Choosing the right paver colors will transform your property’s curb appeal and create stunning outdoor living areas when designing your exterior spaces. Luckily, Mother Nature has created a vast spectrum of stone colors for us to choose from that are readily available right under our feet. Thanks to the unique mixtures of minerals that occur when molten magma cools, just about any color of the rainbow can be found. This can make it difficult to decide, depending on your vision – too many options can feel overwhelming, so that’s why we’ve created a guide to help in the selection process. The possibilities for creating your perfect outdoor sanctuary are endless, from warm earth tones to cool greys, dramatic blacks, and bright whites.

Understanding Natural Stone Paver Colors

Natural stone pavers offer timeless beauty and durability while providing a wide range of paver color options to suit any architectural style. They are not manmade in any way – they are just cut from larger blocks down to smaller incremental sizes and finished with a smooth or rough texture by various tools. Learn more about this and other benefits of stone pavers here.

Stones fall into several geological categories, or stone types, each with inherent characteristics that affect the final appearance. Nothing is added in terms of dyes or colorants, so what you see is what you get with the final result, plus, stone pavers will retain their color literally for eternity. Each type of stone brings its own unique patterns and color variations, making every installation truly one-of-a-kind. Let’s first explore the distinct qualities of different natural stone options and how their colors can elevate your outdoor space.

Limestone Paver Colors: Timeless Earth Tones

Limestone pavers have long been cherished for their elegant, earth-toned appearance that seamlessly complements the surrounding landscape. These stones are reminiscent of picturesque European cathedrals and Renaissance architecture with their light yellow, beige and cream hues. They include a harmonious mix of natural earth tones ranging from darker, cooler beiges to brighter, warmer yellows as well as bluish greys. These colors are particularly striking around pools and patios, where the blue colors of the pool water and greens of the plant foliage play off the complementary cream colors of the stone. Limestone patio pavers’ also don’t get hot underfoot during scorching summer days because of their high solar reflectance.

Granite Paver Colors: Durability Meets Design

When it comes to combining exceptional durability with striking aesthetics, granite pavers stand in a class of their own. They possess an incredible density and compact grain structure that makes them practically indestructible under typical wear and tear. They range from black, to varying shades of medium and light gray, brown and white. The look can be homogeneous with the smaller minerals all being a single color, or they can be medium to coarse-grained with larger crystals of varying colors that change appearance depending on how near or far you are from them.

Marble Paver Colors: Luxury in Outdoor Living

Marble pavers bring an unmistakable air of luxury to outdoor spaces because of their milky, blended surface and striking vein patterns. Because they are metamorphic stones they typically have a dominant background color with bands of veining layered over the top. Veins can travel in an ‘all over’ directional movement or they can be more repetitive and linear, all running in one direction. Factors that determine the final vein pattern are again dependent on the clustering of the minerals and how the stone blocks are cut. In the end, the final result will be nothing less than stunning. 

In 1835, an outcropping of white and sparkling marble caught the eye of an Irish stone cutter, Henry T. Fitzsimmons, in the foothills of northern Georgia near the North Carolina border. He began a small quarrying operation shortly thereafter in a town that was aptly named Marble Hill. Not long after this it would become the Georgia Marble Company, and then Polycor. Georgia marble has been used for iconic American architure across the U.S. It is still quarried today, producing some of the finest marble on the planet, and prized for its durability and purity.

Gray Pavers

The classic WOODBURY GRAY™ granite, quarried from Polycor’s Vermont mines in New England, provides an even, medium grey stone with a consistent shading and patterning that works beautifully in any setting. The lightly stippled salt-and-pepper blend of quartz and mica, set against a light background of pale greyish-white, becomes a monochromatic light gray overall when viewed from a distance as they visually fuse together.  

Another popular type of gray paver is STANSTEAD GREY™ granite. Similar to the Woodbury Gray, it is slightly darker in shade and features a tight-grained speckle pattern with a bit larger minerals that are more clustered together. 

Because both of these grey granite pavers don’t lean too far toward any specific hue they are easily paired with any color combination and will not clash or compete with other elements and accents in the surrounding spaces.

Brown Pavers

Brown is a color that embodies the outdoors – it is the color of tree bark, natural wood, and fall foliage. It exudes warmth and gives an inviting, welcoming feel that does not overpower. It also blends well with nature’s surroundings and offers an integrated look. On the darker end of the spectrum is KODIAK BROWN™ granite that has rich, warm undertones and delicate pale flakes. 

