Concrete pavers are outpacing flagstone, poured concrete and Saltillo tile when it comes to sales and popularity because they’re easier to install, simple to maintain and come in so many colors, shapes and textures.
About 85 percent of the 700 million square feet of concrete pavers sold every year in the United States are for residential patios, driveways and sidewalks, the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute estimates.
Among the most popular looks:
Cobblestone. Achieve an old-time cobbled look by laying 8-by-8-inch pavers in tan or charcoal. You can buy natural stone pavers or concrete pavers that look like stone.
Brick. Stick with a classic brick-look surface by choosing 8-inch pavers in red or charcoal. Concrete pavers can mimic the look of real brick, or you can buy genuine brick pavers.
Tumbled. For a worn and rustic feel, buy tumbled pavers, which are actually tumbled in a machine to give them an uneven texture that looks worn, bleached-out and even chipped at the corners.