Modern Driveway Ideas
Are you in need of some inspiration to modernise your driveway, or want to know what makes a driveway modern? Then this is the article for you!
In this article, we’re going to discuss the different types of driveways, comparing them in terms of price and maintenance, think about what is considered to be a modern driveway and look into additional driveway ideas that can add something a little extra to it. If this is something you’re interested in, then keep reading.
Contents
Different Types Of Driveways
A driveway can change the appearance of a house as it’s something you see straight away. The last thing you want is to have a nice, modernised house, but an old and worn out driveway to go with it. You’d want people to go past and think ‘wow, what a nice, modern-looking driveway’ and not be put off by the appearance of the driveway.
Below, is a list of the different types of driveway installation available:
- Resin-bound
- Indian stone
- Block paving
- Stone and gravel
- Tarmac
- Cobblestone or brick
- Pattern imprinted
As you can see, there is a wide variety of different types of driveways available, all with their own advantages and disadvantages. It’s important to look at what each one offers and what some of the drawbacks might be to them, so you can make sure you get the best one for you and be able to achieve the look you’re after with the expert help of professional driveway fitters. As people will see your driveway, you want to make sure you get the exact look you want, to complete the overall appearance of the house.
Comparison of Driveway Ideas
To help you decide what the best driveway is for you, we’re going to look at what each option offers and the advantages and disadvantages of them.
Resin-Bound Driveways
These provide a range of colours and flexibility, which is great for being able to choose the right look for the house. With having a variety of colours to choose from, you can be sure that you’ll find the right one you’re after.
The downside of this type of driveway is that they can crack easily if they haven’t been laid properly. The surface can easily move and lift as well, meaning you may experience several problems with this type of driveway. With having these types of issues, it is also harder to repair them, so if this was something you were thinking of choosing, make sure you have a local driveway company that can deal with problems like this.
If a resin-bound driveway was something you were interested in, then it might be worth looking into reviews of what other people think of having one and make sure there’s someone local to you, that can come and look at any cracks or lifting if needed. They are quite low maintenance if problems don’t occur and prices can vary depending on the size and colours chosen.
Indian-Stone Driveways
This type of driveway offers a natural sandstone look, with a limited choice of patterns and colours. This is good for if you’re wanting a more natural-looking driveway, but still have the option of colours and patterns.
The disadvantage of this type of driveway is the colours and sizes can be limited and they may not be very strong. The individual parts of the driveway can also start to wobble and become loose, meaning that weeds can come up between then
This type of driveway can offer you a nice, natural look, however, it may be a lot of maintenance due to the weeds coming through. If you’re wanting a low maintenance driveway, then this may not be the best option to go for.
Gravel and Stone Driveways
Stone and Gravel driveways are a great option if you’re wanting to deter burglars. They can be loud when walking over them and parking a car, which will put people off coming up to your house. This type of driveway is one of the most affordable options, so if you’re wanting something a bit cheaper, this is the best option for you.
The only thing with this driveway is that it can be noisy to walk and park on, which may put you off wanting it. It would also require maintenance as weeds can still grow through it and you may find that the stones and gravel need topping up every so often. As they are loose stones and gravel, they can move around a lot which may also be annoying.
This is probably the best option for if you’re wanting something more affordable, however, it does require more maintenance than others.
Block Paving Driveways
These are slabs and small concrete blocks that are laid down and be done so it creates a pattern. If you’re wanting a durable and nice-looking driveway, with the option to have a pattern on it, then this is a great option for achieving that.
However, having patterns in block paving driveways, usually means you have to pay a lot more to get this and cost should be considered. This type of driveway isn’t a great option if you’re on a budget and don’t want to spend a lot of money on the driveway area. They can also grow moss and algae, meaning regular cleaning and maintenance is needed, to keep it looking nice.
This may not be the best option if you’re wanting something low cost and low maintenance, but it is great if you’re wanting the ability to have a patterned driveway, designed by you with a natural finish to it.
Tarmac Driveways
This type of driveway is a great option for if you’re wanting something a bit cheaper than other options. With a tarmac driveway, it creates a smooth and pristine finish, matching the road outside your house. It can be more of a basic look but it looks neat, tidy and requires very little maintenance such as weeding. They are also known for lasting a long time as they’re so durable.
The only thing with a tarmac driveway is that you are very limited to colour choices, as they don’t offer many with this type. You also need to be careful with oils and chemicals that may leak onto the driveway as this can damage the tarmac, causing it to deteriorate.
This is a great option for someone on a budget who is after a simple yet near design for their driveway. If well looked after, you shouldn’t experience any problems with it, meaning it will last a long time as well.
Brick and Cobblestone Driveways
This type of driveway is a more expensive option that would require a specialist to come and install it. Depending on the look you’re going for with a house, would depend on if this is the best option for you.
They can become very slippery when wet which can be a potential risk to some people. Brick and cobblestone driveways aren’t the best option for achieving a modern driveway look and they are also very expensive.
Pattern Imprinted Driveways
These are best known as decorative driveways and the great thing about them is that they offer you such a wide variety of different styling options. They’re also very durable with a strong surface so it can hold heavy weights and doesn’t require much maintenance.
However, cracks can develop in this type of driveway, meaning they would need repairing. Another downside of this driveway is that the surface doesn’t allow water to drain away, so you would need to make sure you have a good draining system in place.
A pattern imprinted driveway is a great option if you’re wanting more variety in terms of style and a strong surface but you may experience problems with cracking and water drainage.
