How Patio Pavers Can Accentuate the Beauty of a Retaining Wall Built in the Harrisburg, PA Area

The most well-designed landscapes are those that are harmonious, where each element works well with the others in an aesthetically pleasing and functional way. If a retaining wall is part of your landscape, it’s important that it works with the pavers you choose. Here’s how patio pavers can accentuate the beauty of a retaining wall built in the Harrisburg, PA area.

Related: Picking Patio Pavers for Rustic Outdoor Living Rooms in Harrisburg PA

Sleek and Modern

If your retaining wall is minimally textured and features large plank-style blocks or if it is completely smooth concrete, then modern pavers will be the best compliment. In many cases, contrasting textures can work amazingly well together but a smooth wall ends up looking its best when paired with smooth pavers. 

If you want a modern look and your retaining wall is textured - for example, if it features a rustic stacked-flagstone veneer - you can still achieve a modern look by using large format square or plank-style pavers with smooth textures. The contrast is absolutely stunning.

Warm and Rustic

Embrace the carefree rustic look with a stacked-flagstone veneer retaining wall and flagstone-inspired pavers. Be careful not to overdo the texture, though, because space could end up being too “rough.” A subtle flagstone texture could be the perfect complement. 

Avoid pairing stacked-flagstone veneer walls with small pavers such as brick; the look could be too busy. 

To complement a brick wall, choose bluestone- or flagstone-inspired pavers. The blue/gray colors will beautifully “tone down” the red. If you’re going for a modern look, choose minimally textured pavers; and choose more textured pavers for a more rustic look.

A tumbled paver could work well with a large format wall veneer that uses large “hand-hewn” stones (real or faux). The large size of the wall units helps balance the tumbled pavers; but if this feels too heavily textured, you could once again use smooth pavers to bring out the textures of the wall without competing with the wall.

Pairing a tumbled paver with tumbled wall units works well too, creating a distinctly Mediterranean look reminiscent of the stone walls and plazas of ancient villages where spending time with family is the main outdoor activity.

Transitional Spaces

Many contemporary homes are a blend of architectural styles, so it can be challenging to decide which style category is best for patio pavers and retaining walls.

The beauty is that you don’t have to decide. As you can see from the examples above, you can combine highly textured rustic walls with sleek modern pavers. What determines whether these combinations lean toward rustic or toward modern? The colors and the style of pavers.

Modern spaces favor neutral to cool tones, while rustic spaces favor warmer tones. With that said, you will get the most satisfying results if you mirror the colors found in the environment. If there are exposed rocks on the property or nearby, choose wall materials and pavers that complement these rocks.

When it comes to paver sizes, opt for a large format if you’re going for a more modern look, and stick to more modestly sized units for a more rustic look. In general, you want to avoid small pavers with small wall units (to prevent a busy look). If you have large wall units, you could choose large pavers for a more expansive look or smaller pavers for a more intimate look.

Related: Choosing Patio Pavers to Match the Aesthetic of Your Home and Hardscape