Paths and walkways are an extremely important part of your landscape design in your front yard, back yard, and all over your property. Paths have many functions and can lead to many places. Different designs are best for serving different functions. Their primary function is, of course, guiding people from one place to another. However, they can also provide a welcome aesthetic quality, both in the materials of the walkway itself and any plants that line sides of it. In addition, paths in your front or back yard will protect your lawn from foot traffic and keep it looking healthy and beautiful.
There are many ways to design a path or walkway based on its function and your goals for your yard’s appearance. A front yard path from the sidewalk to your home’s front door should feel welcoming. It’s a good idea to add fragrant plants like roses or lavender to give visitors to your home a welcoming scent as they enter your front door.
A path that is primarily designed to get you from point A to point B may just be a straight line but a path that’s designed for scenic strolling could be curved. A curved path can be lined with eye catching and beautiful plantings like shrubs and flowers. A curved path with numerous plantings will usually make the walker slow down and enjoy the walk rather than trying to get to the destination as quickly as possible. These types of paths are perfect for gardens and other leisurely areas of the yard. As you can see, different strategies of path planning and planting should be employed based on the goal of the path and expected behavior of walkers.
The material used in an outdoor walkway can also have a large impact on its function and appearance. In the Bergen County area, there are many types of viable walkway materials so you will have an abundance to choose from for your path or walkway. It’s important to take your home’s architecture and surrounding landscaping into consideration when designing or building a path as it should fit in with its surroundings.
One option for walkway material is to choose a formal building material like brick or stone. The straight clean lines of these materials, along with their durability and color, create a great style that can work with the style of your home.
Alternatively, you could opt for a building material that is a bit more informal, like bluestone, flagstone, brownstone, or limestone. These materials are popular for use in grass or gravel and offer a more informal look and feel that is similar to stepping-stones.
No matter what you’re looking for in a walkway for your Bergen County, NJ home, the path and walkway design experts at Borst Landscape and Design can help. Whether you’re looking for a walkway that’s aesthetic or functional, formal or informal, Borst has you covered. We have over 25 years of experience designing and building paths and walkways for residents of Bergen County. Contact us today to learn more or give us a call at 201-785-9400.