31 Flagstone Patio Ideas With Pros And Cons

Flagstone Patio Ideas With Pros And Cons

What Is Flagstone?

Flagstone is a pretty, natural stone that you can use for many things, especially patios. This stone looks great with nature and has lots of benefits for patios. Let’s see some good and bad things about using flagstone to decide if you want it for your space.

Good Things About Flagstone Patios

First, flagstone is natural. If you want your yard to feel unique and earthy, flagstone is perfect. Each stone is different, giving your patio a special look. It makes the patio look fancy and interesting. It also blends in well with any gardens and other natural settings.

Flagstone comes in many colors. You can find it in shades of red, blue, gray, and more. This variety lets you choose the perfect color to match your home and garden.

Flagstone is also strong. If you take care of it, flagstone can last for many years. There are old buildings with flagstone that are still around after hundreds of years. It doesn’t break or get damaged by weather changes easily.

Laying flagstone is not too hard. After you dig and prepare the ground with crushed rocks and sand, you can place the flagstones. This is called a dry set. You can also put them on a concrete patio.

Flagstone pieces are not all the same shape, so you don’t need a specific pattern. You can cut them to fit any space. People often put green plants or gravel in the gaps to make it look nicer and more durable.

Taking care of flagstone is easy. Just sweep or hose off dirt. If there is mold or mildew, you can clean it with diluted bleach and a stiff brush. For tough stains, a mix of hydrochloric acid and water will help.

A cozy and welcoming fire pit space clad with flagstone and done with simple wooden chairs, with a log planter and shrubs around.

A cozy and welcoming fire pit space clad with flagstone and done with simple wooden chairs, with a log planter and shrubs around.

A beautiful terrace done with stone, with a fire pit and chairs around and a sitting zone with green upholstered furniture.

A beautiful terrace done with stone, with a fire pit and chairs around and a sitting zone with green upholstered furniture.

A cozy fire pit space with a pit, wooden chairs and some greenery and trees around is clad with stone for a natural feel.

A cozy fire pit space with a pit, wooden chairs and some greenery and trees around is clad with stone for a natural feel.

A small backyard porch done with flagstone, with some simple modern furniture and potted and growing greenery.

A small backyard porch done with flagstone, with some simple modern furniture and potted and growing greenery.

A flagstone patio with a fire, a couple of wooden benches and a pathway to the river is amazing.

A flagstone patio with a fire, a couple of wooden benches and a pathway to the river is amazing.

A flagstone patio with a couple of loungers placed under the trees, with a river view, is a peaceful space to have a rest.

A flagstone patio with a couple of loungers placed under the trees, with a river view, is a peaceful space to have a rest.

A modern patio done with flagstone, with a built-in bench, a table, some white chairs and greenery and blooms around.

A modern patio done with flagstone, with a built-in bench, a table, some white chairs and greenery and blooms around.

This wabi-sabi patio is clad with flagstone, surrounded with large rocks and features a unique metal and stone hearth with a bench in fornt of it.

This wabi-sabi patio is clad with flagstone, surrounded with large rocks and features a unique metal and stone hearth with a bench in fornt of it.

A small fire pit space clad with flagstone, with a fire bow in the center and a green lawn around is a cool nook to gather.

A small fire pit space clad with flagstone, with a fire bow in the center and a green lawn around is a cool nook to gather.

A classic fire pit space done with stone, with a fire pit and lights and some wooden chairs.

A classic fire pit space done with stone, with a fire pit and lights and some wooden chairs.

A small hidden space in the greenery, with a stone floor, a vintage dining set and a lake view is adorable.

A small hidden space in the greenery, with a stone floor, a vintage dining set and a lake view is adorable.

A beautiful patio done with stone, with forged furniture, potted plants, some bright trees and foliage.

A beautiful patio done with stone, with forged furniture, potted plants, some bright trees and foliage.

A little modern backyard clad with flagstone, with modern wooden outdoor furniture, potted greenery and some trees is a nice nook for relaxation.

A little modern backyard clad with flagstone, with modern wooden outdoor furniture, potted greenery and some trees is a nice nook for relaxation.

A classic fire pit space with large stones, a fire pit and wooden chairs is a thing that always works in modern gardens and backyards.

A classic fire pit space with large stones, a fire pit and wooden chairs is a thing that always works in modern gardens and backyards.

A lovely fire pit space done with stone for safety, with stylish black wicker furniture, a fire pit and a gorgeous lake view.

