How Slate Can Create a Stunning Effect in Your Garden
Non-slippy, durable and effortlessly modern, this versatile stone brings instant appeal to outside spaces
Julie Butterworth
9 May 2018
Houzz Contributor and homes, architecture and property journalist. I work on a range of homes websites and edit commercial and editorial digital content at the Royal Institute of British Architects Journal. I have managed subbing departments at magazines Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home and web content teams for Time Inc UK’s Homes Network.
Houzz Contributor and homes, architecture and property journalist. I work on a range... More
Slate looks good for a lifetime, whether it’s honed, brushed or riven. Use it to bring a sense of style to outdoor dining areas, zone a space, or mark a transition from inside to out. Choose regular or mixed-sized slabs, paddlestones or decorative chippings and make the most of its versatility on steps, wall facings, garden features and paths. If your budget is tight, confine it to a small but prominent area – or use a lookalike.
.
.
Be bold with boundaries
Separate lawn from patio with a square, hard-edged border. In a smaller space, simple rectangles of patio, lawn, fence and hedging are great for creating an orderly design that’s relaxing and easy on the eye.
To prevent the space looking too square-edged, however, use planting to introduce some softer shapes and pleasing curves.
Separate lawn from patio with a square, hard-edged border. In a smaller space, simple rectangles of patio, lawn, fence and hedging are great for creating an orderly design that’s relaxing and easy on the eye.
To prevent the space looking too square-edged, however, use planting to introduce some softer shapes and pleasing curves.
Insert planting
Set a border into slate paving to break up a patio. Use the footprint of your property to guide the way, making use of sharp angles and boundaries. Here, the designers have kept the planting firmly confined to the beds, with no foliage hanging over, to ensure the clean lines of the slate paving aren’t broken.
Set a border into slate paving to break up a patio. Use the footprint of your property to guide the way, making use of sharp angles and boundaries. Here, the designers have kept the planting firmly confined to the beds, with no foliage hanging over, to ensure the clean lines of the slate paving aren’t broken.
Match inside to out
To merge the boundaries between inside and out, use the same slate for the interior flooring and the patio. This will help to fully integrate your kitchen and garden designs.
Look for tiles that are generally darker toned, but with a mottled mix of shades, as they’re less likely to show footprints tramping into the kitchen from the garden.
To merge the boundaries between inside and out, use the same slate for the interior flooring and the patio. This will help to fully integrate your kitchen and garden designs.
Look for tiles that are generally darker toned, but with a mottled mix of shades, as they’re less likely to show footprints tramping into the kitchen from the garden.
Make a courtyard in the sky
Turn a balcony into a patio with paving. This uncovered outside space uses a mix of white and gentle greys, including Welsh slate, for a soft-touch coastal feel that’s fresh, appealing and a perfect fit with the interior. So much prettier than artificial turf!
Find stone and paving suppliers and fitters in your area
Turn a balcony into a patio with paving. This uncovered outside space uses a mix of white and gentle greys, including Welsh slate, for a soft-touch coastal feel that’s fresh, appealing and a perfect fit with the interior. So much prettier than artificial turf!
Find stone and paving suppliers and fitters in your area
Find an angle
Let the beauty of slate shine through with a mix of patio and stepping-stone features. Use lines and diagonals to draw the eye and make the most of the stone’s inky and reflective qualities when wet.
In this compact walled garden, Nero riven slate works wonders with coloured aggregate, brilliant white planters and potted shrubbery as accents.
Let the beauty of slate shine through with a mix of patio and stepping-stone features. Use lines and diagonals to draw the eye and make the most of the stone’s inky and reflective qualities when wet.
In this compact walled garden, Nero riven slate works wonders with coloured aggregate, brilliant white planters and potted shrubbery as accents.
Coordinate those greys
Fully integrate a home design by matching rear wall facings or paintwork to a slate patio. Here, the owners have picked wooden furniture with a slight grey hue, too, to add another layer of the colour.
If all that grey is a bit too much, break it up a little by adding natural colour with potted plants and boundary hedging.
Shop for outdoor plant pots and planters on Houzz
Fully integrate a home design by matching rear wall facings or paintwork to a slate patio. Here, the owners have picked wooden furniture with a slight grey hue, too, to add another layer of the colour.
If all that grey is a bit too much, break it up a little by adding natural colour with potted plants and boundary hedging.
Shop for outdoor plant pots and planters on Houzz
Add a hint of slate
If you lack the space or budget for a traditional patio, use slate tiles to clad a garden feature instead. These raised railway sleeper pools have been topped with slate, bringing an Eastern, contemplative feel to the outside space. Subtle planting and a mix of paving and aggregates add character.
If you lack the space or budget for a traditional patio, use slate tiles to clad a garden feature instead. These raised railway sleeper pools have been topped with slate, bringing an Eastern, contemplative feel to the outside space. Subtle planting and a mix of paving and aggregates add character.
Bring in copper notes
Mix materials, sizes, patterns and shades for an outdoor space full of interest. The owners of this low-level patio have used multi-sized midnight blue slate tiles laid cottage-style for the main patio; single-sized granite slabs laid square for the steps and wall copings, and copper dry stack walling to clad the step risers.
They’ve completed the look with galvanised planters and red oxide furniture, fencing and accessories to add warmth without cluttering the calm design.
Should you paint your garden fence black?
Mix materials, sizes, patterns and shades for an outdoor space full of interest. The owners of this low-level patio have used multi-sized midnight blue slate tiles laid cottage-style for the main patio; single-sized granite slabs laid square for the steps and wall copings, and copper dry stack walling to clad the step risers.
