The driveway is one of the first things your visitors see when approaching your home and can set the tone for their experience throughout the rest of the property. It is also a vital accessory to the home, so it’s crucial that the two don’t clash but are rather harmonious in their coexistence. Here are a few driveway design ideas—consider which one might perfectly complement your home.
Permeable Pavers for the Country Club Look
Is your home the entertainment hub of your neighborhood? In that case, you might want to create a driveway that introduces the home appropriately. Consider opting for permeable pavers separated by wide grassy joints for a lush, practical driveway with a relaxed, country club-like look. This driveway design can be paired with both traditional or rustic homes and modern homes by tweaking the texture of the pavers and the neatness of the green space between them. Permeable pavers retain all the durability and minimal property maintenance requirements of regular concrete pavers. Yet, they go one step further by allowing the return of rainwater to the underlying ecosystem.
A Casual, Homely Welcoming
For a traditional farm-style home with a welcoming personality, you can have it accented by a warm, casual driveway free from bells and whistles. Simplicity doesn’t have to be boring, however, as high-quality materials and a thoughtful design can set an understated driveway apart from the rest. Opt for beautiful, enduring concrete pavers that match the color scheme found in the exterior of your home as closely as possible. This will ensure that the home and hardscape don’t clash. Consider framing your driveway with two rows of trees that arch overhead, creating a soft canopy through which sunlight may be filtered.
Old World Charm for Your Historical Home
Cobblestones can instantaneously inject a sense of classic charm into any landscape. A cobblestone driveway is particularly well-suited to a home with historical features and a traditional aesthetic. Allowing groundcover to creep into joints and crawl over the surfaces of your cobblestones can enhance their antiqued appearance. These pavers look best when accompanied by a lush lawn and well-developed softscape, re-creating a snapshot of a time before living spaces became so closely packed and functional. Pair your driveway with a dramatic wrought iron gate for an unforgettable effect.
Sleek Slabs for Your Contemporary Castle
Large, smooth concrete slabs can be used to accentuate the sleek, minimalist look of a contemporary home. Opting for industrial tones like cool grays can have the most captivating effect, especially when paired with red brick retaining walls or pillars. Clean geometry is equally valuable in modern hardscapes, so opt for a perfectly rectangular driveway that refuses to yield to the contours of the surrounding landscape.
Sandy Pavers for Holiday Home Serenity
While some forms of natural stone are not quite durable enough to serve well under the pressure of vehicular traffic, pavers that mimic sandstone can give your home a luxurious, relaxed look and feel similar to that of a holiday home in a coastal destination. Feel free to be heavy handed with your choice of lush vegetation and flowering plants. Bougainvillea, for example, are wonderfully tropical and exotic if you can keep them alive in your climate. Opt for heavily textured pavers that re-create the grainy feel of real sand, and follow the contours of your landscape to create spontaneous curves in the layout of your driveway.
