The design of your driveway makes a huge impression on anyone who sees it. This is because it’s usually the first thing people notice about your property. Therefore, you should never overlook the importance of your driveway in improving your home’s curb appeal.
However, designing a driveway is not as easy as you might think since it needs to be the perfect blend of style and functionality. If you are experiencing any challenge designing your driveway, read through this article and learn some essential factors you need to take into account.
Choose Your Preferred Driveway Shape
There are lots of different standard shapes and layouts that you can choose from. But, first, it is essential to know what you are looking for in a driveway as this will guide you in choosing the most ideal shape for your type of property. Some of the poplar driveway designs are the following:
- Curved Driveway Design: If your home’s garage is not parallel to the street, then this is the perfect driveway design. There are two factors you should consider when building this type of driveway: size and your desired slope angle. This is vital in ensuring the ease of getting in and out of your driveway.
- Straight Driveway Design: This is a straight path from the parallel street and into your garage. It is among the most common driveway designs since the front yard space of most houses can accommodate this particular type, plus it is the simplest to construct. If you have lots of space on your property, this design could be an excellent option. This is because you can align trees or other foliage that lead up to your garage, offering you a superb line of vision.
- Circular Or Horseshoe Driveway Design: Do you often have lots of family and friends coming over to visit? If so, then a circular driveway is the perfect option due to the convenience it offers, as you do not need to turn around or do any challenging maneuver when driving in and out. This design also improves the curb appeal of your home as it provides such a stylish appearance. You can choose to turn it into a courtyard driveway by adding something at the center, such as a garden or a fountain. The manhole covers can also be placed here, where it will not be exposed to vehicle traffic.
The Driveway’s Drainage
Never allow water to drain from your driveway and into the road or main carriageway. It should, instead, be directed to drain either into the property’s drains or flower bed. As you design your driveway, you should install a replacement drain cover as this enables excellent natural drainage. Nevertheless, it is essential not to place any decorative material over the manhole so it can be easily accessed whenever you are experiencing any drainage issue.
The choice of material to use on your driveway will also influence the drainage of your driveway. Some of the most popular design options include block paving, self-binding gravel, resin-bound gravel, block paving, and concrete and asphalt. The choice is all yours, but as you design a beautiful and elegant driveway, you also need to ensure its drainage is exceptional for it to remain functional.
Consider The Slope Of Your Driveway
When designing your driveway, you need to make sure that it has the perfect slope, which is neither too steep nor too flat. This is important because an entirely flat driveway can result in drainage issues since it hinders it from draining to the sides..
The ideal gradient of your driveway needs to be less than 15 percent; otherwise, it would be very steep, making it too slippery and unsafe, especially if wet. Therefore, you should build up the driveway’s center, as well as add curves to attain the desired gradient.
Accessorize
Once you have decided on the shape of your driveway, as well as the materials to use, the next thing to do is selecting accessories that would make it look more appealing. This needs you to invest both time and money to landscape the whole outdoor space, even after designing your driveway. Doing this makes your garden, which is surrounding your driveway, look beautiful and organised. Subsequently, your home will look trendy, increasing your property’s value.
There are many design options you can incorporate, including having lots of greenery, like flower beds, specimen trees, and shrubs. You should also include some lighting to make it easier to maneuver through the driveway even at night.
Conclusion
Designing your driveway is no easy task. Hopefully, the tips presented above can help you decide on the best design for your driveway, which could help you maximise your front yard space. Therefore, you will never have to worry about your driveway not making a great impression on anyone who gets to see it.
