Ideas For Pathways In Gardens

Ideas For Pathways In Gardens With Pictures

Pathways are one of the most important parts of any garden design. They should enable a practical journey around your garden, while also working to enhance the visual appeal of your outdoor space. 

Stone Warehouse is a leading UK supplier of landscaping materials and decorative aggregates that can be used to revive or create new pathways. This includes paving slabs, stepping stones, gravel, chippings and bark.

So be prepared to be inspired, as we take you through our top ideas for pathways in gardens that you can try at home!

 

Functional Garden Pathways 

Photo taken at our Stone Warehouse office garden!

We’ll kick off our list of garden pathways ideas by showing you the Stone Warehouse office garden. 

The primary purpose of any garden pathway is to create functionality. That is, a practical surface to walk on, which leads you around key zones. 

We’d encourage you to consider whether your existing garden pathway feels logical or even interesting enough. If not, this is the perfect time to redesign the shape and style of your pathway so that it’s a better fit for your needs. 

 

Modern Garden Pathway Ideas

Products featured: Black Basalt Chippings 10mm

Traditionally, a garden pathway involves a set design in which the same material continues from one end of the garden to the other. For instance, using paving slabs from your property all the way to the rear of the garden. 

But, there is always room to break away from the expected to explore the unexpected. 

In modern garden design, we are seeing a mix of materials including patio slabs, stepping stones and gravel. Combined, these materials add functionality but in a way that also allows for statement pieces to take centre stage. 

If you want to break up your pathway with a more interesting design, you could also add a monolith stone. These kinds of features punctuate your design, rather than giving you a simplistic journey from A to B. 

 

Herringbone Garden Path

Image Credit:  We’re thrilled our materials were part of so many incredible gardens, at the RHS Chelsea show each year. Each one a testament to the vision and craftsmanship of some of the UK’s top designers. 

When you’re in search of creative ideas for garden pathways, you can also embrace popular flooring trends, including herringbone pattern design. 

Some quick research suggests herringbone has been around for around 3,000 years, which actually makes this a timeless trend to try. 

Use slender paving stones or blocks to form a herringbone design. You can then accessorise with gravel or pebbles to achieve your perfect garden look. 

 

Gravel Garden Path

Product Featured: Ice Blue Chippings 20mm

 

Gravel is a classic choice for pathways. Not only does gravel come in every colour imaginable, it’s also very cost effective.

When selecting gravel to walk on, we find 14-20mm is a great size option. 

So long as you prep the area properly before installing the gravel, with weed membrane and in some cases a gravel grid, it should give you many years of use. 

 

Bonus…gravel also provides a satisfying crunch underfoot, which also works as an intruder deterrent! 

 

You may also like: How to choose the best gravel for a driveway

 

Easy Garden Pathway Ideas

Product Featured: Plum Slate Chippings 20mm

Image Credits: @cherryoakmanor tagged us on Instagram in these wonderful shots of our slate chippings being used in her breakfast terrace transformation.

 

Sometimes, you don’t want to create a structured walkway. Whether it’s too much work or you’re on a budget, there are plenty of easier ways to create a pathway. 

Take one of our customer images as an example. By using our slate chippings, they’ve been able to create a beautiful outdoor space to house a breakfast terrace. 

Since chippings are very easy to distribute, they are far quicker to lay down compared with traditional paving. This makes chippings (and also gravel!) excellent for do it yourself garden pathways.

 

Pond & Water Feature Walkways

We can’t help but share an image from a previous Chelsea Flower Show. This design featured our ice blue pebbles. When paired with these striking hexagonal stepping stones over the water, we think you’ll agree the result is showstopping! 

Adding a walkway across a water feature is not just about functionality. It can also allow you to fully immerse yourself in the tranquil scenery more so than admiring it from afar. 

If you have a pond or another water feature in your garden, we stock many products which are fish friendly. 

 

Making Pathways With Stepping Stones

Image credits: This spectacular urban retreat garden is a minimal, contemporary and tranquil space for relaxation and reflection. The whole garden was designed and created by our Stone Warehouse customers @smartlandscapedesign.

 

Does your garden have a lawn or areas of gravel? Instead of laying a full patio to create a pathway, you can use stepping stones. 

Stepping stones create a practical area to place your foot. In high traffic areas, stepping stones can also be used to prevent damage to the lawn or material slippage. 

As you’ll notice here at Stone Warehouse, our stepping stones are available in different styles from rope coil to buff weathered stones featuring randomised shapes. This ensures there’s something for every garden, whether your outdoor space is traditional, contemporary or follows a more creative concept. 

