10 Excellent Ways to Incorporate Steps into Your Garden
Adding steps your patch provides the opportunity to create a feature, as well as changing the feel of your outside space
A change in level is a wonderful design opportunity in a garden. Steps are the obvious way to move from one level to the next. They needn’t just be functional, they can also add drama and interest to your outside space.
Each garden has a unique character and your choice of steps can reflect and add to it. When you start to look around, there’s an intriguing amount of variation in materials, dimensions and positioning of steps, which can really open up some exciting design possibilities.
Each garden has a unique character and your choice of steps can reflect and add to it. When you start to look around, there’s an intriguing amount of variation in materials, dimensions and positioning of steps, which can really open up some exciting design possibilities.
Scale it up
Broad steps can really open up a patio and create an illusion of space.
Generous steps can also provide extra informal places to sit and spots to locate pots and containers at different levels.
Broad steps can really open up a patio and create an illusion of space.
Generous steps can also provide extra informal places to sit and spots to locate pots and containers at different levels.
Create an adventure
These rugged steps, cantilevered into the wall, create intrigue, a sense of fun and an opportunity for adventure. They’re not really suitable as a main access point, but they’re certainly an option for the intrepid explorer, large or small!
Cantilevering can be used on larger steps than these, and can give a light effect without taking up valuable ground space.
These rugged steps, cantilevered into the wall, create intrigue, a sense of fun and an opportunity for adventure. They’re not really suitable as a main access point, but they’re certainly an option for the intrepid explorer, large or small!
Cantilevering can be used on larger steps than these, and can give a light effect without taking up valuable ground space.
Pay attention to the detail
Steps needn’t stand alone and, in this space, clever use is made of visually and physically linking the steps to other elements, such as the seating and the water feature. An inviting journey is created through the garden, drawing the visitor on from one level to the next.
The steps to each level share the same materials and create a strong visual link, but variety is added through a change in direction and construction. In addition, the steps don’t break the lines of the retaining walls, which gives a wider feel to the garden.
The clever design and attention to the fine details create a sense of space, interest and lightness.
Steps needn’t stand alone and, in this space, clever use is made of visually and physically linking the steps to other elements, such as the seating and the water feature. An inviting journey is created through the garden, drawing the visitor on from one level to the next.
The steps to each level share the same materials and create a strong visual link, but variety is added through a change in direction and construction. In addition, the steps don’t break the lines of the retaining walls, which gives a wider feel to the garden.
The clever design and attention to the fine details create a sense of space, interest and lightness.
Make a splash
Since the very first gardens were created, water and steps have gone hand in hand. The possibilities for interplay are endless, from cascades on either side of your steps to having a falling rill down the middle, breaking the line of the steps in an interesting way.
The sound, light and movement will add a whole new dimension to your design, which will offer a place to sit and play with the water or cool a bottle on a warm day.
Since the very first gardens were created, water and steps have gone hand in hand. The possibilities for interplay are endless, from cascades on either side of your steps to having a falling rill down the middle, breaking the line of the steps in an interesting way.
The sound, light and movement will add a whole new dimension to your design, which will offer a place to sit and play with the water or cool a bottle on a warm day.
Be inviting
Wide, shallow steps are relaxing and, even better, invite approach from more than one side. The steps can be extended out beyond the retaining wall, each one wider than its neighbour above. This lends solidity and emphasis to the decked area at the top.
Here, the steps are echoed in the Douglas fir seating to give unity to the whole space.
Wide, shallow steps are relaxing and, even better, invite approach from more than one side. The steps can be extended out beyond the retaining wall, each one wider than its neighbour above. This lends solidity and emphasis to the decked area at the top.
Here, the steps are echoed in the Douglas fir seating to give unity to the whole space.
Blur the edges
For a romantic, country garden feel with a little mystery and atmosphere, allow plants to encroach, brushing visitors with their scent.
A slightly rugged or rustic choice of stone adds to the appeal of these steps. Their simplicity fits in rather than stands out, so they don’t compete with the natural feel of the garden.
Browse more photos of country-style gardens
For a romantic, country garden feel with a little mystery and atmosphere, allow plants to encroach, brushing visitors with their scent.
A slightly rugged or rustic choice of stone adds to the appeal of these steps. Their simplicity fits in rather than stands out, so they don’t compete with the natural feel of the garden.
Browse more photos of country-style gardens
Step lightly
In a small space, one can still climb to heights with the most elegant solution of all – a spiral staircase. Not only can it be a thing of beauty in itself, it also allows for some vertical gardening, as a support for climbers or hanging baskets. It can also open up a raised area for sitting and appreciating your garden from above.
Unlike a more solid structure of steps, it’s light and airy in character and casts little shade.
In a small space, one can still climb to heights with the most elegant solution of all – a spiral staircase. Not only can it be a thing of beauty in itself, it also allows for some vertical gardening, as a support for climbers or hanging baskets. It can also open up a raised area for sitting and appreciating your garden from above.
Unlike a more solid structure of steps, it’s light and airy in character and casts little shade.
Keep it in proportion
Whether your steps arrive at a front door or, as in this case, a path leading to a seat, their width should relate to the main feature or destination, as your eye will automatically try to line everything up.
If the steps are too narrow or too wide, they will jar on the eye and look uncomfortable.
Whether your steps arrive at a front door or, as in this case, a path leading to a seat, their width should relate to the main feature or destination, as your eye will automatically try to line everything up.
If the steps are too narrow or too wide, they will jar on the eye and look uncomfortable.
Rise to the challenge
Some of the best designs are born out of challenging spaces. Here, a tight area with a steep approach has been made into a feature. Brick and terracotta create the steps and terraces, and are linked inside by a brick plinth.
The interior steps could double as a table or seat when the door’s closed. I love the clever simplicity of this design.
What kind of steps would you add to your garden – or do you have your own tips to share from experience? Tell us in the Comments below.
Some of the best designs are born out of challenging spaces. Here, a tight area with a steep approach has been made into a feature. Brick and terracotta create the steps and terraces, and are linked inside by a brick plinth.
The interior steps could double as a table or seat when the door’s closed. I love the clever simplicity of this design.
What kind of steps would you add to your garden – or do you have your own tips to share from experience? Tell us in the Comments below.
The first thing to consider is the overall height of the flight: how many steps will you need to arrive at the upper level?
The vertical part of each step is called the riser and where you place your foot is the tread. The riser for each step should be the same and be somewhere between 10cm and 15cm. There’s a good formula that states that twice the riser plus the width of the tread should equal 66cm.
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