Improve Your Curb Appeal With These 3 Original Driveway Design Ideas in Madison and Sun Prairie WI Areas

Your driveway welcomes your guests, adds curb appeal to your property, and it can even put a smile on your face when you come home. Since every home (and every homeowner) is different, don’t settle for a cookie-cutter driveway. Here’s how to improve your curb appeal with these 2 original driveway design ideas in Madison and Sun Prairie, WI, areas. 

Related: 4 Ideas For a Bold Driveway in Middleton and Fitchburg WI Areas

The shape of your driveway depends in part on the available land. If you have a large front yard, especially a park-like setting with mature trees and an undulating landscape, you could make a dramatic entrance with a curved driveway. A curved driveway adds interest. It also encourages a slower arrival, one that gives you or your visitors time to admire the landscaping. 

Winding Drives

Winding drives, or horseshoe driveways add elegance, and even more so if you have space for an entry court or circular driveway. Just picture limousines arriving to drop off guests to a grand gala; a beautiful fountain, ancient tree, sculpture, or flower garden can grace the inside of the horseshoe or circle - you’ll really think you’re coming home to a castle!

While you can opt for asphalt or poured concrete on these longer driveways, you’ll achieve a much more sophisticated look with brick, granite paving stones, cobblestones, or concrete pavers (which can mimic these materials as well as many others). This way, you can get the timeless look of the materials you admire, but with a broader range of colors, shapes, and finishes.

Materials Other Than Asphalt or Concrete

Even a short driveway that’s a straight shot to the garage, can be made interesting. A brick driveway, for example, works very well with traditional homes and adds a historic touch reminiscent of carriage houses. 

In fact, any ordinary asphalt driveway can be embellished with concrete pavers. Concrete pavers come in an astonishing array of styles. Some mimic the look of other materials, but are more durable (for example, flagstone gives your home a wonderfully relaxed feel, but natural flagstone can’t stand up to the demands of a driveway; but concrete alternatives can. 

You could add a paver apron (the entrance to the driveway). An apron can be a great solution for driveway entrances that see a lot of wear and tear as cars enter and exit. Pavers can extend the life of this area, and give your asphalt driveway a more upscale look.

Brick, as we’ve mentioned before, is a wonderful solution that instantly adds elegance, either on its own or as a border or accent within a poured concrete or asphalt driveway. 

With today’s choices of either clay or concrete brick, you’re sure to find colors and sizes to complement your home’s architectural style. Many brick driveways embrace the classic herringbone pattern, while others feature the long, lean lines of a running bond pattern laid in the direction of travel (a great solution for curved driveways).

Cobblestones also give your driveway a historic feel. If you’re worried about shoveling or snow-blowing a more textured surface, you can rest easy knowing that concrete pavers are compatible with driveway heating systems that can keep your driveway snow- and ice-free in all but the heaviest storms.

Framing

Frame your driveway with a low masonry wall, or with shrubs or trees. You can achieve a finished look by planting small cedars that will eventually grow together to create more of a wall; or opting for a masonry wall on one or both sides to give definition to the driveway. 

Related: 3 Tips For Creating The Perfect Outdoor Space On A Budget