Walkway Designs | Ideas and TipsWalkway designs can be very creative. Here is some professional information along with some walkway pictures to help you with your design. Some ideas to consider when designing is the shape, design, width and materials. Also, there are certain things that will determine the cost of the walk. These are size (square footage), paving materials, and any steps that may be necessary. Take a look at my list of hardscape choices at the bottom of the page. Even if you go with a less expensive material, if the design is beautiful, the walk will be impressive. The geometry of your walkway can be either curvilinear or straight.This is usually determined by the locations and relationships of the places that the walk is connecting. Straight paths have more of a directness about them. Yet the widths of the geometry can change and create interest.
Curved walkways will provide a meandering feeling and create a more naturalistic feeling. One or more curves may make up the walk. If your garden walkway is coming off a front porch, start off with lines that are perpendicular to the porch. You can then start the curve; the You might also have to consider including steps in the walk. I have written another page addressing landscape steps, materials and other bits of practical information.
Depending on the importance of the walk, it might be wide or narrow. Less important garden walkways can be 3 feet wide. These might be those that lead from the driveway to the backyard landscape. Minor paths can be as narrow as 2 feet. Stepping stones can be even smaller. If using stepping stones such as irregular pieces of bluestone, consider planting low growing plants, such as Thyme or Sedum, in between the stones for a very casual and natural look. These might be pathways that are necessary. They also might be ones that lead further back into your backyard landscaping, such as a sitting area, woods, shed, etc. Take a look at some walkway pictures and how I used them in my landscape projects.
 Designing Front Yards
You will find out about all that and more. Materials The material should go well with material on your house. Expense is often a consideration. Here is the order of materials from most expensive to least costly: (You can visit my page on paving costs for more specific pricing information!)
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For example, if the walk is to be a short one, forming a connection from the street to the front door, curves may not be possible.
walk can be one large curve or it can have a few curves with "switchbacks". 
Front walks and those that are main access ways should be a minimum of 4 feet wide. They can be much wider too. If you have the room and a wider walk fits with the scale of your surroundings, I would consider it.