They’ve completed the look with galvanised planters and red oxide furniture, fencing and accessories to add warmth without cluttering the calm design.
Should you paint your garden fence black?
Go for chippings
Here, the designers have created a secluded patio with a covered, decked seating area bordered by a pathway of slate chippings. The chippings add visual texture and a satisfying crunch to the sounds of the garden.
Here, the designers have created a secluded patio with a covered, decked seating area bordered by a pathway of slate chippings. The chippings add visual texture and a satisfying crunch to the sounds of the garden.
Segregate seating
If you love the look of slate, but are on a tighter budget, black limestone can be treated with an intensifying sealant to make it darker, providing a slate look for less.
Use alongside a contrasting material to mark out a lounging area. In this small garden, a timber deck forms the main walkway and dining space, while the stone makes the seating area special.
If you want to demarcate a zone in your garden further, use a drop in level and ‘room-divider’ raised planters to separate the areas.
Tell us…
What are your top tips for creating a beautiful slate patio? Share your experiences in the Comments section.
If you love the look of slate, but are on a tighter budget, black limestone can be treated with an intensifying sealant to make it darker, providing a slate look for less.
Use alongside a contrasting material to mark out a lounging area. In this small garden, a timber deck forms the main walkway and dining space, while the stone makes the seating area special.
If you want to demarcate a zone in your garden further, use a drop in level and ‘room-divider’ raised planters to separate the areas.
Tell us…
What are your top tips for creating a beautiful slate patio? Share your experiences in the Comments section.
Related Stories
Gardening
How Do I Create a Drought-tolerant Garden?
By Kate Burt
As summers heat up, plants that need less water are increasingly desirable. Luckily, there are lots of beautiful options
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
5 Inspiring Before and After Garden Transformations
Check out what a difference designers have made to these once dull plots, visually expanding spaces and creating privacy
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
How to Disguise Rubbish and Recycling Bins Outside Your Home
Need to hide unsightly bins in your garden or driveway? Take a look at these clever ideas for inspiration
Full Story
Garden Tours
Garden Tour: A Bare Roof Terrace Becomes a Pretty, Sociable Space
By Kate Burt
A retired couple got help transforming their large rooftop into a gorgeous, welcoming, multi-functional retreat
Full Story
Garden Planning
Can I Have a Lawn-free Garden That’s Kind to the Environment?
Try these tips to help you plan a garden without grass that’s still leafy and eco-friendly
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
7 Things People Don’t Tell You About Designing a Garden
Uncover some of the more surprising elements of planning a garden redesign
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
9 Ways to Create a More Sustainable Garden
Simple, effective ideas for reducing your environmental footprint and creating a beautiful garden
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
18 Soul-soothing Green Roofs
By Kate Burt
Whether you choose sedum, wildflowers, or a mix, a living roof can be a beautiful and biodiverse addition to your home
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
9 Ways to Enjoy Colour in Your Garden All Year Round
By Kate Burt
However your garden grows, you can add colour with hardscaping, furniture and accessories
Full Story
Garden Planning
How to Identify Your Garden Design Style
Before starting an outdoor renovation, take the time to determine which garden style suits your taste and site
Full Story
Yes, I have avoided it for patios, thinking I would not like to look out at the blackness on dark days, but the examples of a smaller slate area further into the garden were very attractive.
Slate is a lovely contemporary option for External Patios,
and we often recommended it to our Client's.
Complimentary Slate components go lovely with it also, such as the Slate
Walling and Slate Chippings. It’s also easy to match with other Natural Stone's, when aiming for a bit of
variation with in the garden
Due to its array of finishes, it’s not solely confined to the
contemporary look. The riven finish is
perfect for a traditional look, or a more countrified setting.
A number of our client’s like to use it for step way areas,
and bullnose the edges. This gives the
edge of the slate a flattering finish and softens the look somewhat.
The fact, that it can be used both externally and internally
is a definite plus-point, and creates that seamless flow between outdoors, and
in. Hard-wearing also, it matches up to
the rigours that both uses present.
Coming from a major slate producing area (North Wales) I'd like to point out that slate was traditionally used for pantry shelves because of its inherent coldness. Visit the underground slate mine in Blaenau Ffestiniog and feel the coldness seeping out of the mountain! As flooring it is extraordinarily cold under foot, hence its wide use in dairies and farmhouse kitchens. However the surface can heat significantly in direct sun - just feel any slate step or windowsill on a sunny day. Polished slate is usually extremely slippery when wet. It scratches easily, so dragging across furniture can soon spoil the surface. Corners and edges are liable to chipping and breakage, in addition to lamination, which will cause edges to lose their sharpness. Sour milk was traditionally used to clean and polish slate floors and doorsteps because the fat gave a shine, hence fat can mark slate, leaving unsightly splashes and spots around eating and BBQ areas. Slate chippings are not comfortable to walk across barefoot. Cleaning the front step was one of my childhood chores. First scrubbed with soap and water, then rinsed and dried, finally polished with sour milk. Along with polishing four pairs of shoes and whiting my pumps, it took me most of each Saturday morning. I therefore wonder what effort would be needed to keep a whole patio area looking as attractive as those shown in the article?
Additional note: be aware Welsh slate is the hardest and will last longest. Be careful of imported slate, usually from Spain or China. Chinese slate is the cheapest but equally inferior in quality and laminates/chips easily in my experience. The carbon footprint is colossal!