 

Create A Curved Garden Pathway

Featured Product: Flamingo Pebbles 20-40mm

 

You heard it here first, your garden pathway doesn’t need to be straight and linear! Instead, a circular pathway can create a stunning spectacle in your garden design. 

We stock circular paving kits to give you everything you need to create a perfect circle in your outdoor space. The usage ideas are endless, but some of our customers have chosen to make their circular paving a focal area for their garden furniture, including housing tables and chairs to catch those summer rays in style. 

Curved pathways can be achieved in a number of ways, as you can use circular paving which connects to walkways elsewhere in your garden. Alternatively, you can use square or regular shaped paving stones but lay them in a way which follows a more curved design. 

 

Psst: If you love the idea of circular paving, you have to see our sandstone circle kits! 

 

Staggered Paving

Image credits: We are in awe of the way @alfrescolandscaping used a combination of our Scottish Pebbles, Cobbles and Boulders to transform this long and narrow expanse of lawn to an intimate, low maintenance and contemporary tropical garden with staggered paving. Their choice of paving creates a stunning contrast against the decorative aggregates.

 

Again, if a straightforward path design isn’t for you, there is a way to use standard rectangular and square shaped paving slabs more creatively. 

Similar to tiling the inside of your home, garden paving can also be arranged in different ways to create a more customised look. The exact laying formation will depend on the size of the paving slab, plus your overall preferences. But, playing around with the possibilities is an easy way to create something more interesting without having to spend more. 

In our above image, our customer has chosen to stagger their paving slabs to create more visual interest. They completed their design with various cobbles and boulders which you can also purchase from our website. 

 

Sloped Garden Pathway

Featured Products: Cotswold Chippings and Core Edging

Many UK gardens aren’t perfectly level. When your outdoor space has any kind of incline (either up or downhill), establishing a clear and practical pathway is a must. 

One of our customers used our Cotswold chippings (10-20mm) and some raised Core edging to create segmented steps down into their garden. 

Of course, you can still use stepping stones or paving slabs on a slope. However, incorporating steps into the design can make the pathway much safer, as each step becomes more intentional. 

 

Cheap Garden Pathway Ideas

When you’re on a budget, the likes of luxury porcelain pavers might prove too expensive for your pathway project. However, with a bit of creative thinking, you can still create a practical and aesthetically pleasing walkway for your garden.

 

Our top tips for tight budgets include:

 

• Opt for a modest design: We tend to think of driveways and patios as projects which require large coverage with pavers. But with a walkway, you can reduce the amount of material you need by simplifying the design. Think about logical ways to get from A to B in your garden so that your use of materials is more efficient. By using fewer pavers, stepping stones or gravel, you will also save cash! 
• Explore premium material alternatives or ‘dupes’: At Stone Warehouse, we sell a wide range of concrete paving stones. Compared to premium natural stone such as limestone or Yorkstone, concrete is far cheaper to use. With so many colours and styles to choose from, you can still create a walkway which perfectly suits your outdoor space. 
• Mix up your materials: Various landscaping materials can be walked on. Beyond traditional paving stones, your walkway could consist of stepping stones, gravel or bark. By using less expensive materials in some areas, you can still gain all of the practicality you need for your pathway. 

 

Front Garden Pathway Ideas

Pathways aren’t just for back gardens, as they can also be used to seriously boost the kerb appeal outside the front of your property too. 

In a front garden, the most obvious need is a pathway that will provide safe access from the street to your front door. This can include foot traffic, but may also need to incorporate or work around a driveway surface capable of supporting a car. Gravel is a great shout here. 

For smaller front gardens, you can also mix functional paving slabs with statement paving stones. Or keep things neutral by choosing a paving stone which matches your roof colour, such as our Brett Canterbury slate grey patio pack which pairs great with a grey roof. 

Accessorise with some potted plants and lighting to give your front garden the instant wow factor!

 

Shop The Materials You’ll Need To Make A Garden Path

A major benefit of getting your garden makeover inspiration from the Stone Warehouse blog is that you can often find all the materials we’ve mentioned right here on our website! 

Thankfully, creating a garden pathway is often a very straightforward process. It involves digging out the ground, levelling it and securing your pathway material into place. 

 

Here’s a look at what you’ll need to get cracking: 

 

• Base Materials & Accessories 
• Weed barrier fabric
• Sand or gravel base for levelling and drainage
• Crushed stone 
• Jointing compound (for patio pathways)
• Gravel
• Bark 

 

Why you need it: Depending on the material you’re using and the ground conditions, some additional stability can be needed to support your pathway. Some base materials also help with things such as preventing weeds from growing through your path. Also, the likes of gravel and bark can be used around your paving or stepping stones to complete your design. 

