Sandstone Landscape Ideas

Walkway

• One of the most-common ways to incorporate sandstone into your landscape is in a walkway. Opt for honed or flamed sandstone, both of which have a rougher texture to provide better traction. You can use various shades of stone to create an attractive patchwork effect for the path so it has a natural feel. If you're installing the path through a garden, go with paler, neutral shades such as tan, buff and gray, because the lighter tones help set off the bright colors of your flowers and plants.

Pool Deck

• Sandstone is an ideal paving material for building a deck around your swimming pool. Using stones that have a textured finish creates a nonslip surface around the water, which makes the deck safer when wet. A sandstone deck is a particularly attractive landscaping option if your pool has a natural, free-form shape and rock features, because you can use several colors of sandstone in varying sizes and shapes to help blend in the pool with the rest of the landscape for a natural look. If you prefer a polished look, however, you can use square sandstone tiles to build a more-formal style of deck. Using tile in two similar tones creates a subtle checkerboard pattern that gives your pool area an elegant look.

Rock Garden

• If you'd like to create a serene retreat with Asian flair in your backyard, consider using sandstone to build a rock garden. While traditional Japanese gardens make use of darker stones such as granite, substituting sandstone provides a softer, brighter look for your yard. For an eye-catching arrangement, opt for pink or red sandstone. Make sure the stones have a rough, natural shape and place them in odd-numbered groupings for an authentic feel. Groups of 3 sandstones that differ in size and shape but are the same color work well.

Fire Pit

• If you and your family enjoy toasting marshmallows or telling stories around a roaring fire, a sandstone fire pit may be an ideal addition to your yard. You can choose a simple design featuring a circle of dry-laid sandstones with a recessed fire pit inside, or opt for a more-formal look by mortaring cut sandstones together to build an elevated structure. If you're an inexperienced do-it-yourselfer, a simple, dry-laid sandstone ring is probably your best bet.