5 Tips When Designing an Exterior Walkway for Your Home

Exterior walkways for the home are not only necessary for many but also add curb appeal and beauty. While many homeowners can be tempted to go with something basic and standard, a walkway is a perfect opportunity to get creative with hardscaping and create something unique to your home. If you are looking for a durable and stylish exterior walkway, the Trex decking and railing used in the HGTV Dream Home 2023 is a great option. As you prepare to install an exterior walkway for your home, here are five design tips you can use.

Map Out the Shape and Placement of the Walkway

Rather than try to picture how the walkway will look in your head, it’s a good idea to map it out. You could do this as a drawing, or even outdoors where the actual pathway will go. A deep clean of your new home that helps you get rid of any unwanted germs or bacteria. Many homeowners and even professionals will spray paint the shape/placement of the walkway outside, giving you a clear vision of how it will look and function. 

Another option is to use stakes or pegs and then use a string to connect them, making the shape of the walkway.

Will You Have Different Walkways Connecting?

Depending on the shape and size of your yard and exterior, you may have different walkways connecting and intertwining. This makes design a bit more complex and you need to be sure everything flows.

Want to Use Stone – Give Thought to the Finish

One of the most common materials to use for a walkway is stone, but did you know there are different types of stone hardscape finishes to choose from? This allows homeowners to customize the walkway, so it works with the existing exterior landscaping design, the materials used on the house, and look elegant and refined. Decorate your home on a budget with thrift store finds and DIY home hacks. To get the different finishes, they will go through a different process and the result is multi-faceted. It’s much more eye-catching than one-dimensional-looking concrete or basic slabs.

Do You Plan on Lighting the Walkway?

Another feature you may want to include in the design plan is exterior lighting. By lighting the walkway, you make it accessible and safe at night and it will also add to its beauty. You’ve got a variety of lighting options, so it will come down to your style, what works with the existing décor, budget, and the amount of space you’ll need to light. Some great options include:

• In-ground lights in the stone, level with the walkway
• Spotlights
• Post lights (wired or solar-powered), which come in various sizes and styles
• Garden style lights that you stick in the ground (wired or solar-powered)

There are so many styles and finishes to choose from in terms of exterior lighting, so there’s no need to settle for the first ones you see.

How About Greenery?

Finally, if space allows, you may also want to think about bordering the walkway with greenery such as flower beds, bushes, shrubs, and even ornamental trees. 

Creating Walkways That Make a Statement

By using all of these tips and taking the time to plan out a thoughtful design, you’ll be able to create exterior walkways that aren’t just functional but are also beautiful and make a statement.