 

Browse our sub base, weed membrane, gravel and bark products. We’re also a UK stockist of EASYjoint. 

 

Paving Slabs

Why you need it: Paving is incredibly versatile for all types of pathways and walkways. Whether you want to create a path around your property, or in specific areas of your garden. You can also use the same paving in other areas such as a patio for seating or outdoor dining for a truly cohesive look. 

 

Shop all paving slabs

 

Stepping Stones

Why you need it: If you want to create more of an informal pathway where each step feels more intentional, then stepping stones are just the ticket. Stepping stones are best when you want to create a pathway through a grass lawn. They work just as well to break up large swathes of gravel. 

 

Shop all stepping stones

 

Edging For Garden Pathways

Why you need it: Edging can add the finishing touches to pathways made from paving. However, edging is also fantastic for containing loose materials such as gravel or soil, which could otherwise spill out onto your pathway causing a mess and even a potential tripping hazard. 

 

Shop all edging products

 

Pathway Ideas For Garden FAQs

Still have questions about creating a new pathway for your garden? We’ve answered some of the top queries here. 

Should I Add Garden Pathway Lights?

Garden pathway lighting isn’t essential, but it can greatly improve the safety and security of your property. So, we recommend adding lighting especially if you have poor visibility. Lighting can also make your outdoor spaces more inviting after the sun sets. 

 

In fact, after you purchase your garden pathway materials here at Stone Warehouse, we predict you’ll be Googling the likes of ‘Solar garden lights pathway’ straight after!

 

These days, there are some fantastic garden pathway lights solar options available that won’t break the bank. Or, you can ask your electrician to install garden lighting around your property for a small cost. 

 

What Are Some Pathway Ideas For Garden On A Budget?

Our garden pathway slabs are ideal, as we have plenty of options made from concrete which mimic more expensive grade materials. Gravel is also a cost-effective option to consider. Also, you could try using stepping stones rather than opting for a full patio design. 

 

Pathways For Garden - When To Repair Or Replace?

Sometimes, if a patio slab has cracked, loosened or shifted out of place, a repair is easy and cheap to do. Likewise, sometimes a bit of cleaning can also revive an old drive or patio.

 

But if your pathway cannot be repaired (regardless of the material), isn’t efficient in terms of layout or even dates your property, a new pathway might be in order. 

 

Remember, your pathway should also make it safe for you to walk around your outdoor space. So, if your patio isn’t easy to navigate, installing a new pathway using patio slabs, stepping stones or gravel can work to improve safety and aesthetics in one. 

 

How To Choose The Right Material For Garden Pathways?

There is a lot to cover here, as it will also depend on the visual look you are trying to create in terms of selecting the material type and colour. 

 

But to summarise, for areas of light foot traffic, the likes of gravel, stepping stones or bark are fine to use. For heavy foot traffic, concrete or stone paving offers more durability. 

 

Creating a stone pathway garden on a budget: Look no further than our gorgeous Brett Bronte Weathered Stone Patio Pack.

 

Wood pathways garden inspiration: Get the look of wood but made from practical grained metamorphic rock with our Schist Palisades. 

 

What Is The Ideal Garden Pathway Width?

When designing pathways for gardens, it’s key to consider where the pathway will be installed to determine the ideal width. 

 

For main garden paths, we suggest a width of 90-120cm (3-4 ft) wide. This is wide enough for two people to walk side by side. It also allows enough space for pushchairs, wheelbarrows or lawnmowers to get through. 

 

There’s more flexibility with secondary or side paths, including any pathways that are used infrequently, or those found around borders. For these paths, a width of 60-90cm (3-4ft) will normally suffice. 

 

Discover More Garden Inspiration & Purchase Your Landscaping Essentials At Stone Warehouse

At Stone Warehouse, we stock all of the paving, stepping stones, gravel and accessories you need to build your dream garden. This includes all of the functional basics to make a practical yet highly attractive pathway. 

 

Take a look around our website to find the products you need for your project.

 

You can also find further inspiration over on our Instagram and Pinterest pages, where we show you our products in action! 

 

We would love for you to follow us on Instagram, where you will be able to see lots more inspiration and get the latest updates on products and offers. Follow us @stone.warehouse

If you need any help with your purchase, please send us a message and we’ll be with you shortly.

< Back