Regarding curb appeal, your driveway plays a significant part in your home’s beauty and market value. If you’re constructing a new home or updating your landscaping and hardscape, you should consider the most recent driveway ideas and materials.
The prevalent trends of a few years ago have vanished due to numerous disadvantages, changes in taste, and the creation of new materials. Homeowners choose driveway designs based on cost, upkeep, beauty, and sustainability. For example, modern, permeable pavers triumph over traditional materials in an environmentally friendly endeavor to return rainfall to the soil and minimize run-off that causes erosion. But it isn’t the only unexpected trend reversal. Please continue reading to learn about other driveway fads on their way out. Our experts debate fading trends with us and explain innovative techniques for building the finest driveway for your home. Transform Your Driveway with Hackensack Paving Excellence
Straight Driveways
Straight lines in landscaping and hardscaping do not improve the curb appeal of your property. “Outdated driveway designs tend to include a lot of straight lines, such as a long stretch of square concrete blocks,” Raf Michalowski, designer and CEO of Meble Furniture, tells House Digest. These straight lines are unappealing and may make a house seem chilly and uninviting.”
Instead of straight lines, modern design trends are inspired by nature. “As people’s tastes
evolve, they’re seeking more natural styles that incorporate curves and softer lines,” he said. We like the polar opposite of what is trendy; thus, tidy lines give way to less rigid and constrained designs. “As an emerging alternative, I recommend driveways with winding patterns or organic shapes.” These patterns may be created from several materials, such as brick, gravel, or pavers. “They give the space a more organic look, making it inviting and cozy,” Michalowski adds. A beautiful driveway might be curved, U-shaped, round, or Y-shaped. Any of these options prevent the harsh appearance of a straight length of pavement going from the street to your property.
Brick Driveways
Brick may be an excellent material if you want to invest time, effort, and money in preserving your driveway. On the other hand, most homeowners would prefer less price and bother. “Driveways made of bricks or paving stones, or stamped to resemble them, are simply not as popular as they once were.” To begin with, paving a driveway brick by brick is costly. “It’s much more labor-intensive, and the materials are more expensive than concrete or asphalt,” says Martin Orefice, CEO of Rent To Own Labs.”These driveways also need frequent maintenance as bricks heave and crack with the freeze/thaw cycle.”
If you decide to build a brick driveway, the installation cost is merely the beginning of your investment. The bricks must be cleaned, sealed, re-grouted, and replaced regularly. Furthermore, brick may be a bad option for a driveway owing to its propensity to crumble with the weight of cars driving and parking on it regularly.
Natural Stone Driveways
Natural stone driveways offer significant downsides yet add an appealing appearance to your home’s curb appeal. “Natural stone driveways have become a popular choice in recent years, but this trend may be ending.” “While natural stone driveways are low maintenance and attractive, they can be costly to install and maintain,” explains Keith Sant, founder and CEO of Kind House Buyers.
The cost of constructing supplies has skyrocketed. In our current economy, they are prompting homeowners to search for ways to save money on new construction and home repair projects. One cost-cutting strategy is avoiding pricey paving materials such as natural stone. “With the ever-increasing cost of materials, many homeowners are opting for more affordable driveway options,” says Sant. Asphalt and concrete driveways are gradually becoming popular among homeowners. They are affordable to install, simple to maintain, and available in various colors and patterns that may give your house a distinct appearance.”
Colored Concrete Driveways
Homeowners seek methods to give their driveways a distinctive flare to boost curb appeal and set their houses apart from others on the block. However, fashionable therapies tend to come and go. “Another popular trend on its way out is colored concrete driveways.” These driveways’ bright, eye-catching hues may appear excellent initially, but they may fade rapidly due to environmental exposure. “Over time, this fading can leave your driveway looking dull and dated,” adds Sant.
Sant suggests stamping rather than coloring to create a high-end aspect of a concrete driveway. “Compared to colored concrete, concrete stamping is more durable and cost-effective.” Stamped concrete has the same customizable colors and patterns as painted concrete but is more resistant to fading and damage. This makes it an excellent alternative for high-trafficked driveways.”
