Get the Perfect Driveway

We all know that first impressions are key, and having a neat and tidy driveway at the front of your house can make the world of difference to the overall presentation of it. Whether you have a paved, gravel, or tarmac driveway, you can still make it look great! If you need some tips on how to get the perfect driveway, this guide could help you!

Envisage a finished Result

As with everything, planning is key. You can’t expect your driveway to be perfect if you don’t know what you’re trying to achieve. Planning is also important to ensure that you don’t run out of money mid project, which might force you to compromise. Plan everything down to the material you will need and how much of it. Block paving can create a uniform look, and would suit most style of houses, but if you want to make your driveway a little more interesting than plain blocks, you might opt for a cobbled driveway.

Prepare The Area

It is vital that you prepare the area properly before you start creating your driveway. This is especially the case if you are completely replacing your previous driveway. Dig out any existing weeds and tough grasses and make sure the ground is level. If you’re laying a gravel driveway, you might want to lay a sheet of membrane under the stones to help prevent weeds growing through. Likewise, if you are laying paving stones, you should lay a base before the stones themselves.

Colour Coordinate

Colour coordination can create a sense of harmony about your house. Obviously you don’t have to match everything in your driveway area, but making sure that fences and gates, bricks and paving don’t clash will make the front of your house look well put together.

Make it interesting

Obviously, more than anything, you need your driveway to be practical, but you can make it a feature at the front of your house, too. You can do this in multiple different ways, depending on budget and time available. If you are feeling adventurous, building an octagonal or circular pattern into your driveway is a great way to do this. 

Maintain the Driveway

There is little point in spending time, money and effort creating the perfect driveway if you aren’t going to maintain it to keep it looking perfect. This doesn’t have to be regular, heavy duty maintenance, but little and (reasonably) often should do the trick. Pulling up weeds, making sure to kill the root, whenever you spot them are clearing leaves from the area are the easiest ways to keep your driveway looking presentable. Pressure washing the main area every six months, or so, will also keep it looking pristine and welcoming!

Do you have any advice on how to get the perfect driveway? Share your ideas in the comments!

[Photo Credit:  Landscape Design Advisor]