As landscaping trends move away from manicured, minimalist and formal styles towards something more rambling and whimsical, crazy pavers (also known as flagstone pavers) are gaining ground.
Unlike pavers that are uniform in size and shape, crazy paving refers to stone that is cut in irregular, asymmetrical pieces and laid in a mosaic-like fashion. The concept of flagstone paving was born out of a desire to use up otherwise wasted off cuts and broken pieces during the installation of larger cut stone and outdoor pavers.
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Award-winning landscape and interior designer Adam Robinson is a fan, saying crazy paving “provides a more organic approach to paving. I find it works especially well in areas where we don’t have a lot of room for planting and softness, but you still want an organic garden feel.”
From a simple tidy up in a small courtyard to a full-scale landscaping brief, this method of laying stone is super effective and, depending on your budget, can make a real difference using outdoor pavers to create zones.
Why are crazy pavers so popular?
“The natural texture as well as the colour and size variations make crazy paving an extremely versatile flooring option that is suitable for almost any application,” says Eco Outdoor marketing manager Rebecca Fox.
“The format allows for movement in a flooring aesthetic that is also a perfect means to visually break open a space. It can be used throughout the external and internal spaces of a home.”
What style of home best suits crazy paving?
With the rise in popularity of mid-century and 1970s home renovations, homeowners are embracing existing crazy pave patterns in outdoor pavers and restoring them with love, resulting in a combination of retro charm and good financial sense.
“If you’ve got a mid-century home, you could absolutely use crazy paving to be sympathetic to the period of architecture, but it also works beautifully in a contemporary space,” says Adam.
The final result doesn’t have to reflect the 1970s either – outdoor pavers laid in this style, “Can create a create a seamless, organic flooring surface that wonderfully complements contemporary, architecture,” says Rebecca.
Choosing a stone for crazy pave
Choosing the right stone is key to a cohesive look. “It comes in many different formats and colours, so to allow it to work in your space, use a tone that relates back to the exterior house colours,” suggests Adam.
Popular materials for crazy paving include sandstone, bluestone, limestone, split-stone and slate.
There’s more than just aesthetics to consider here, however. “Consider where the product will be used,” says Rebecca. In high traffic areas, for example, she recommends selecting a paver with a low slip rating.
Where can you use it?
Because it’s laid in a random pattern, crazy pave lends itself to irregular shapes and pathways just as easily as more formal styles of outdoor paving. “Crazy paving is an ideal choice to bring texture and interest to a project,” says Rebecca. “We’re seeing it used to create a statement around a swimming pool or at the entrance to a home.”
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