Skip to main content

7 appealing driveway design ideas that will make your home exterior look luxe

Spruce up your exterior with these driveway ideas that are sure to make your home stand out

Modern house with a brick driveway
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When it comes to adding curb appeal and updating the landscaping, one exterior project that’s often neglected is the driveway. However, the driveway happens to be one of the first things people see when approaching a home. It takes up a lot of space and can easily look unappealing in your exterior design. That’s why updating your driveway is so important, as it can enhance curb appeal and make your home exterior look luxe and elegant.

While it’s easy to opt for a classic gravel, cement, or asphalt driveway, most hotels and luxury homes choose to create a driveway that feels more elegant and detailed. So today, we’re sharing tips on how you can update a boring driveway and turn it into a statement piece on the property. Check out these seven driveway ideas and maybe one will hit the mark with you.

Use brick instead of cement or asphalt

One of the best ways to update a drab driveway is to use brick instead of cement or asphalt. Cement, asphalt, and gravel are the most common driveway materials, but all of them can appear boring or like an afterthought in your exterior design. Instead, why not mimic hotels and luxury homes by opting for brick driveway pavers instead? Brick driveways look luxe, and there are several colors and patterns to choose from. Depending on your exterior palette, you can opt for red, cream, brown, or tan bricks to add some more color to your home’s exterior.

Additionally, you can choose a pattern that draws the eye to a focal point in your design. Whether you choose swirls that flow into your garden beds or something more structured and simple that flows into the front walkway, a brick driveway with the right pattern can create stunning visual movement and flow in a design.

Brick house with brick paver driveway
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Create a decorative stone edge

While it’s not always possible to have a brick driveway on your property, you can still spruce up the pavement or cement by adding a decorative stone edge. Decorative driveway edges create a clean edge that helps add more visual interest and detailing to the front landscape.

Stone edges also make the driveway feel more intentional and less like a project that got pushed to the side until the last minute. There are several different stones and colors to choose from when creating a decorative driveway edge. Simple brick edges and asymmetrical stone path edges are popular choices for adding a luxe touch to your design.

The exterior of a light yellow house
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Proper landscaping is a must

Driveway landscaping is a super easy and affordable way to enhance your curb appeal and make this space feel intentional. Adding garden beds along the driveway with flowers or small shrubs will not only invite greenery into this space, but it will make the driveway appear elegant and luxe. You can also consider lining a long driveway with trees or adding low hedges for more separation and privacy in the design. For curved driveways, rows of flowers or rose bushes can be great choices.

A house with a sale sign in the yard and a curved driveway
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you can, curve your driveway

If you have a long driveway or have plenty of unused space in your front yard, curving your driveway could be a great way to add more visual interest. Now, not everyone can add a curve at the end of their driveway, as it is dependent on the space available as well as what would look best for the house’s exterior.

However, if you can curve your driveway, doing so can make your property look more interesting and elegant. Many hotels and luxury homes have curved driveways in the front leading up to the house. Adding a statement piece like a fountain, topiary, or flower bed can also make this addition stand out.

Cobblestone driveway

Consider a cobblestone driveway

Aside from brick, cobblestone driveways are a popular addition that adds a hint of English countryside flair to your exterior design. For lovers of the cottagecore aesthetic, this driveway trend could be a great way to spruce up the space and give your exterior more character and charm.

Cobblestone driveways are also great for homeowners who have less space and want to make the most of their landscape aesthetics. These stones can be more visually appealing and are easy to integrate into front pathways. Additionally, cobblestone looks organic and natural, especially alongside native wildflowers in the nearby landscaping.

Ranch style house with nice grass
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Blend the driveway with the front path

An easy way to make your driveway feel more connected to your exterior design is to blend the driveway with the front path. Using the same material on the driveway and the front path is best, as this will visually pull the two elements together. For example, a brick driveway that blends with a brick path will look more refined.

Alternatively, you might use the stone edges of your driveway along the edge of your front path to better blend the two, even if the driveway and path aren’t the same material. Using uniform edging or materials on these pathways makes the design look and feel more intentional and sophisticated.

Outdoor square pathway with lighting
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Don’t forget about landscape lighting

Of course, you don’t want to forget about landscape lighting when working on updating your driveway. Lights lining the driveway in the flower beds are a go-to for many homeowners. This illuminates the pathway at night and adds a more elegant touch to the driveway, making it feel like a vital part of the exterior design. Choosing solar stake lights is a common choice. Though, if you want a more glamorous touch, you might consider adding tall lamp posts down the length of your driveway instead.

Don’t let your driveway become a forgotten part of your design. It’s a vital part of your exterior and often takes up a great deal of space on the property. Rather than neglecting it, use these tips to spruce up your driveway and create a luxe look in your exterior design.

Editors' Recommendations

Amelia Wilson
Amelia Wilson (author pen name Amelia J. Wilson) is a content writer in Greenwood, IN. She often enjoys topics on…
10 amazing fall living room decor ideas that will elevate your design
Invite autumn into your home with these fall living room decor ideas
Fall mantel

Fall is here, and that means it's time to decorate your living room in preparation for autumn's festivities.  Whether you purchase your trendy fall decor prearranged or prefer to go the DIY fall decor route, you can bring the cool sweater season to life in your living room this year. Get ready for fall colors, trendy pumpkins, and autumn decor that will inspire.

These 10 fall living room decor ideas will help you reimagine your living space, filling it with seasonal favorites and personal touches. These ideas not only look great, but they'll also inspire all who enter your home to get theirs ready for all things fall.

Read more
What colors go with gray? How to make a neutral hue pop in your home
Make gray walls work for your home decor with complementary colors
Modern living room with gray walls and yellow furniture

Neutral colors like gray and taupe are always popular options for your home's interior design. Both are versatile shades that can go with a plethora of other hues, which means you can easily change up the look of your decor with gray walls and a rotating rainbow of accessories like colorful throw pillows. With all the different shades of gray paint available, from matte to glossy, warm to cool, and brownish to blueish, it's certainly possible to find the one that's perfect for you and your home.

Of course, you can always have too much of a good thing. While gray can be a sophisticated and elegant shade, too much gray can wash out a room or make it feel dull and dingy or cold and unwelcoming. Think of gray as the neutral backdrop on a canvas that lets your color palette shine, and you can't go wrong. So, it’s important to incorporate other colors into the decor, whether it be with pieces of furniture, art, or throw blankets -- but what colors go with gray? If you're looking for the best options to brighten up your current decor, keep reading to find out how to accent this elegant tone.

Read more
Home design: This is the best decorating tip to avoid unwanted clutter in your new home
Avoid clutter in your home design by trying this one trick when you begin decorating your new place
Woman hanging beach art

You’ve just moved into your new place and are looking at your moving boxes with flurries of excitement, imagining all the ways you can decorate your home and make it yours. But before you start unpacking, you may want to take a pause. It’s far too easy to get caught up in the moment, eager to decorate, only to rethink your interior design choices in a week or two.

One TikToker shares an amazing tip about functional home design that can change your unpacking process in your new space.

Read more