13 Gorgeous Ideas For Garden Paths
Give your outdoor space a practical yet stylish edge by weaving in a walkway
The humble garden path is landscape design at its most accessible and practical. Not only does it guide you through the garden and add definition, but it also brings style and atmosphere. The shape and materials you choose will make a big difference to the overall feel of your outdoor area, so take a look at these modern and more traditional ideas for inspiration.
Stick to a classic
Follow the brick road because the warm colour of natural brick is especially inviting. Here, the red hue of this gently undulating path tones with the brickwork of the house and helps create a classic, period feel.
Brick made from clay, as opposed to concrete blocks, will be more durable. And, as with all paving, you’ll need to lay the bricks on a decent sub-base, usually made from sand and crushed stone, which you can buy in DIY stores.
You’ll also need edging to keep pavers in place, and a slight camber (downward slope) so rain runs away and doesn’t pool.
Follow the brick road because the warm colour of natural brick is especially inviting. Here, the red hue of this gently undulating path tones with the brickwork of the house and helps create a classic, period feel.
Brick made from clay, as opposed to concrete blocks, will be more durable. And, as with all paving, you’ll need to lay the bricks on a decent sub-base, usually made from sand and crushed stone, which you can buy in DIY stores.
You’ll also need edging to keep pavers in place, and a slight camber (downward slope) so rain runs away and doesn’t pool.
Scatter stones
Gravel is a simple, quick and normally cheap way to create a path. It has natural warmth and can work in modern or traditional gardens. It looks great here bordered by lavender.
Before laying gravel, put down a weed-proof membrane to stop dandelions and their ilk popping up and spoiling things. Gravel can be messy, so you’ll ideally need to install suitable edging to contain it. Sharp-edged gravel tends to ‘travel’ less far than its smoother counterpart. Alternatively, you can purchase honeycomb structures that sit below the gravel and keep it in place.
Gravel might not be a suitable option if you have young children who put small objects in their mouth, or if your garden is visited by cats who might view it as a very appealing large litter tray.
Gravel is a simple, quick and normally cheap way to create a path. It has natural warmth and can work in modern or traditional gardens. It looks great here bordered by lavender.
Before laying gravel, put down a weed-proof membrane to stop dandelions and their ilk popping up and spoiling things. Gravel can be messy, so you’ll ideally need to install suitable edging to contain it. Sharp-edged gravel tends to ‘travel’ less far than its smoother counterpart. Alternatively, you can purchase honeycomb structures that sit below the gravel and keep it in place.
Gravel might not be a suitable option if you have young children who put small objects in their mouth, or if your garden is visited by cats who might view it as a very appealing large litter tray.
Add slabs to your stones
If gravel alone is a bit too messy or unstructured for you, laying large rectangular paving stones on top can create a slightly more formal path without looking severe or soulless.
Always seal natural stone paving with a suitable sealant so it’s protected from the elements.
Is your garden on a slope? Don’t despair!
If gravel alone is a bit too messy or unstructured for you, laying large rectangular paving stones on top can create a slightly more formal path without looking severe or soulless.
Always seal natural stone paving with a suitable sealant so it’s protected from the elements.
Is your garden on a slope? Don’t despair!
Combine it with sleepers
Railway sleepers have a great country-meets-modern rustic feel. They’ve, unsurprisingly, been growing in popularity in gardens, and are used in a number of ways – from bordering beds to defining a pathway as here, teamed with gravel again.
Look for reclaimed sleepers or simply buy new ones that still have a vintage feel (there are lots around). Always make sure timber is treated so it won’t rot or decay. Also consider using wood-effect sleepers cast from concrete. They are easier to look after and less slippery.
Railway sleepers have a great country-meets-modern rustic feel. They’ve, unsurprisingly, been growing in popularity in gardens, and are used in a number of ways – from bordering beds to defining a pathway as here, teamed with gravel again.
Look for reclaimed sleepers or simply buy new ones that still have a vintage feel (there are lots around). Always make sure timber is treated so it won’t rot or decay. Also consider using wood-effect sleepers cast from concrete. They are easier to look after and less slippery.
Choose cobbles
Not just for period dramas, cobbles can add old-world charm to your garden. If your path weaves through flowerbeds, make sure it’s wide enough so that you don’t brush past prickly foliage. Also consider if you’ll be kneeling down to access plants as cobbles can be hard on knees!
Cobbles or pebbles can be laid loose (use small sizes if doing this, as large cobbles can be uncomfortable) or, better still, set into a sand-cement mix.
How to choose the best flooring for your patio
Not just for period dramas, cobbles can add old-world charm to your garden. If your path weaves through flowerbeds, make sure it’s wide enough so that you don’t brush past prickly foliage. Also consider if you’ll be kneeling down to access plants as cobbles can be hard on knees!
Cobbles or pebbles can be laid loose (use small sizes if doing this, as large cobbles can be uncomfortable) or, better still, set into a sand-cement mix.
How to choose the best flooring for your patio
Branch out
Love wood? Why not copy this patchwork of sawn-off trunks and branches. Kids will love its fairy-tale forest feel – and so will adults.
Level the ground and put down a suitable sub-base. Seal and lay your wood slices, then fill the gaps with dirt or sand to help create a level pathway to walk on. Choose a quality hardwood that will last the distance and age well over the seasons. Remember that timber can get slippery, especially if moss grows on it, so it will need to be maintained.
