Soldier Course

The soldier course border is commonly seen around swimming pools, pathways, or as a border used around a paver patio. Rectangle pavers are lined up like soldiers standing at the ready. Soldier course means the pavers are laid with the short sides together for a strong and clean border.

Sailor Course

The sailor course border is the second most common design element when you want to define the border of your paver project. Sailor course means the pavers are laid lengthwise in one or multiple rows.

Using Colored Pavers as an Accent

Accent colors are also often seen in many paver design ideas. By mixing and matching the right colors, it’s possible to create a beautiful finishing touch to your patio design.

Maybe you designed your patio with mainly charcoal/brown/cream pavers. Adding a solid charcoal-colored accented border is an interesting way to frame your patio.

While the outer border matches the main pavers, the inner border is a dark charcoal color providing an accent for the entire design.

Using Colored Pavers as an Inlay

Pavers can be used to create an inlay as part of the patio design itself. This is an element that sits amongst the traditional paver pattern and is defined by disrupting the original pattern and also using various colors to make it more or less prominent. The desired effect can be tailored to suit your preference.