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Modern driveway ideas to step up your home’s kerb appeal

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On May 9, 2025

Your driveway might serve a practical purpose, but that doesn’t mean it has to be plain. With the right approach, your driveway design can instantly boost kerb appeal, set the tone for your home, and even elevate the look and feel of your front garden.

Modern driveway ideas now go far beyond basic concrete or tarmac. Think sleek paving in contemporary finishes, sustainable gravel grids, and subtle lighting that brings your entrance to life after dark. Whether you’re working with a compact plot or planning a full front garden overhaul, the best driveway design is one that suits both your lifestyle and your home’s style.

Using slimline block pavers gives you plenty of design flexibility. “Slimline pavers support a design-forward approach by enabling a variety of laying patterns,” says Neil Bills, Director of Landscaping Products at Bradstone. “Whether it’s classic herringbone, basket weave, or a contemporary linear arrangement, slimline pavers provide the flexibility to create bespoke designs tailored to individual tastes.”

Neil Bills

Neil Bills is General Manager at Bradstone, specialising in hard landscaping products with a focus on innovation, design and durability.

To keep things practical as well as stylish, install a gravel grid system beneath the surface. “Gravel parking grids can be made from 100% recycled plastic and are a perfect example of this modern approach,” says Ted Bromley-Hall, managing director at IBRAN. “They provide a stable base for gravel driveways while preventing the typical issues of rutting and migration that often plague traditional loose gravel installations.”

Ted Bromley-Hall

Ted Bromley-Hall is Managing Director at IBRAN, a UK-based company specialising in sustainable ground reinforcement systems. With a focus on environmentally conscious design and innovation, Ted leads the development of high-performance gravel and grass driveway grids made from 100% recycled UK plastic.

A light-toned driveway can completely lift the front of your home – especially when paired with a darker edging for definition. In this example, a pale resin surface creates a bright, open feel, while the sharp border in a darker paver adds contrast and helps visually contain the space. This combination works particularly well for smaller plots or darker façades, as the lighter tones reflect more natural light and make the approach feel more generous. It’s also a great way to frame your planting or define the driveway from the rest of the front garden.

Everything here feels intentional, from the direction of the paving – which mirrors the vertical cladding on the house – to the choice of low-maintenance planting. A single olive tree and clipped grasses are all that’s needed to soften the hardscape. This design is a reminder that choosing the right paving isn’t just about selecting the best driveway materials, it’s just as important to consider how they connect with the overall layout and feel of your home.

Matthew Currington

Matthew Currington is Technical Director at The Lighting Superstore, where he helps homeowners find practical, stylish lighting for every space.

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Block paving is a classic choice for modern driveways – but choosing a tonal colour palette can elevate the look and help everything feel more cohesive. In this example by Bradstone, a mix of light and mid-grey blocks has been laid in a tight, randomised block paving pattern. This approach works particularly well when it reflects the materials or colours of the home itself. Matching tones to the roof, window frames or garage door can help create a sense of balance and give the front of your home a more considered finish.