Master Curb Appeal With A Walkway

A walkway is an extension of your home and can add aesthetic value. With the proper planning and execution walkways can seamlessly integrate into your landscape. Walkways direct traffic to where you want people to go and what you want them to see, inviting exploration of all the hard work that goes into landscaping without destroying any of it. Having a complete landscape design that complements your property and serves your needs requires a lot of consideration. Here are a few of the most important factors to look at when designing a walkway.

• Location- Walkways should be planned in a way that logically connects different parts of your landscape. To determine where a walkway makes sense, start thinking about the path you take to enter your home. Next, consider a secondary entry point, where your guests park, and whether it makes sense to have more than one walkway.

• Shape: Curved or Straight – As a general rule of thumb, a formal landscape is rooted in straight paths and right angles. A straight path denotes a traditional and classic beauty. On the other hand, a curving or meandering path denotes a casual, relaxed atmosphere and natural beauty. Curves work well for larger front yards, extending the path all the way down. In the same sense that straight paths can make small yards look bigger and provide a direct way to the front door. Due to the design and allotted space, curved paths typically also have larger garden beds than straight pathways.

• Width- After you select your preferred shape, next you’ll need to look at the width. This will depend on the style, amount, and frequency of traffic the pathway will see. It will also influence the type of material that you select. As a rule of thumb, you will want it at least wide enough for two people to walk comfortably alongside each other.

• Materials- Selecting the right material for your project is crucial, you don’t want to detract from your home rather accentuate its features. Today there is a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. You’ll want a material that is comfortable underfoot, accentuates the features of your home and is smooth for ease of cleaning and snow removal. When it comes to getting new materials or reusing old, keep in mind that new materials often come with a lifetime warranty but can also increase the total cost of your project.

• Features- Now that you know where you want your path and what you want it to look like, it’s time for the fun stuff. This includes things like steps, lighting, border walls, flower beds and more. Steps are typically required to get up to the front or back door, depending on the slope of your yard they made need to be at the beginning or end. If you require many steps, we suggest separating them to add landings making it easier for everyone to walk on. Adding lighting increases safety and adds to the ambiance of the space. Border walls and flower beds are a great way to build character and add focal points along the journey.

The bottom line to adding a walkway into your landscaping is to work with a professional to determine your specific needs, then have fun and be creative! We make sure that all the details are handled correctly so that your walkway is something you can enjoy for years to come. 

Yours Truly, 

Landscapes By Terra