You may construct a stamped concrete driveway in various textures and patterns that mimic stone, slate, pavers, brick, wood planks, and more. Stamped concrete is simple to maintain, even though it might break over time due to freezing and thawing cycles. Brush or blow away the loose dirt, then rinse with a garden hose as needed.
Gravel Driveways
If you have a gravel driveway, think about paving it. “Gravel driveways were once seen as an economical option for homeowners,” says Sant, “but this trend is fading fast.” Although gravel driveways are cheap to build, they are challenging to maintain. The gravel must be replaced regularly, and the driveway surface must be smoothed regularly.”
Gravel driveways have several extra disadvantages. They are sloppy since the crushed stone bits spread on the nearby grass. They are dusty in dry times and might develop muddy ruts during rainy seasons. Gravel driveways are difficult to walk on, particularly in high heels, and this surface collects dirt in your vehicle.
Sant recommends pavers as an alternative to a gravel driveway. “Paver driveways are an excellent alternative to gravel driveways for homeowners seeking an aesthetically pleasing, low-maintenance driveway.” Pavers are available in various forms, colors, and sizes, making them an excellent alternative for constructing bespoke patterns. “They’re also more durable than gravel driveways and require less upkeep over time,” he says.
Gated Driveways
You should skip the extravagant gates at the end of your driveway unless you reside at Buckingham Palace. “Large, elaborate gates are becoming less popular with homeowners who value privacy and simplicity,” says Shaun Martin, owner and CEO of Denver-based We Buy Houses.”Instead of investing in a large ornate gate, more homeowners opt for smaller, simpler styles that blend in with the landscape or have more modern lines.”
In addition to more basic designs, current technologies may be used to assure privacy and safety. “As they provide convenience and security, automated gates are quickly becoming the preferred option for driveway design.” “Homeowners can open and close their gates with the push of a button or even remotely from within their home, making it simple to keep their property secure at all times,” Martin explains.
An automated gate is powered by a motor that slides or swings open and closed. The gate may be opened by inputting a code on a keypad or remotely using a smartphone app. Today’s automated gates have a sleek appearance that complements modern landscape and architectural styles.
Minimalist Driveways
A simple poured concrete driveway with no link to the landscape is minimalist, but it doesn’t Improve your property’s curb appeal.
“Minimalist driveways are becoming less popular because they lack interesting features or decorations that distinguish them.” “People want driveways that reflect their style and personality,” says Ben Wagner, a real estate investor, and home flipper.”Minimalist driveways don’t provide anything more than a driveway. As a result, they are losing favor over time.”
Driveways that use natural materials as critical aspects of their designs are replacing minimalist choices. “Green infrastructure is a growing trend in driveway design.” Homeowners are increasingly considering green areas. Within their drives, this includes grass strips or planting beds,” Wagner explains.
To break up the monotony of minimalism, construct a curving, Y-shaped, or circular driveway surrounded by planting beds of trees, bushes, and flowers. Additionally, ribbon driveways from the past are making a reappearance. These designs incorporate two concrete strips for your car’s tires and a ribbon of turf grass growing between them.
Unsustainable Driveways
Unsustainable driveways made of non-eco-friendly materials are being phased out. According to Ron Wysocarski, a Wyse Home Team Realty real estate broker, “eco-friendliness and a new aesthetic look have made permeable driveways a trend among Gen Z and Millennial homeowners (the largest portion of the housing market).” “Permeable driveways permit rainwater to percolate through the surface and into the ground, reducing runoff and improving water management.” Permeable pavers or even grass pavers may be used to build these driveways. “They provide a more natural and visually appealing appearance while also providing environmental benefits,” he says.
Turfstone pavers may be used to construct roads that allow water to absorb into the ground and limit the sort of discharge that causes soil erosion. Turfstone systems provide a lattice-like grid of concrete pavers with wide gaps that enable grass to grow through the hardscape. Turfstone driveways may be kept reasonably by mowing the grass like a lawn. It creates a lush, green appearance that blends your driveway into the scenery while reducing the issue of muddy ruts in the soil.
