Decorative River Rock Types

Mixed

• A collection of dry river rocks may contain a wide range of light and dark colors, such as shades of gray, red, brown, white and beige. Unfortunately, some mixed-color batches make a landscape too visually busy. Mixed-color river rocks may clash with your home's color as well. For example, a pathway made of multicolor river rocks is a risky choice for owners of homes painted lavender. Imagine how mixed river rock colors will look on your landscape when they're dry and wet before making a purchase.

Light

• When light river rocks rest near green grass, they add an unforgettable amount of visual contrast to a landscape. Pay close attention to how you use light-colored river rocks. If you already have a focal area on your landscape, this type of decorative river rock may overwhelm it. Light-colored decorative river rocks look bright in direct sunlight and become less pronounced in shaded areas. However, proper lighting makes this type of rock beautiful after sundown.

Dark

• Dark river rocks add formal elegance to a landscape. Just as food looks more attractive on a black plate, colorful flowers and dark river rocks create high-contrast, visually appealing scenes. Unfortunately, dark river rocks attract and hold a lot of heat. Dark river rocks, sunny climates and dainty flowers are not a good combination. Residents of sunny climates should protect their lawns from potential burns along dark river rock pathways.