Love wood? Why not copy this patchwork of sawn-off trunks and branches. Kids will love its fairy-tale forest feel – and so will adults.
Level the ground and put down a suitable sub-base. Seal and lay your wood slices, then fill the gaps with dirt or sand to help create a level pathway to walk on. Choose a quality hardwood that will last the distance and age well over the seasons. Remember that timber can get slippery, especially if moss grows on it, so it will need to be maintained.
Break it up
If you’re on a budget, broken ‘crazy’ paving stones can be a great way to get a laid-back, natural effect. It looks particularly good if you lay the path among a flower-filled border, as shown here.
Leave large gaps between pavers to create a lovely rockery-style look. It’s also a good idea to match your pathway to your patio paving, for a flowing, integrated feel.
If you’re on a budget, broken ‘crazy’ paving stones can be a great way to get a laid-back, natural effect. It looks particularly good if you lay the path among a flower-filled border, as shown here.
Leave large gaps between pavers to create a lovely rockery-style look. It’s also a good idea to match your pathway to your patio paving, for a flowing, integrated feel.
Take a stroll on the boardwalk
Copy the boardwalk-style paths you find along the coast by creating a timber walkway. Ask a landscape designer or gardener to create a raised pathway using your decking of choice (or, of course, have a go yourself).
The orange tones of this decking look fresh and bright next to the planting. For a more rustic style, choose a wood that will fade to a natural, bleached out silvery-grey. Again, decking can get slippery, so look for boards that have an anti-slip coating, and expect to regularly treat.
Copy the boardwalk-style paths you find along the coast by creating a timber walkway. Ask a landscape designer or gardener to create a raised pathway using your decking of choice (or, of course, have a go yourself).
The orange tones of this decking look fresh and bright next to the planting. For a more rustic style, choose a wood that will fade to a natural, bleached out silvery-grey. Again, decking can get slippery, so look for boards that have an anti-slip coating, and expect to regularly treat.
Beautify with bark
Bark is a practical material to use for your garden paths, especially if you want a more secondary walkway, as here. They also just look lovely and blend into natural surroundings beautifully. Opt for larger grades of bark as they’re more durable and better-looking than the finer bark that’s often used for mulching.
Bark is a practical material to use for your garden paths, especially if you want a more secondary walkway, as here. They also just look lovely and blend into natural surroundings beautifully. Opt for larger grades of bark as they’re more durable and better-looking than the finer bark that’s often used for mulching.
Shape up
Think about the shape of your garden path as well as the materials you use. Where do you want it to lead you – and your eye? Perhaps you want it to show off certain aspects of the garden.
A curved path can be a great way to add interest, soften lines and draw attention to planting. It can also make the overall space seem bigger than it really is. Here, the well-ordered cobbles look smart standing out against grass and borders. They also create interest in what is a standard long garden.
Think about the shape of your garden path as well as the materials you use. Where do you want it to lead you – and your eye? Perhaps you want it to show off certain aspects of the garden.
A curved path can be a great way to add interest, soften lines and draw attention to planting. It can also make the overall space seem bigger than it really is. Here, the well-ordered cobbles look smart standing out against grass and borders. They also create interest in what is a standard long garden.
Keep it symmetrical
If your garden is large, or extra wide, how about creating a path that follows the entire perimeter? Here, slabs laid into grass on either side create a pleasing and modern symmetrical effect. They’re practical, too, as they prevent grass from getting worn from all the walking back and forth from the house to the patio area at the back.
If your garden is large, or extra wide, how about creating a path that follows the entire perimeter? Here, slabs laid into grass on either side create a pleasing and modern symmetrical effect. They’re practical, too, as they prevent grass from getting worn from all the walking back and forth from the house to the patio area at the back.
Mix it up
There really are no rules when it comes to your garden path design, so feel free to play around with shapes and materials. Here, a mixture of sizes and shapes is a modern twist on crazy paving, and is filled in with stone chips.
Planning is key, though, so walk around your garden and think about the way you use it or what you want to highlight. Also visit garden centres and builders’ yards to look at materials as there’s a vast range. With paving, for instance, there’s everything from popular mellow sandstone and slate to composite granites, each with their own colourways, maintenance needs, durability, price points and feel.
How have you designed your garden path? Share your ideas and Comments below.
There really are no rules when it comes to your garden path design, so feel free to play around with shapes and materials. Here, a mixture of sizes and shapes is a modern twist on crazy paving, and is filled in with stone chips.
Planning is key, though, so walk around your garden and think about the way you use it or what you want to highlight. Also visit garden centres and builders’ yards to look at materials as there’s a vast range. With paving, for instance, there’s everything from popular mellow sandstone and slate to composite granites, each with their own colourways, maintenance needs, durability, price points and feel.
How have you designed your garden path? Share your ideas and Comments below.
Perhaps your garden errs towards the informal and gently overgrown, rather than clipped and landscaped? If so, a rough path across your lawn might work. Here, higgledy-piggledy paving stones are set into grass for a casual effect. The path offers somewhere to step without breaking up the overall lush, wild, cottage-garden feel.
Concrete stepping stones can be a practical solution in this instance – durable and easy to maintain, with the greenery softening their functional looks.