It's a question that divides opinion. Some say large format paving makes small areas feel larger. Others say small paving slabs, or even setts, increase the sense of space because they're in proportion. Take a look at how this design solved the problem.

Heah sawn sandstone paving slabs for a small garden, laid by Jardin Landscapes, to create a courtyard.
Heath sawn sandstone in three sizes gives this courtyard a relaxed feel and a heritage look. Image: Jardin Landscapes.

Paving a courtyard

The project involved renovating the back yard of an old coach house in Bromley, Kent. The owners, a retired professional couple, hated the existing 1970s patio so much, they didn't feel able to use it.

They turned to James Morris of Jardin Landscapes for small courtyard paving ideas. “It's a building you'd never know was there if you weren't going there,” he said. “All around are modern and mock Tudor housing. This had ironstone cobbles in the driveway where the horses came in, put down because they're so hard they wouldn't get chipped by the horseshoes.”

Choice of paving

So, the paving needed to be in keeping with the feel of the building. James chose Heath sawn sandstone. The mellow grey with hints of brown suited the older property, and offered a similar feel to Yorkstone at a more economical price. If you're looking for a modern feel, you might like porcelain paving for small spaces.

The borders were already in place, so apart from replacing the shed, the main work was laying the stone. James chose three sizes of paving slab laid in a random sequence. “It's a matter of personal taste,” he said, “but if you put very large format paving in a small space you end up with hard standing with a few lines on it and it lacks visual interest. If you use small paving, it looks busy.”

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The randomly laid sizes mean that continuous lines of jointing are disguised and don't draw the eye to the garden boundaries. Picture by Jardin Landscapes.

.The slabs are laid with gaps of 5-8 mm. “The gaps are as important as the paving,” added James. The mix of sizes, highlighted by the pointing, means that the linear bond paving pattern doesn't overwhelm the space but creates a relaxed feel in keeping with the age and character of the building. You might also like to consider paving setts for small gardens.

Sealed paving slabs

We recommend sealing sawn slabs before laying, and these were. “It saves staining and picture framing,” said James, “especially on a more porous stone like sandstone.” In a small garden, every inch is likely to receive more use than in a larger space, so sealing is a good way to reduce the need to clean. Given that the couple installed a barbecue soon after, it also means that marks from splashes of fat will be easier to remove.

We don't think anyone could quibble with the result James achieved. For an easy way to recreate the effect of mixed sizes, our project packs provide a mix of four different sizes in a range of popular colours. To check them out, enter "Project packs" in the search box at the top of the page.

Got a long, narrow garden? See how to make it feel wider.

Post updated: April 2023