You are going back from work and thinking about that sip of nice afternoon coffee you’re going to have on your deck. You’re approaching your house and riding down the street, and it’s easy to see it from far away because of a beautiful driveway. You made sure of it a long time ago, and you’re more than happy with it. It’s like a mirror, reflecting what’s inside of the home. A nice home goes with an even better driveway.
If you want to become a proud homeowner of a nice suburban family house with a wonderful driveway, believe us when we say it’s not a matter of money; it’s more about how you do it and what you do to make it look so stunning. With a little bit of creativity and some proper guidance, it’s not that hard after all.
Planning Ahead
First, you need a good plan. You need to get out a nice piece of paper and start drawing, outlining your vision. What do you have in mind? How would you like it to look? You can take inspiration from dozens of similar ones you’ve seen, or you can get some inspiration from the Internet. The part about drawing is about making mistakes and corrections.
It’s about making drafts and rewriting them. You can go as crazy as you want at this point. You can always add things or make something old look a bit better. But you also need to think about some subtle details as well.
Think of how it looks compared to your home. How much space are you ready to spare? Can it meet your needs? If you have more than one car in your home, are those cars able to park comfortably without any need to move any of them? It’s a lot of thinking and talking it through with your partner or friend. That’s why it’s the first stage of it all.
What Material Should You Go For?
You can make your driveway from common materials, depending on what you like. Every material, like concrete or asphalt, has advantages and can last a long time. We mentioned how it’s nice when it corresponds to the exterior of the house, and that’s something to consider for sure. Strong materials last a long time, and they are a good choice.
Also, money is always a consideration, but like with everything else, a few cents here and there is better to give now and be done with it. To make it all better, you can go for some help offered by Sommerset Paving and similar companies, which offer a wide scope of different materials. It’s a good thing because you get a second opinion on what you imagined.
You can discuss your plan and your vision. Is it feasible and possible to make? How much time does it take? What you need to consider and all the small details you didn’t think of in the first place. Let’s say for a nice suburban house, it’s great when you try to merge a bit of a rustic look with a modern one. A few stones can make that happen. So it’s a combination of both that makes it look perfect. A bit of rough concrete for durability and some nice details to make it look more elegant.
Where Should the Water Go?
A driveway is exposed to a lot, and over time, it catches up with its structure. The biggest issue is water; it finds its way even through the smallest crack and gets in the way of a good pavement. Where there’s water, there’s also grass and other greens.
Once the roots start to expand and grow, those little cracks become bigger and bigger. And before you know it, you’ll have a few tiles moved and out of place. A simple slope makes the problem go away because the water needs to go somewhere, and it follows gravity.
The last place it needs to be is on the driveway, creating big puddles. The kids might find it amusing, but it’s not a good thing for the driveway itself. Some drains and a good slope make sure the water always finds its way to the street, and from there, it has to go down the sewage system.
Make a Bit of Contrast
Add some color to the whole driveway; it looks much more beautiful. Let’s say you have gray asphalt; on the sides, you have a bit of rustic stone, and on the edges a nice line of orange bricks. The line of bricks or stones is like a dam; it looks good and it also keeps it more neat. If you’re working on the pavement or remodeling it, it separates the driveway from your garden. It creates contrast, and that always looks appealing.
And Some Greens on the Side
A good driveway doesn’t just look good on its own; it looks good because it separates the urban from the natural. You can make it even more beautiful with a bit of landscaping in the garden or grass in front. It can be just a nice lawn, or you can make it look fancy with a nice fountain made from stones, flowers, or a tree.
But the point is it somehow emphasizes the asphalt or concrete more. It’s because of the contrast it creates, which we spoke of earlier. You don’t need to make it complicated. The less it requires to be taken care of, the better.
Some Light at the End
At night, it can even look better than during the day, but only if you put the right lights in the right place and at the right angle. Play with lights. Some brighter and some dimmer, depending on the position. LEDs look nice, and so do solar lights, as they don’t need electricity. Some make a little pathway from solar lamps leading to the front door. It’s a nice look.
You can make it simple and good-looking. It doesn’t need to be expensive or fancy. Basic materials and some greenery are the best. And the cherry on top, lamps for a little light show in the evenings.
