Using decorative stone to enhance your landscaping design will add a touch of elegance to your outdoor area. Decorative stones are widely used for landscaping design because they are unique and have a timeless beauty that catches the eye. They are durable and long lasting, so they can be used for years. In addition, they are available in a wide variety of colors so you are sure to find the right one for your desired landscaping ideas.
The first thing you need to know is what type of stone you will need for your landscaping project. There are basically two types of stones that you can choose from. These are rock and concrete. Rock includes marble, granite, limestone, slate, travertine, sandstone, quartzite and quarry tiles. Concrete is made of cement and is available in different colors, sizes and designs.
A decorative stone should not be confused with other landscaping stones. These include flagstones, blue stone, field stone, cladding stones, flagstone pavers and flagstone handbags among others. Landscaping stones are usually larger in size. Some of these include river rocks, boulders, ice boulders, beach rocks, sandstone, stream rocks and quartzite boulders. When landscaping design, you should take note that there are specific types for specific situations like rough or smooth surfaces, sloping or not, and different use.
When picking a decorative stone, make sure it is of good quality. There are lots of designs and stones available but the best ones are the ones that are made of real rocks. Real rocks are the ones that are hard and cannot be broken easily. The texture and the color of the rock should also match with the landscaping design that you have in mind. There are some landscaping ideas wherein you do not need to put in concrete as the ground for the patio.
There are also several colors and textures that you can choose from. For instance, if you are planning to make your patio shaded, opt to choose a matte finish stone. Another option is to use a boulder instead of having the landscaping design that is a round shape. There are also choices depending on your budget and the space that you have.
You may want to have a stone landscaping design that is circular or quadrangular. It can either be designed as an island in your yard or a border along the sides of your patio. There are large and small-sized stones that you can choose from. One thing that you have to keep in mind is the amount of time you will be able to spend in cleaning up your patio when you use stones. Cleaning your patio with stones may not be as convenient as cleaning up with soap and water especially if you have a bigger patio.
Aside from using decorative stone for patio, you may want to use other materials that would go with your stones. For instance, you can use brick, concrete, sandstone or limestone for the walls of your home. Stones may also be used to line the walkways outside your house. It would depend on your budget and what would complement your stones best.
You can create your own landscaping design by using different materials for your stones. It would just need some planning and research before you can build your dream stone patio. You can also check out several landscaping magazines for more options on how to use decorative stones for patio. Make sure that you are investing on the right kind of stones for your home. It would be best to check on the Internet for the different kinds of stones available.