues that are one shade lighter or darker than the home exterior. It’s not generally advisable to use the exact same color.
Continuity can be achieved in a number of other ways. You can choose a multicolored paver that has color streaks which reflect your home’s exterior.
You shouldn’t be afraid to try combinations which complement each other. Those are red and green and blue and orange, for example – in other words, those are the colors that are opposite each on the color wheel. You can use a combination of complementary colors for the pavers, or choose one color which is complementary to the color of your home exterior.
Can you make the colors work through minor changes?
When you are browsing paver samples, sometimes you kind of fall in love with a certain color that might not produce a continuous effect with the décor you have going in and on your home. However, it might be possible to change some details on your home to make your choice work. For example, you can change the color of the window shutters or blinds, or you can repaint the front door, the roof or the rain gutters. You could even change the plants and flowers you have in the garden to tie in the color of the new pavers.
San Diego landscaping is our forte
The most important thing for your project is to have a reliable, experienced and knowledgeable contractor on your side; someone who will listen to your wishes, but also provide valuable insights and feedback. Ralco Landscaping & Maintenance offers a full range of landscaping services to home and business owners in the greater area of San Diego. We insist on streamlining every project by working with a team of seasoned professionals who are highly skilled in their area. Call us at (888) 540-4483 to get a free quote and to get answers to all your questions and concerns. We’d love to hear from you – call us today!