In the medium shade of the brown color family lies INDIANA LIMESTONE – MAVISE™ which offers a luxurious blend of chocolate tones accented by, darker brown shells and occasional thin veining. For a more active vein pattern with bold movement look no further than ERAMOSA FLEURI, a striking limestone paver that brings natural warmth and sophistication to any design. CALEDONIA™ granite is another medium-tone brown that brings dynamic interest to driveways and walkways with its mix of varying shades of grey, black and brown. It’s a classic and versatile stone that has been used extensively for large-scale architectural and residential projects across the U.S.

White Pavers

White pavers may seem impractical at first glance, but when it comes to natural stone you can wash away your fears of durability and permanence. Naturally white due to minerals such as calcite, quartz and calcium carbonate, these pavers will stand the test of time. Their resilience can be seen in centuries-old architecture like the Parthenon and even modern buildings like Grande Arch of Paris. Whereas manmade white pavers using synthetic white pigments will discolor, fade and begin yellowing over time, these pavers will remain white for generations.

White marble pavers such as the elegant GEORGIA MARBLE™ – PEARL GREY™ from Polycor’s exclusive Tate, Georgia quarries feature distinctive veining, creating natural artwork in your hardscape. The large calcite crystals and tight, interlocking grain structure produce a marble that is extremely hard-wearing. So much so that it is often used even in cold climates like New York City at the Museum of Modern Art sculpture garden.

Another popular white marble paver is GEORGIA MARBLE™ – WHITE CHEROKEE™ that is also from Georgia, but has more quantity of white overall and lighter grey veining that is less pronounced. It’s an iconic marble that has been used for historic projects like the sculpture of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial and for architectural projects like the Minnesota State Capital.

BETHEL WHITE™ granite is another white paver that offers a bright white backdrop with subtle brown-grey speckling perfect for contemporary designs.

The innovative Mayberry Mist™ takes granite in an exciting new direction, featuring a white background with flowing dark veins that creates movement and visual interest.

Green Pavers

Black Pavers

Looking for something more contemporary? Then consider black pavers like SAINT HENRY BLACK™ and CAMBRIAN BLACK™ that deliver deep, dramatic tones and make a bold statement in modern landscapes. They also work well as accents, borders and inlays when paired with other colors.

For those looking for a bit more movement and pattern in their pavers then AMERICAN MIST™ granite will fit the bill. It is known for its whispy white veining set against a black background that swirls throughout the surface, adding visual interest. 

Beige Pavers

INDIANA LIMESTONE — FOSSIL BEIGE™ offers a light, inviting tone with occasional fossil inclusions that tell a story millions of years in the making. The shells can be darker or lighter, subtle or more pronounced, depending on how they were deposited. For those seeking more variety from paver to paver, the INDIANA LIMESTONE — FULL COLOR BLEND™ includes a “full range” of hues from dark, medium and light beiges as well as cool and warm greys and blue-greys. When installed in a well-blended and balanced mix the final result is a lively mix of colors and shades that delights the senses. 

Each of these beige pavers look great with any variation of blues, greens, reds or red-orange accents.

Choosing Your Perfect Paver Color

The selection of paver colors and styles should be guided by several key considerations that go beyond mere aesthetic preference. Your home’s architectural style plays a crucial role — traditional homes often find their perfect match in classic limestone tones like Indiana Limestone – Fossil Beige™. At the same time, modern architecture can be dramatically enhanced by bold granite options such as Saint Henry Black™. Contemporary designs frequently shine when paired with sophisticated marble choices like Georgia Marble – Pearl Grey™. Your selection of paving stone colors is crucial in defining the space’s character and final effect.

Location and usage should also influence your color selection. Patio paver colors for pool surrounds benefit from lighter tones that remain cooler under the sun. In contrast, driveway paver colors make a striking impression with darker granites that naturally conceal tire marks and melt snow quickly in colder climates. Garden paths and walkways come alive with warm limestone tones that harmonize with the surrounding landscaping. Learn more about stone paver advantages and benefits here.

Making Your Final Selection

Your choice of paver colors will create a lasting impression on your outdoor space. Consider how your selection will complement your overall landscape design, match your home’s architectural style, and your personal taste. Whether you’re drawn to the warm tones of limestone, granite’s visible mineral clusters or marble’s milky elegance, natural stone pavers offer enduring beauty and exceptional performance that will enhance your property for years to come.

Ready to explore natural stone paver colours for your project? Contact a Polycor expert to discuss your options and find the perfect match for your outdoor living space.