Set stage with outdoor floors

To create an outdoor entertainment space, set the stage with the flooring, which offers a seemingly infinite number of choices, from pavers to gravel tops to outdoor tiles.

"Given the increased amount of entertaining people are doing at home these days, it's only natural that the outdoor living areas are increasingly important to consumers," says Colleen Carbott, spokeswoman for Lowe's. She adds, "Aesthetics of deck and patio areas takes precedence, and people continue to think creatively about every inch of existing space outside the home."

Here are several options for outdoor flooring:

Pea gravel can be a small or large gravel. Layer this light brown, translucent white river rock, often called speckled pea gravel, on top of existing gravel to create a colorful outdoor area. (Lowe's: $2.79 a bag and covers about 6 square feet. At Home Depot, Vigoro decorative stone pea pebbles are $2.58 a bag, which covers up to 6 square feet.)

There are several types of pavers: interlocking, mortared and mortarless. Interlocking pavers are not designed to sit exactly flush to one another. The gaps between pavers can be filled with sand. Mortared pavers have mortar between the pavers and create a hardened nonflexible surface. This type of surface is prone to cracking and makes replacing a section of a paver more difficult. Mortarless pavers, such as bricks, use a special mixture of sand called paver sand.

Many varieties of stone are available at landscape and masonry stores. Slate is a common choice, and it creates a smooth, flat surface. Other natural stones can be used as borders and can give patios a more organic look. Rough stone can be used in conjunction with manmade pavers and other smooth natural materials, such as slate.

This design system can be hand-applied over existing concrete or tile. StoneScape Designs uses a resurfacing system by ICoat Products that can create any look from natural stone to elegant tile. Prices are $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot (for product only). Installation could cost an additional $4 to $7 per square foot. (Learn more at stonescapedesigns.com.)

Porphyry, which resembles flagstone and is in the granite family, is now showing up in patios, driveways, sidewalks and other outdoor areas. Porphyry has a lower carbon footprint than concrete or asphalt, and is quarried using a process that doesn't require much water or energy. Once installed, the product allows for a maximum amount of water runoff to trickle into the soil. It's maintenance-free and remains undamaged by harsh climates or chemicals. (Material will run about $7.50 a square foot at milestoneimports.com or call 1-866-641-1999.)