Designing for a smaller spaces need a specific approach that’s wholly distinct from how you might go about designing a larger one - and the case is no different for driveways. But while it might seem like a little more challenging job at first glance, working around limits is a great way to inspire some real creativity. Ask any professional designer! Even better, you don’t necessarily need professional expertise yourself to create a driveway space with character and charm, especially when you’ve got Indian sandstone to hand. So if you’re sizing up your outdoor space, here are a couple of ideas you’ll need to start thinking about first.
Practical considerations with small driveways
Right off the bat, it’s worth thinking about the more practical elements of your driveway first. After all, the practicalities are tied up with safety, durability and other equally important characteristics, all of which will go on to inform the design aspects.
The first thing to probably concentrate on is how you’re going to light it. If you’ve got motion-activated lighting covering the space already, this won’t be too much of a concern, but if you haven’t then it’s definitely worth thinking about some. Whatever the specifics, you’ll definitely need some form of lighting on your driveway for both safety and security - ensuring that you and your loved ones can safely get across it without worrying about slipping or tripping over small obstacles, and equally, discouraging unwelcome visitors who might try their luck at getting into your home or garage.
Speaking of safety, you’ll need to think about drainage when installing Indian sandstone (or whatever your choice of stone) on your driveway. We know it’s not the most pulse-pounding prospect, but a driveway with poor drainage can mean it gets slippery far more easily, and that could be extremely dangerous for you, your family, and any other friends or visitors that you might have.
To avoid nasty and potentially very painful falls, it’s worth making sure that any paving and surfacing over five square metres are made of permeable materials, and redirect run-off water to a porous area or surface nearby. (That’s exactly where Indian Stone comes in handy, since it’s porous by nature.)
Design ideas for your small driveway
When it comes right down to it, the designs for your driveway are limited by two key factors - your budget, and your imagination! Now obviously your budget is going to be the main factor that ends up reeling in some of your most ambitious ideas, but thankfully some of the ideas we’re about to suggest don’t need a whole lot of money to end up creating a very distinct area for your outdoor space.Choosing the colour for your driveway
This can be quite the task in and of itself, and in fact we’ve already talked in fairly extensive detail about choosing the right colour and shade of Indian sandstone for your driveway. What colour you go for might well depend on what sort of look and feel you want for the space - a more contemporary driveway might be best suited to Kandla Grey for example, whereas Kota Black would be an excellent one to choose if you want to make a dramatic impact. Autumn Brown is the quintessential choice for more traditional environments, whereas Golden Leaf is the perfect all-rounder, and great for giving a warm, welcoming feel to the space. It’s all up to you!
Concentric circles
If you’re not sure where to start in terms of layout, you might want to begin by considering how a concentric circle design might fit into your space. It’s fantastic for making a bold style statement, but without taking too much out of your budget. The mosaic strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and visual intrigue, and serves as an excellent basis for more complex design additions.
Crazy paving
We’re sure we don’t need to tell you that one of the biggest issues with smaller spaces is that it can be tricky to try and get all the different elements to line up in exactly the way you want them to. Sometimes the measurements are just slightly off, or the effect isn’t quite what you’d hoped for. But the great thing about crazy paving is that you can dispense with all that, as it doesn’t need to follow any of the normal rules about symmetry or space. You can simply make it work in whatever space you’ve got available, and inject a distinctive sense of character into your space, to boot!Setts
Now, things like crazy paving aren’t for everyone. If you’d prefer a little more order and neat lines to give more of a sense of structure to your driveway, it’s a great idea to think about whether setts would work. Their clean lines and symmetry make them a particularly fond favourite for more modern environments, but they’re a striking choice in any setting.However, what all these different design ideas have in common is that they all pave the way (if you’ll pardon the pun) for you to enhance the space with your choice of extra elements. We explored 4 low budget ideas to refresh your driveway in a recent post, which encompassed various types of edges and borders, and different ways you can create contrast and visual intrigue.
Those are just a few ideas to get you started - you may well have a lot more of your own! And if you’re thinking about completely refreshing the look of your driveway, or you think it needs a full renovation, you’re in exactly the right place. We’ve got a varied range of Indian sandstone to choose from here at Bridge Street Stone, so you’ve got no shortage of choice in terms of achieving your vision. All are sourced directly from India, and we’re able to offer free delivery to most areas. To make an order, feel free to give us a call today on 01282 860571.