After months of planning, house hunting, and endless emails to your very patient realtor, you’ve finally found the house of your dreams — but the driveway is showing every crack and oil spill from the previous owners, and maybe even the owners before them.
Your home’s exterior is the first thing your family, friends, (and the pizza delivery guys) see when they stop by for a visit. Along with some DIY landscaping and personalizing your home’s entryway, updating your driveway can take your home’s exterior to the next level, and make it feel more welcoming to your guests. Check out some of our favorite DIY driveway design ideas to give your home’s exterior a much-needed facelift.
Recycled Crushed Concrete Driveway
If you’re not looking for anything particularly fancy, but really need to establish a driveway, consider this project from Lady Lee’s Home. Utilizing materials like recycled, crushed concrete, this driveway is ideal for a rural setting or an area that’s prone to heavy rains. Packed gravel does a good job of keeping muddy puddles at bay, giving you a beautiful concrete driveway that is always clean and trim.
The trickiest part of this project is sourcing the recycled concrete. Check Craigslist and call local concrete plants to see if they have any you can take off their hands.
English Garden Inspired Driveway Ideas
If you need a driveway to your detached garage but aren’t willing to sacrifice your lawn, consider this English garden-inspired path. Since we are not using something traditional like an asphalt driveway, the stone pavers add some traction to get your car to the garage but don’t take away from the overall aesthetic of your well-manicured yard and garden.
I really like how the gaps between the pavers have grass growing through them, but you could certainly fill the space with pea gravel if you wanted a more established pathway.
Driveway Garden
Usually, that small strip between the tracks for your tires goes completely unused, and is filled with gravel or grass. The idea of using that space to plant some succulents or ground cover is genius! It will add a pop of color to your otherwise bland driveway. Plus, who couldn’t benefit from a little extra garden space?
Driveway Art
If you’re not necessarily in the market for a whole new driveway, but want to add a little character to worn out, dirty concrete, consider this creative idea. All you need is one of these stencils and a power washer, and you’ll be able to add some really cool art to your driveway!
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The part that’s nice about this driveway art is that it’s as permanent as you want it to be. Leave it on for months, or simply power wash your driveway to start from scratch again.
DIY Driveway Apron
Maybe your driveway is in good shape but could use a more established entry. A driveway apron makes the front of your driveway a bit more aesthetically pleasing and is a good option if you want to spruce up without investing in an expensive overhaul.
The driveway apron project from This Old House utilizes cobblestone mats rather than individual stones, making the project that much more efficient to complete.
Cobblestone And Grass Driveway Path
If you like the English garden-inspired driveway idea from earlier but are looking for something that incorporates traditional cobblestone, this is the driveway idea for you!
Related Post: English Garden Inspiration For Your Yard
My favorite part of this particular driveway design is the dwarf fruit trees and rose hedges that line the perimeter of the grass.
Grass and Stone Driveway
Now, you could argue this isn’t really a driveway since so much of it is grass, but I think the stones would do a good job of keeping muddy puddles at bay. This particular driveway has an almost mesmerizing look with the super green grass and bright white tiles contrasting perfectly.
The real question with this idea, though, is to mow or not to mow? If you’re not super into mowing grass, or even watering it for that matter, then perhaps that grass could be replaced with a more sustainable ground cover.
Paved Black Cobblestone Driveway
If a concrete slab is a little too modern for you, but a cobblestone and grass path is too traditional, why not go with something that’s somewhere in between? I like that this driveway idea could lean toward either traditional or modern depending on the exterior of your home and the landscaping that surrounds it.
In addition to the sleek modern look, paving stones are extremely low-maintenance once installed. Talk about a win-win!
Revived Crushed Shell Driveway
This idea is great for a coastal area where you can utilize some crushed shells to establish a no-frills driveway with interesting textures that is still functional. The creator of these plans said he was able to get one cubic yard of crushed seashells for about $50 from a local supplier, which is a great low-cost option.
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This simple driveway does have two disadvantages: Shells aren’t super comfy to step on with bare feet, and they are prone to pesky weeds.
Concrete Slab Driveway Ideas
If you want a big driveway and are willing to sacrifice some grass to get it, this concrete slab driveway that’s reminiscent of a giant puzzle might be your best option. For more visual interest, the sleek gaps between the concrete slabs could be filled with pea gravel or a drought-tolerant ground cover. The only downfall with this driveway idea is that it might require a bit of maintenance to keep all those cracks and patterns weed free.
Resurfaced Concrete Driveway
Maybe your driveway doesn’t need to be entirely overhauled but could benefit from a facelift. This DIY project costs a little under $700 and results in a smooth finish that’s sealed for protection against the elements.
This isn’t the most decorative driveway idea on the list, but if you’re going for something that will stand up to harsh weather conditions year after year, this is an affordable resurfacing option.
Glow in the Dark Driveway
If you want to make your driveway shine (literally), check out this project for a beautiful glow in the dark driveway. This project is as simple as buying some glow in the dark pebbles and mixing them in with your current gravel. Alternatively, you could scatter the pebbles in a rock garden or line them along the edge of your driveway.
Thank you for mentioning that recycled concrete is the hardest part of this project. I want to start a new business this summer. I will find a good asphalt repair service in my area for this as well.
Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for creating a truly unique and eye-catching driveway. I agree that mixing the glow in the dark pebbles with your current gravel is an excellent way to create an enchanting effect. As darkness falls, the pebbles will absorb light throughout the day and emit a soft, radiant glow, illuminating your driveway. This approach not only enhances the visual appeal of your driveway but also provides practical benefits, such as increased visibility and safety during night-time.