Map how people move
Mark doors, gates and routes before choosing a pattern. The main walking line should remain clear when chairs are pulled out or garden pots are in place.
Measure furniture and allow room to move around it. The paving pattern can reinforce a route or visually define a seating area without adding a physical barrier.
Choose a format that fits the footprint
Compare paver dimensions with the courtyard’s width and length. A balanced layout avoids awkward slivers at walls and can reduce the number of cuts around posts or drains.
Use a sketch or dry layout to test orientation and border details. Rectangular formats can guide the eye along a narrow courtyard; square formats can give a compact area a more even rhythm.
Coordinate planting and drainage
Decide where garden beds, downpipes and surface drains sit. Paving should meet these elements cleanly, and the installer should confirm falls and drainage before work begins.
Compare samples beside the building and planting palette, then explore [available paver sizes and finishes](/our-products/).