Walkway Designs - Nine Ideas For Creating a Great Design
Posted: Friday, November 16, 2007
by Susan Schlenger
Susan Schlenger Landscape Design
Creating beautiful walkway designs does not have to be complicated. Following a few good design concepts will help you design one that is very pleasing.
1. Decide how wide you would like it to be. I prefer walks that are at least four feet wide.This would be for main access ways such as front walks or those that lead to a main area in your back yard. A width of four feet allows two people to walk side by side. Five feet is a nice width also. The wider it is, the more dramatic it becomes.
3.Start your path perpendicular to the driveway. If you are creating a geometric design, you can continue it towards the front entrance, turning it at a ninety degree angle as the path nears the door.
4.If you are creating a curvilinear design, you should also start perpendicular to the starting point. This can be for only a very short distance. You would then begin your curve. Sweep the curve towards the front door. Then reverse the curve and continue it until you near the front door. You are now at the front porch area and must join the curve to your landing. This can either be squared off, curved or a combination of both.
5. You can also create a curved walkway design by creating one large arc. This is a simple method, but it works well also, particularly if you create lawn on the inside of the curve and plants at the house foundation.
6. While your walk may be four feet wide, the beginning and end of it should be wider. This emphasizes its importance and creates interest. It also helps unite the walk with the front porch and steps, which are almost always wider.
7. Select a paving material that looks good with the materials and colors of your house. You may choose to either blend or contrast the colors. Certain paving materials go well with others. A brick house looks great with a bluestone. A painted house might also look good with bluestone, but it depends on the house color. Tumbled pavers can be found in many different color choices. Travertine pavers are another possible selection. Brick, dry laid or set in mortar, can also be used. Personally, I do not like brick walks with brick houses, as it is too difficult to get the brick to match. It can also be monotonous.
8. If, for example, your walk ends at your front steps and is very wide, consider placing some garden urns with pretty plants on either side. These will provide nice architectural elements.
9. Another design option is to create a small paved courtyard at your front entry area. It might be square. An example of a size could be ten feet by 10 feet. Add a bench! Create seat walls! This can be an exciting area that your walk leads to or from.
Consider any or all of these design ideas, and your walkway design will most likely be successful.
Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. To read about more about designing walkways and other landscape design ideas, visit: www.landscape-design-advice.com/walkway-designs.html
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)This article is a very helpful first step in considering the process for planning my new walkway.Thank you so much! I'm glad I could be of help :)
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