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Driveway Ideas & Inspiration to Transform Your Home
First impressions count, which is why having a good driveway is so important! A driveway isn't just a place to park your car, it's a part of your home and the first thing visitors will see when they stop by. Not only that, but it's also a great way to make your home stand out from others on the street and can even increase the kerb appeal of your property.
First impressions count, which is why having a good driveway is so important! A driveway isn't just a place to park your car, it's a part of your home and the first thing visitors will see when they stop by. Not only that, but it's also a great way to make your home stand out from others on the street and can even increase the kerb appeal of your property.
If a new driveway is on your list of home improvement projects to complete this year, we're here to help. It can be difficult to think of creative ways to transform your driveway and achieve something truly unique that's also in-line with your home's existing image. That's why we're here to give you all the inspiration you need.
This article will give you ideas for driveways of all different kinds, whether brick, stone or tarmac, providing you with different colours and different styles you can try to achieve the look you want.
Driveway Materials
Choosing the right driveway materials is the place to start when redesigning your driveway. As well as thinking of the appearance of certain materials, there are a few other things to consider too, including cost, maintenance and durability.
This article covers:
- Gravel driveway ideas
- Resin-bound driveway ideas
- Brick driveway ideas
- Tarmac driveway ideas
- Driveway paving ideas
- Driveway lighting ideas
- Gate ideas for driveways
Gravel Driveway Ideas
A popular driveway choice in rural areas, a gravel driveway is a great option for longer roads or for creating pathways in grassy areas. With regular maintenance, a gravel driveway can last for a very long time. Gravel is a great material to create distinct shapes or borders on your driveway and can also be found in different colours too.
Circular focal point filled either with paving or a pond
Borders on either side of the space
Different colours or decorative gravel chippings
Curved driveway
Features of Gravel Driveways:
- Long-lasting
- Inexpensive
- Requires regular maintenance
- Creates a stable surface
- Hard-wearing
- Diverse in style
- Quick laying process
Things to consider:
- Difficult to clear/clean
- Can become displaced
- Difficult to remove snow/ice
- Can form ruts or sinkholes
Resin Bound Driveway Ideas
Resin-bound gravel makes a great driveway material, not just because of its attractive appearance but also because of its many practical features too. Resin-bound gravel is available in a variety of different colours, which makes is a very versatile choice for any home.
Create borders using flower beds
Create distinct shapes and curves
Incorporate different colours
Features of Resin Bound Driveways:
- Affordable
- Strong and hard-wearing
- Requires little maintenance
- Long-lasting
- Quite affordable
Things to Consider:
- Will likely require professional installation
- Less flexibility with the design
- Clean with a pressure washer
- Difficult to repair
Brick Driveway Designs
Circular pattern
Create a pathway
Diamond pattern
Simple and consistent pattern
Herringbone pattern
Features of Brick Driveways:
- Can withstand all weather conditions
- Has aesthetic appeal
- A range of colours to choose from
- Gives you a range of design options
- Good longevity
- Low maintenance & easy to maintain
- Resistant to staining
- Slip-resistant
- Versatile design
Things to consider
- Can be expensive
- Labour-instensive installation
- Weeds can grow between bricks (overcome this with weed killer)
Tarmac Driveway Ideas
Tarmac is one of the more affordable driveway materials and is great for achieving a smooth and even surface that feels great to drive on. It's a very cost-effective material that is easy to install and also dries quickly, so doesn't take long to benefit from the results.
However, because it is quite a plain material, it can feel limited in terms of design options. With a bit of creative thinking and maybe a few extra materials, you can achieve a really tidy and sleek looking driveway.
Break up the space with a pathway
Create a border
Create a central focal point
Blend with a coloured aggregate
Features of Tarmac Driveways:
- Easy to install
- Very durable
- Attractive
- Good value for money
- Versatile design
- Easy to maintain
- Longlasting
- Easy to repair
Things to Consider:
- Tarmac repairs are not always invisible
- Potholes can form in tarmac
Driveway Paving Ideas
A paved driveway is a great way to make the front of your home look more attractive and put together whilst also increasing your property's kerb appeal. With paving, you can create interesting textures and patterns and a well-paved driveway using the right paving products should produce a driveway that's long-lasting and easy to maintain. And whether it's a natural stone or block driveway materials, you have lots of different design options when working with any kind of paving.
Paving stones
Natural stone driveway
Permeable paving
Block paving
Asphalt Driveway Ideas
Similar to tarmac, asphalt is a popular driveway material that will stand the test of time. Asphalt driveways are typically gray with a plain appearance however there are ways you can customise them to make them more visually appealing. Because asphalt has a high heat absorption, it's a popular driveway material in countries that get a lot of snow.
Create a cobblestone border
Partial brick driveway
Distinct circular shape with grassy areas
Features of Asphalt Driveways:
- Inexpensive
- Long-lasting
- Style limitations
- High heat absorption
- Easy to repair
Things to Consider:
- Requires frequent maintenance
Driveway Lighting Ideas
As well as providing the homeowner with better visibility and security for a property, driveway lighting can also create a lovely ambience outside of your home. There are a lot of different styles and types of lighting that you can try for your own driveway.
Spotlights
Lamp lights
Gate Ideas for Driveways
Driveway gates provide extra security for the home, but there's no reason why they can't look great too! A gateway can change the entrance of your home and make a good impression on visitors.
Traditional metal gates
Rustic wooden gates
Traditional wooden gates
Traditional gates with gold detailing
Wooden sliding gates