Should You Repair or Improve Your Driveway This Year?
As we head into the new year, we want to consider new trends in home design and upgrades. As many people are aware, driveway and pathway paving is an important factor in the overall curb appeal of your home. For our team at VIP Paving, this means an autumn repair season filled with repairs, maintenance and clean up work throughout the Greater Toronto Area, specifically Maple and North York. We understand our customers, and as we head into the new year we want to give you a little gift of knowledge. Without further ado, here are what we’ve come to reason our 2020’s top trends in paving.
1. Decorative Textures
Whereas homeowners in the past have opted for smooth, unadorned driveways, this new year will see a new rising trend in texturing. Interlocking stone, custom bricks and decorative accent finishes will be a staple in exterior design and landscaping.
Experts recommend opting for varying textures and vividly contrasting colours and patterns, picked to match your home’s exterior decoration, landscaping elements and foliage. Mix and match styles to create rustic finishes in stonework, or incorporate elements of smooth concrete for dramatic, modern flair.
2. Geometric Patterns
The biggest trend in modern exterior landscaping is geometric design, incorporating elements of light and nature. Natural stone and concrete blends ditch interlock for a more sleek and refined look, featuring heavy shapes and distinct separations between textures.
Recently featured in Architectural Digest, this ultra-modern driveway design uses concrete strips of basalt stone and large patches of permeable driveway slabs alongside portions of empty grass positioned to create the illusion of a front-yard creation. This long interlocking driveway is adorned with square patches which combine geometric patterning and natural elements for a pavement that is both functional and artistic.
3. Incorporate Lighting Elements
This time old method of adding coziness and warmth to your driveway receives an upgrade through the addition of inlaid lighting. Decorate and illuminate your driveways and walkways for extra light in your garden and patio, as well as the added safety bonus.
Inlaid lighting elements cast the light upward or downward, and can be installed within the paving as well as beneath your roof for a downward illumination of your driveway. Remember you can always opt for the more commonly used side lamps, or lanterns.
4. Landscaping Features
If you’re like us, you may be wondering how you’re supposed to add green elements to your concrete/stone slabs, and what’s the point. When adding pieces of gardening such as ferns, deep green grasses, flowering vines and natural tones, you create the illusion that your paving is natural and seamlessly integrated into your home’s exterior. Throughout 2017 we saw a moving away from standard greys, while more and more customers requested natural beige, grey and buff colours meant to expose more of the natural foliage and landscaping around their home.
We believe this trend will continue, as homeowners add more natural varieties into gardens and outdoor décor. For this reason, we believe interlock and natural stone will be one of the most highly requested installations.
Learn more about paving possibilities here. Take advantage of VIP Paving’s superior prices and quality paving services. Our team is ready to offer you high quality paving, interlocking, driveway repairs and sealing, as well as a vast assortment of trade knowledge. We specialize in natural stone paving, interlocking and the creation of beautiful landscaping features to add to your home’s curb appeal. Call us for a free consultation now and learn what we can do for you this year.