A lovely fire pit space done with stone for safety, with stylish black wicker furniture, a fire pit and a gorgeous lake view.

A large outdoor space done with flagstone, with a stone bench and a fire bow, a pergola with a sitting zone and a fireplace.

A large outdoor space done with flagstone, with a stone bench and a fire bow, a pergola with a sitting zone and a fireplace.

Bad Things About Flagstone Patios

Even though it’s not too hard to install, flagstone is heavy and needs cutting to fit right. This extra work means it costs more to have a professional install it compared to other materials like concrete.

Flagstone itself is expensive. It’s a natural stone that needs to be taken from the earth, so it costs more than man-made pavers.

Like other rocks, flagstone can be slippery when wet, especially on the north side of a house. Keeping it clean helps reduce moss and mildew. Walking barefoot on it might not be as comfortable as on smoother surfaces.

Flagstone can be uneven because the stones are different thicknesses and textures. The ground must be well-prepared to make a flat surface so no one trips. That’s why professionals often use mortar on a concrete base for a flat, safe patio.

On hot days, the stone can get very warm, making it uncomfortable to walk on without shoes. This is something to think about if you live in a hot climate.

A small and elegant patio with a vintage table, forged chairs, an umbrella and lots of greenery around.

A small and elegant patio with a vintage table, forged chairs, an umbrella and lots of greenery around.

Beige and greige stones on the ground are echoed with tan and beige chairs and umbrellas placed here.

Beige and greige stones on the ground are echoed with tan and beige chairs and umbrellas placed here.

A flagstone patio can look softer, cooler and more romantic if you add some groundcovers, for example, Phlox that will bloom.

A flagstone patio can look softer, cooler and more romantic if you add some groundcovers, for example, Phlox that will bloom.

A secret garden space with a lot of greenery and trees, a flagstone ground and some shabby chic furniture.

A secret garden space with a lot of greenery and trees, a flagstone ground and some shabby chic furniture.

A flagstone patio with grass between the stones for a more natural look, a fire pit with a grill and some tree stumps as stools around.

A flagstone patio with grass between the stones for a more natural look, a fire pit with a grill and some tree stumps as stools around.

A large patio done with flagstone, with greenery and shrubs, with shabby chic furniture.

A large patio done with flagstone, with greenery and shrubs, with shabby chic furniture.

A flagstone backyard accented with a little bit of Creeping Phlox for a touch of color and some bold blooms around.

A flagstone backyard accented with a little bit of Creeping Phlox for a touch of color and some bold blooms around.

A flagstone space with moss between the stones and wooden garden furniture, a green lawn and colorful blooms in pots.

A flagstone space with moss between the stones and wooden garden furniture, a green lawn and colorful blooms in pots.

A small stone clad nook with Baby Tears in betwene the stones and lush greenery around feels like a little secret space.

A small stone clad nook with Baby Tears in betwene the stones and lush greenery around feels like a little secret space.

A flagstone backyard done with forged furniture, with greenery and trees around.

A flagstone backyard done with forged furniture, with greenery and trees around.

A cool backyard clad with stone, with whitewashed garden furiture, some greenery and shrubs.

A cool backyard clad with stone, with whitewashed garden furiture, some greenery and shrubs.

Large flagstones echo with large rocks around the fire pit.

Large flagstones echo with large rocks around the fire pit.

A neutral terrace done with a deck with a dining zone and a flagstone patio with a sitting zone.

A neutral terrace done with a deck with a dining zone and a flagstone patio with a sitting zone.

A large terrace clad with stone and green moss and with green sitting furniture and blooms is pure elegance.

A large terrace clad with stone and green moss and with green sitting furniture and blooms is pure elegance.

A flagstone outdoor space done with green groundcovers, elegant forged furniture and a large umbrella plus greenery around.

A flagstone outdoor space done with green groundcovers, elegant forged furniture and a large umbrella plus greenery around.

Flagstone Patio Design Ideas

  • Choose a pattern. Uniformly cut stones arranged in a repeating pattern provides a neat and organized appearance. Irregularly shaped stones are for a more natural and organic feel. It gives a rustic and charming look to your patio.
  • Adding a fire pit to your flagstone patio can make it a cozy and inviting space.
  • For a modern and chic look, flagstones can be polished and cleanly cut. This gives the stones a shiny appearance and adds a stylish feel to your outdoor space​.
  • Combine flagstone with gravel to create a more dynamic and textured look. The gravel can fill the gaps between the flagstones, providing a softer surface and enhancing the natural appeal of the patio.