These are a few advantages and disadvantages of driveway ideas that can be used to modernise your driveway. Some driveways are much better than others in terms of how strong they are and being less maintenance, whereas others can offer you a better variety in styles and colours or be a cheaper option for someone on a budget.
Always think beforehand of what you want the driveway to look like and what your main advantages need to be, to help you rule out each driveway option. If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper then tarmac or gravel and stone driveways may be the better option for you. However, if you’re wanting something that offers you more choice in styles and colours than pattern imprinted and resin-bound driveways are a great option to achieve this.
The best thing to do is really look into each driveway option and consider each advantage and disadvantage, along with how they look, to help you decide which is best for getting a modern driveway.
What Is Considered A Modern Driveway?
Everyone will have their own opinion on what they think a modern driveway is, but some features of a driveway can make it look more modern. With everyone’s perceptions being different, it’s hard to say exactly what is considered as a modern driveway as everyone will agree and disagree with some points. We’re going to take a look at some factors that we feel can help make a driveway look modern.
Colour
The colour can create a modern look for a driveway, but everyone will have their opinions on what they think looks modern. In addition to this, there might be a colour that suits your home exterior better which you might want to choose over the driveway looking modern. Colours like blacks and greys look very modern and sleek and can create a neat looking driveway. Along with this, patterned driveways can be considered as modern as well, creating an expensive look.
Lighting
Lighting can be used as a cheap way to really modernise your driveway. Something so simple can completely change the image of the area and create something modern and sophisticated. These can be wall lights, lights installed into the ground or lights along the driveway leading up to the house. They create an ambience for the area at night, making it look classy and very modern.
Design
As we have already spoken about, the different types of driveways, have different designs. Some of these have a more modern look to them, whereas some can create a much older look. A design like cobblestones and bricks tend to be used for older looking houses as they create an older look with the finish they have. When looking at what the driveway material options are, you will find some that fit the image of your house perfectly and some can even provide the modern look. Patterns, colours and smooth finishes can help towards creating a modern driveway image.
Finish
The finish of the driveway can also contribute towards the overall appearance of it and therefore, how modern it will look. Some have smooth and sleek finishes to them, which straight away gives them a more modern feel. Whereas some might have a rougher finish such as gravel and stones, which doesn’t always give off a tidy and modern appearance. Smooth, shiny and neat finishes tend to have a more modern feel to them.
Privacy
Private driveways are becoming more modern with houses and they are something that creates a very modern vibe. Things such as gates can be used at the start of the driveway, to make your property area, completely separate from the street you live on. They are great for those who want some added privacy to their property and to create a very modern look.
Listed above are just a few ideas on what we think contributes towards a modern driveway and ideas on what to think about when considering how to create a modern driveway. These ideas can help to transform the appearance of your driveway and exterior of your house, by adding a more modern aesthetic to it. Some ideas are cheaper than others such as the lighting, which can easily be done yourself. On the contrary, some ideas require a lot more in terms of money and installation such as having a gate added.
Additional Driveway Ideas
As discussed earlier, we looked at driveway ideas in terms of the materials used for driveways. The material is going to be the main thing in creating a modern driveway, however, there are additional things that can be added to the driveway area, to make it more modern.
Lighting
Lighting can transform a driveway and help to create a more modern feeling to it. It’s something small but so easy to add to your driveway and something you can also do yourself. It could be wall lighting that attaches to the house and this type has a wide variety of one’s available. They have a range of different types of lighting and also different looks such as lanterns. Some designs are a lot more modern than others and some lighting can create a more modern ambience and mood lighting.
As well as wall lights, you can have lights in the ground, along the driveway, which can create more of a mood lighting vibe. This can make the driveway look classy and modern, as well as lighting up the driveway. Not only does lighting contribute to making a driveway modern, but it’s also a practical thing to have on your driveway, to see you see at night. They can also be cheap, so if you are on a budget this is a great option for you.
Colour and Design
The colour and design that you choose for your driveway can make a big difference in the appearance of it. With the different materials, available for a driveway, some come with the option to have colours or designs on them. If this is the case, then you have the option to choose for yourself and determine how modern the driveway will look.
Plain colours such as black and grey can help to create a modern look, but at the same time, patterned tiles can also create this look. If this is something you’re doing, it’s a great way to decide for yourself, how modern you want the driveway to look, along with it matching the exterior of the house.
Plants
Plants are a great, easy and affordable way to create a modern look for your driveway. Rather than just having a plain driveway area, adding plants into this can create a whole new look for the appearance of the house. Plants are affordable, easy to get and easy to plant yourself. If you’re wanting something that’s low maintenance, you can also buy low maintenance plants, that don’t require as much care and attention. These also vary in sizes and colours so you can find the right plants to match the look you’re going for and size of the garden and driveway area. If you’re looking for an affordable and quick and easy way to modernise your garden, then plants are a great option in achieving that.
These things are great ways to add a more modern look to your driveway, with some being affordable and easy to do. If you’re not wanting to completely re-do your driveway in terms of changing the material used for it and colour and designs, then things like lighting and plants can help you to create the modern look. Something so small and simple can go a long way.
Summary
In this article, we’ve spoken all about modern driveways including driveway ideas, comparing the ideas, thinking about what makes a modern driveway and additional ideas.
The first driveway ideas we looked at were based on the materials that can be used for your driveway. Each driveway has its own advantages and disadvantages, some can create a more modern look than others, but some can be more durable and better quality for a driveway. We also took a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each of these ideas, to get a better understanding of what is most practical and which is best in helping to achieve a modern driveway look.
