Ashlar pattern paving suits both traditional and modern designs.

Ashlar pattern paving suits both traditional and modern designs.

Clever paving design can transform the look and feel of a garden, and it can also control the way you use the outdoors. Paving adds horizontal structure and space to a garden. It helps define views and forms a balance between softer elements, such as plants, and the more defined structure of your house.

The way you design the paving can control the way you interact with the garden.

''Stretcher-bond'' is the most common paving pattern and is laid the same as bricks in a wall; each brick or paver overlaps the next. The degree of overlap can vary for design detail. Stretcher-bond provides strength, particularly where a driveway may have a substantial slope. Stretcher-bond also helps disguise continuous grout lines if you run the laying pattern across the line of view.

''Basket weave'' is a favourite that is simple to lay, and adds a textural component that helps make paved areas look larger and more relaxed. Basket weave is comprised of bricks or rectangular pavers laid in pairs, alternating at 90 degrees.

''Herringbone'' involves laying two bricks or rectangular pavers in an ''L'' shape and continuing the pattern. This pattern can be laid on a 90-degree or 45-degree format and will involve much planning and cutting.

''Crazy paving'' is used for random pieces of stone. Some stone might be more angular in shape, giving a sharper, more defined look; rounded shapes give a softer feel to the garden. Larger grout gaps will increase the dominance of the grout and tighter grout gaps will let the stone take prominence. Crazy paving takes skill and also involves a lot of cutting. Because of this, laying costs tend to be at the higher end.

''Ashlar pattern'' has been adapted from a walling pattern commonly used in stonework and is now a popular way of laying pavers. A mix of square and rectangular pieces of stone are configured into a random pattern. Ashlar paving fits with traditional and modern designs, with the benefit being that there are no continuous grout lines in any direction, making the finished paving ideal for large expanses.

Combining materials and patterns can create endless possibilities when it comes to paving design and, done well, it will add detail and emotion to an otherwise bland area.