Circular Driveway Ideas

Symmetry

• Walk the perimeter of your property for possible placement options for your circular driveway. Symmetry is a vital element in proper placement. The circular middle space and the lead-in to the circular driveway are often best placed in line with the front door. Add parking off to the side and direct traffic toward your garage, barn and additional parking. Balance the overall design by adding two parking stalls on one side of the circle with a back-up area on the other side.

Materials

• Consider the exterior decor of your home and property when choosing a material. While price is often an important factor in the decision-making process, many options are available at a variety of price points. Options include loose stone, gravel, asphalt, brick, pavers, concrete and various stones. Each option provides a look of its own. For a traditional-looking home, use pavers to create a pattern embellished with a border for a focal point. For a rustic home, use colored concrete with a basic border, allowing your home to remain the focal point.

Patterns

• While an actual circle is a popular choice for circular driveways, it may not work best for your specific property. Consider expanding the parameters of your design to encompass a teardrop shape, or forgo shape altogether and design a free-form driveway to act as a circular design. This is especially important for mature properties with existing trees, fences and other landscaping features. Guide the driveway around such elements toward the home, still taking care to place the curved center in a visually appealing way, lined up with the front entrance,

Center and Planting Ideas

• While some properties will do well with a circular patch of grass in the center of the driveway, many others will beg for drama. Make a statement with plants, shrubs, topiaries and grasses. Include a fountain or other water feature, such as a water wall, koi pond or waterfall. Another idea is to include sculpture, statues or a single over-sized piece of metal art. Create a stone garden in the circular patch using a variety of stones with different colors and textures.