Need a budget-friendly and stylish walkway idea? The concrete walkway is what you should be looking for. It features a modern look, offers stability and cooperates well with all landscape elements.
- What is the cheapest way to make a walkway?
The cheapest way to make a walkway is to do it yourself. There are plenty of ideas with tutorials that will let you create a passenger’s path without breaking the bank.
- How do you make a concrete walkway look good?
First, you have to plan all details in advance. That are location, size, shape, and texture of the concrete.
I. Introduction
- Concrete walkways have become very popular recently because of their modern look which instantly improves the curb appeal and also of their sturdiness. Wood planks look good but they are prone to quick rotting when installed outdoors. Concrete, on the other hand, looks as good and can resist for many years to come.
- In addition to the sturdiness of the concrete walkways, there are more benefits to take advantage of. Nowadays concrete can have an artistic look with the offered textures. There are molds to shape the concrete as bricks, tiles and stones. There are also decorative concrete mixtures that transform plain concrete into a unique outdoor material. Last but not least, concrete is easy to work with.
II. Types of Concrete Walkways
- The concrete walkway types that are most commonly designed are stamped and molded concrete. For the stamped concrete, you may need a specialist to come with a machine but for the molded type, you can get one mold and make the walkway yourself. Polished concrete walkways are another good-looking option that uses special mediums and tools to get the final look.
This walkway idea is an example of a modern outdoor element. The concrete is stamped in the shape of stones to cohere with the adjacent natural landscape. The multi-color gravel is the perfect choice for a filling at the sides of the walkway.
via Texas Outdoor Impressions
If you like the traditional designs, you can still go for a concrete walkway but with tile stamps. The sizes of the tiles vary and can be customized.
via CustomCrete
The concrete walkway can consist of slabs instead of being an integral path. The slabs you see here are polished to reflect the natural light and match the well-maintained minimalist surrounding.
via Boxleaf Design
In this concrete walkway idea, the pathway is made from slabs mimicking tiles. They are positioned at equal spacing filled with green grass.
The symmetrical pattern and modern finish complement the contemporary outdoor living space.
This concrete walkway design is great for Asian-inspired outdoor nooks. It features concrete slabs stamped like tiles. The pattern features a perfect symmetry of the stamped marks which lead visually to the edging garden.
via Designscape
This narrow concrete walkway goes around the outdoor patio. The concrete finish matches the slab overlayer of the patio.
via Poetic Plantings
Stamped concrete walkways can follow irregular lines like the example shown here. The curved line follows the garden bed and together they create a whimsy outdoor scenery.
This is an interesting concrete pathway idea. Instead of one straight walkway, there are two main walkways crossing each other to form garden beds.
via Townhouse Therapy
The vivid greenery in this front yard landscape is gently interrupted by a modern concrete walkway leading to the front door and a branch around the house.
via DRIVEWAYS BY DESIGN
You may get misled that this walkway is made from pavers. Actually, these are concrete pavers that offer almost the same durability as stone pavers but are far more inexpensive.
via Nature’s Perspective Landscaping
Concrete is a preferable material for patios. Plain concrete can be given interest with stamping which transforms the uniform layer into a pattern.
To create an appealing overall look, match the walkway with the patio in case they are located close to each other.
If you are ready to pay some more, the concrete can be colored in a desired hue.
For example, this will give it a more realistic look of a brick or paver.
This walkway idea is an easy DIY project. Prepare the bed of the walkway to fill it with gravel.
It will act as a drainage and also as a decor element and then place the concrete slabs in the desired pattern.
via Mickey Construction
This yard showcases four walkways, each in a different alignment pattern. What unites them is the material they are made from and its texture. Concrete is a budget-friendly supply for outdoor features and also a modern-looking one.
via GRADY-O-GRADY Construction
The concrete slabs in this walkway idea mimic wood texture. This visual idea is right on point having in mind the wooden siding of the exterior walls.
via Josh Blumer
Concrete is the best material for walkways on uneven terrain because of the material’s flexibility.
via Anchor Builders
The staircase walkway can be given an interesting look with stamped concrete. To do it on the money-saving side, pour concrete to form the steps and make an extra overlayer with stamped concrete tiles.
via Foulsham Corp
This light hue of brown gives the industrial concrete a warm look. It suits back or front yards with traditional or rustic landscape designs.
The dark grey hue of these concrete tiles reminds granite. This walkway idea may be inspiring for those of you who find granite luxurious but too expensive.
via Natural Path Landscaping
The concrete walkway can be used to add character to the outdoor space. Coloring is one way to do so or molding it in an interesting shape or why not both?
via Sarah Greenman
The rough texture and the black color of this patio make it sophisticated and luxurious-looking. This color can be achieved by adding iron oxide to the concrete mix.
Another rough texture that can be given to the plain concrete is this one, mimicking the tight alignment of flagstones. The light brown color helps the look be more realistic and natural.
via Mickey Construction
For such a walkway idea, you do not need a professional to make the stamped lines. You can make them yourself with a suitable mat that can give this interrupted look.
via Landscape East & West
This texture can also be made entirely by yourself if you have a suitable item to divide into square sections on the top layer of the concrete.
via AUDE SMITH Architecture
Here is how a walkway can look implying all possible concrete upgrades. It is curved, dark grey to black in color to mimic granite and stamped into tiles.
This slab walkway gives the elegant front yard a focal point. The slabs are aligned in a large-scale zig-zag pattern which makes sure that the walkway is centered according to the house.
via DESIGN GUILD HOMES
Walkways that follow the line of the exterior of the house are great. They are usually used as a passage between an edging garden and a lawn.
via Summit Design Build
There are plenty of concrete pigments on the market. The key to getting the desired color is to add the pigment gradually and mix the material well before you add another portion. Always look at the instructions but usually, the more pigment you add, the more intense the color will be.
With a pigment, you can mimic wood, stone and brick texture, whichever will match more your landscape.