Driveway Design Ideas and Tips to Increase Curb Appeal

Your driveway is a very important aspect of your home’s landscaping and curb appeal. The amount of driveway design ideas are practically endless. You can create an elegant entrance that has many details or you can go modern and keep your driveway simple and sleek.

There’s a lot that goes into choosing the right driveway design for your home. You have to decide the dimensions of it, the shape, the materials you’ll use and any other accessories or add-ons such as your garage door.

We’ll go over some of the basics of designing your driveway as well as some ideas for inspiration.

Deciding the Size of Your Driveway

One of the biggest factors that determines how big your driveway will be is the size of your front yard or how much space you have to work with leading up to your garage.

You’ll have to plan your driveway so that it’s easy and convenient for cars to get from the street to the garage and vice versa.

Another factor to consider is how many cars you’re going to be parking in the driveway or how many you’d like to be able to fit in it.

Once you’ve figured out how big you can make your driveway, you can start thinking of the shape and layout.

Choosing the Best Driveway Shape

There are tons of different standard driveway shapes and layouts or you can create something unique if you have the space and budget.

Below, we’ll go over some popular driveway designs and layouts:

Circular Driveways

Also called horseshoe driveways, circular driveways are perfect for homes that have a lot of cars or experience a lot of traffic in their driveway from family, friends and other guests.

They’re extremely convenient because they allow you to drive in and out without having to turn around or make any difficult maneuvers.

Circular driveways are also very elegant looking and greatly boost your home’s curb appeal. You have the option of turning it into a courtyard driveway by putting something in the middle like a fountain or garden.

Curved Driveways

Some people don’t have the ability to build a full circular driveway, so a curved driveway might be the answer. Curved driveways are often found on homes that have a garage that isn’t lined up with the street or they have something in the way leading up to the garage.

When planning to build a curved driveway, you must keep in mind of the angle you’ll use and how big it’ll be. You want people to be able to navigate easily in and out of the driveway.

Straight Driveways

Straight driveways are exactly what they sound like. It’s a straight path that leads to your garage that’s lined up with the street. These are probably the most common driveways as they’re easiest to build and many homes only have space for straight driveways.

Even on homes with large amounts of property, straight driveways can be a great option. They provide a nice line of vision and can be lined with trees or other foliage leading up to the garage.

Driveway Design Materials

Depending on your budget, your driveway design and how big your driveway will be, choosing the material will differ from homeowner to homeowner. Some of the most common materials for driveways are as follows:

• Concrete – very common and fairly easy to install
• Asphalt – one of the least expensive options
• Pavers – can be customized with different designs and materials
• Brick – natural material that provides a traditional look
• Natural stone – can be costly but provides elegant look
• Loose stone – the least expensive option with many variations
• Tar and chip – combination of asphalt and loose stone

There are many driveway materials to choose from so it’s important to pick one that’ll look good with your house and will last throughout the weather extremes experienced in the Midwest.

Driveway Accessories and Add-ons

Your driveway design goes beyond just the material used to lay the pathway. Your driveway as a whole can be customized however you’d like.

If you have a horseshoe or circular driveway, you can create a focal point in the middle by adding a fountain, garden or even a statue. Straight and curved driveways are often paired with foliage along the edges leading up to the garage.

Gates are also a very desirable feature for homeowners. They add a sense of privacy and security along with elegant curb appeal.

The choice is really up to you and what you feel will create the best curb appeal for your home.

Don’t Forget About Your Garage Door

People often forget about their garage door when thinking about their driveway design. In most cases, your garage door is fully noticeable from the street and plays a major role in the look of your driveway.

A new garage door can be the finishing touch in creating the ultimate driveway and enhancing your curb appeal. It doesn’t end there. A new steel garage door will provide many benefits for your home.

If your garage door is old, worn out or doesn’t function properly, that puts quite the damper on your home’s looks and its energy efficiency. You store some of your most valuable items in your garage such as your car or lawn care equipment. You want those things to be protected from the elements.

A steel insulated garage door will not only look amazing and complete your driveway design, it’ll boost your home’s energy efficiency and keep your valuables comfortable year round.

When you choose Feldco for your replacement garage door, you know you’re getting the absolute best in the Midwest. Our thick, heavy gauge steel garage doors are insulated and we have many options to choose from.

Whether you choose a standard or carriage style garage door, we have many colors, hardware options and window insert options to select. You can even have a garage door opener installed.

It’s Time to Get Started on Your New Driveway Design

Driveways are more than just a path to the garage. They contribute to your home’s curb appeal and functionality. It’s important to choose a driveway design that flows with your house so cars can easily maneuver in and out.

From the layout and materials to any accessories and greenery, your driveway should be much more than just a slab of concrete.

If you find that your garage door needs replacing while designing your new driveway, trust Feldco for the best garage doors in the Midwest. We combine premium products with excellent customer service so it’s no wonder over 400,000 homeowners have gone with us.

Get a free quote online for your replacement garage door so you can create the best looking driveway in the neighborhood.