10 Walkway Ideas That Make Your Yard Look Absolutely Enchanting

Unless you live in an apartment, guests have to walk up a path to get to your front door. A walkway is a necessary addition to your landscaping that ensures their safety and comfort and protects your lawn and beloved plants from trampling. It can be as simple as plonking down a brick or stone path, but the best walkway ideas for your yard or even your garden blend form and function. They provide a smooth and safe place to step while complementing your home's architecture and opening up a whole new world of landscaping possibilities.

A walkway needs to be a minimum of five feet wide for two people to walk side by side comfortably. The most cost-effective walkways are made of gravel, dirt, or mulch. Those are also the easiest to DIY since you can pour and rake the material yourself. Gravel or dirt paths do require ongoing maintenance—you'll have to replenish the gravel or dirt seasonally—but that's easy and fairly inexpensive to handle yourself too.

They may cost more, but solid materials like concrete pavers, brick, or bluestone are the safest and most stable choices for a walkway. They're better for people who have accessibility in mind or who use a walker, wheelchair, or other mobility device too. Consider choosing a walkway design with minimal or narrow gaps, like traditional concrete sidewalks or extra-large concrete pavers, for even smoother walking and fewer trip hazards. A paver or stone walkway without gaps is also a practical option in places that get snowy or icy weather since they're easier to shovel (and less likely to get damaged in the process). If you opt to DIY a paver or stone walkway, be sure to have a friend on hand to help you move and position the heavy stones—it's doable, but it's quite a tiring job.

These days, concrete isn't the only option for a walkway. Brick, wood, and stone steps carved into a hillside are beautiful options to guide guests to your front or back door or even down a garden path. No matter what your style or your budget, you're sure to find a favorite among the 10 best walkway ideas we've rounded up. They're all from designer projects, so they're the perfect jumping-off point to inspire your project.