Stepping stones are individual pieces placed with space between them, making them well suited to informal garden paths, planting areas, and decorative routes. Pathway pavers create a more continuous walking surface and are better suited to defined walkways, entrances, and frequently used routes. You can also combine both when different parts of your landscape need different types of pathways.
What Is Garden Stepping Stones?
Garden stepping stones are individual stones or paving units placed along a route with space between each piece. Instead of covering the entire path, they create a series of points that guide people through a garden, lawn, or planting area.
A stepping stone in a garden can connect different outdoor spaces while keeping plants, grass, gravel, or groundcover visible between the stones. This makes stepping stones a good choice when you want the garden to remain a major part of the pathway design.
They can be used to:
- Connect a garden to a patio
- Create a route through planting areas
- Cross a lawn
- Lead toward a seating area or landscape feature
- Create a secondary garden path
The placement can follow the shape of the landscape rather than creating a perfectly straight route.
What Are Pathway Pavers?
Pathway pavers create a more defined walking surface by placing individual paving units together. They are commonly used for routes that connect important areas of a property, such as an entrance, patio, garden, or outdoor living space.
Pathway stones and walkway stones can be arranged in different layouts, colors, and patterns depending on the selected product and overall landscape design.
Pathway pavers can be used for:
- Front entry walkways
- Backyard paths
- Routes connecting patios and gardens
- Frequently used outdoor paths
- Walkways between different landscape areas
If you're planning a defined garden or walkway route, explore the Rinox Pathway collection for products suited to outdoor pathway applications.
Stepping Stones vs Pathway Pavers: Key Differences
The main difference is how each option creates the route. Stepping stones leave visible spaces between individual pieces, while pathway pavers can create a continuous walking surface.
Layout
Stepping stones: Individual pieces are positioned along a route with space between them. The surrounding grass, planting, gravel, or groundcover remains visible.
Pathway pavers: Paving units are installed together to create a more continuous and clearly defined surface.
Appearance
Stepping stones create a more relaxed garden appearance and allow surrounding plants and landscape materials to remain visible.
Pathway pavers create a more structured appearance and can establish clear edges and defined routes.
Walking Experience
With stepping stones, users move from one individual piece to another. This makes them well suited to informal garden paths and secondary routes.
Pathway pavers provide a continuous surface, making them better suited to walkways that receive regular use.
Design Flexibility
Both options can be incorporated into different landscape styles.
Stepping stones can be positioned around existing plants, garden beds, and other features. Pathway pavers provide more opportunities to create defined layouts through different patterns, colors, and borders.
Best Use
Choose stepping stones when the path is intended to feel informal and integrated with the garden.
Choose pathway pavers when you need a clearly defined route with a continuous walking surface.
When Are Stepping Stones the Better Choice?
Stepping stones can work particularly well when you want to create a garden route without covering the entire area with paving.
Garden Paths
Stepping stones can guide people through planting areas while leaving space for plants and groundcover between each piece.
Lawn Crossings
A series of stones can create a simple route across a lawn without introducing a full paved walkway.
Informal Backyard Paths
For secondary routes leading toward a garden, seating area, or other landscape feature, stepping stones can create a less formal appearance.
Connecting Garden Features
Stepping stones can connect areas such as a patio, garden bed, firepit area, or seating space while keeping the route visually integrated with the surrounding landscape.
Large Stepping Stones
Large stepping stones for walkways can provide a stronger visual presence and more surface area for each step. The size should suit the scale of the landscape and the way the route will be used.
When planning the layout, consider comfortable spacing and make sure the route leads naturally toward its destination.
When Are Pathway Pavers the Better Choice?
Pathway pavers are better suited to projects where the route needs to be clearly defined and used regularly.
Front Entry Walkways
A paved walkway can create a direct connection between the driveway and front entrance while giving the approach to the home a defined appearance.
Frequently Used Garden Paths
If people regularly walk between different areas of the property, a continuous pathway can provide a consistent surface.
Connecting Outdoor Living Areas
Pathway pavers can connect patios, gardens, seating areas, and other outdoor spaces into a single route.
Structured Landscape Designs
Walkway stones and pathway pavers can establish clear edges and boundaries within the landscape. Different colors or layouts can also help distinguish the path from surrounding planting areas.
For a garden that needs a defined route, pathway pavers provide an alternative to individual garden stepping stones.
Can You Combine Pavers and Stepping Stones?
Yes. Pavers and stepping stones can be used together when different areas of the landscape serve different purposes.
For example, a continuous paved walkway can lead from a driveway or patio toward a garden, then transition to individual stepping stones as the route moves through a lawn or planting area.
This approach can create different pathway experiences within the same property without requiring every section to use the same layout.
When combining the two, choose complementary colors, textures, or materials so the different sections still feel connected.
The Rinox Pathway collection can be considered for defined walkway areas, while complementary Pavers, Landscape Borders, and Steps can help connect different parts of the landscape.
How to Choose the Right Option for Your Garden
The best choice depends on the purpose of the route, how often it will be used, and how it fits into the surrounding landscape.
Choose Stepping Stones If:
- You want a relaxed garden appearance.
- The route passes through planting areas or lawns.
- You want grass, gravel, or groundcover visible between pieces.
- The path is mainly decorative or secondary.
- You want the route to work around existing plants or landscape features.
Choose Pathway Pavers If:
- You need a continuous walking surface.
- The route receives regular foot traffic.
- You are creating a front entry or primary walkway.
- The path connects several important outdoor areas.
- You want a more structured and defined landscape feature.
Consider Combining Both If:
- A main walkway connects to smaller garden paths.
- You want to transition from a paved area into a planting bed.
- Different sections of the landscape have different purposes.
- You want visual variety while keeping the materials coordinated.
Before making a decision, consider the entire route from its starting point to its destination rather than choosing the paving material first.
Choosing the Right Size and Layout
The size and layout of stepping stones or pathway pavers should match the scale of the garden and the way the path will be used.
Consider the Path Width
For a frequently used walkway, allow enough room for comfortable movement. With stepping stones, pay particular attention to the placement of each piece and the route they create.
For a larger pathway, the paver layout can be planned to establish a consistent walking surface and clear connection between different areas.
How to Coordinate Your Pathway with the Rest of Your Landscape
A pathway works best when it connects naturally with the features around it. Consider how your walkway stones or stepping stones relate to patios, gardens, entrances, and other hardscape elements.
Connect Pathways to Patios
A pathway can create a natural transition between a garden and an outdoor living area. Coordinating the pathway with nearby Patio Slabs or Pavers can help connect the two spaces.
For a larger pathway, the paver layout can be planned to establish a consistent walking surface and clear connection between different areas.
Define Edges with Landscape Borders
Landscape Borders can separate a walkway from lawns, plant beds, or other landscape materials. A complementary color can help define the route without making it feel disconnected from the rest of the property.
Use Steps Where the Ground Changes
If a pathway crosses different levels, Steps can provide a transition between sections of the landscape. Plan the steps and pathway together so the route feels continuous.
Connect With Retaining Walls
On sloped properties, a pathway may run alongside or between retaining walls. Coordinating the colors and materials can help connect the pathway with the surrounding landscape.
Conclusion
Stepping stones and pathway pavers can both create attractive garden routes, but they suit different needs. Stepping stones work well for informal garden paths, planting areas, and decorative routes, while pathway pavers provide a more continuous surface for frequently used walkways. Consider how the path will be used, where it needs to lead, and how it connects with the rest of the landscape before choosing the right option.
Explore the Rinox Pathway collection for products that can help create defined walkways and connected outdoor spaces.