Buff Dominates UK Patio Sales

Accredited Suppliers, Bradstone’s latest data has revealed a clear national favourite when it comes to patio colours, with Buff paving accounting for 42% of all of the paving manufacturer’s domestic orders across the UK. The findings give garden installers, landscapers and merchants valuable insight into current consumer demand to help shape stock choices, sales conversations and project recommendations.

Buff leads the way nationally, with Light Grey close behind at 31% of sales. Dark Grey holds third place at 15%, while other shades including Brown, Cream, Medium Grey, Beige and Terracotta make up smaller but potentially niche market segments.

Regional breakdown

• England: every region except Greater London favours Buff
• Greater London customers lean towards Light Grey (36%), reflecting the contemporary, urban design aesthetic popular in the capital
• Wales: a cooler palette overall, with Dark Grey dominant in the Western region, and Light Grey leading in the North and South
• Scotland: strong preference for Dark Grey in the Highlands, East, and East Central regions, while the Central Belt bucks the trend with Buff
• Northern Ireland: aligns with Scotland and parts of Wales in preferring Dark Grey

Matt Carroll, Head of Assured Landscaping at Bradstone, said:

“For those in the trade, understanding these trends is a powerful sales tool. Knowing that Buff dominates in most English regions, but greys lead in parts of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, means installers can tailor their recommendations to suit local styles – while merchants can make informed stocking decisions.”

For those on the tools or in the yard, the data points the way to smarter sales and stocking decisions. With Buff and Light Grey accounting for nearly three-quarters (72%) of all orders, these two shades should remain core staples for most projects, while keeping an eye on the strong grey preferences in specific regions to ensure local demand is met.

There’s also room to upsell. Clients who want something which sets them apart from their neighbours can be guided toward less common shades such as Brown, Cream or Terracotta – smaller in share, but often chosen for standout, design-led projects.  And with cooler greys gaining momentum in urban and northern areas, the figures underline the importance of tracking regional shifts in style to stay ahead of the curve and ready for the next big trend in paving.

As outdoor living continues to grow in popularity, Bradstone anticipates demand for both timeless tones and more adventurous palettes will continue to shape the landscaping market.

Visit Bradstone to view the full paving range.