Modern garden paths and walkways are a great way to add both function and beauty to your outdoor space.
Luckily, you don’t need to be a professional to come up with a design which effortlessly connects your contemporary garden and property together – you just need a touch of inspiration. To give you an idea of what’s possible, we’ve listed our favourite modern garden path ideas to help you find a design that meets your style and budget.
Modern garden paving ideas
Modern gardens are often characterised by clean lines, geometric shapes, and a minimalistic approach, however there are plenty of other ways to achieve a contemporary aesthetic too.
1. Use different sized geometric shapes
Why settle for a straightforward garden path when you can create visual interest and intrigue with different sized geometric shapes.
By using different sized paving slabs, you can create a pattern throughout your garden that’s both functional and artistic, making use of empty space or leading guests to a destination.
And, if you enjoy clever design, you can research the psychology behind different geometric shapes. If you’d like your guests to feel stable and calm, opt for rectangles and squares, or if you want to instil a sense of adventure and leave your guests feeling energised, use triangular shapes.
2. Create levels with a wooden boardwalk
A boardwalk is an excellent way to reach areas of your garden that might not be easily accessible due to the ground it covers.
For example, if you have a small garden and still want to include a water feature or pond, a boardwalk can help you make the most of all the space available to you.
It could also be great for your wellbeing – with multiple studies showing the psychological benefits of being around water, providing a walkway over your pond could unlock a section of your garden that inspires creativity and wellness.
3. Lead your guests to an artistic destination
If you’re looking for more style over function, why not design a pathway that leads the eye to an artistic installation?
For those looking to create a tranquil, relaxing garden, you could create a pathway of water which gently flows into a water feature. You’ll love listening to the sound of trickling water and admiring the serenity of your outdoor space.
It’s also the perfect way to impress your family and friends.
4. Use fieldstone for an easy DIY solution
A contemporary garden doesn’t mean you have to choose abstract design. If you have a woodland garden filled with plants and greenery, consider using natural stone to carve out a path through nature.
You can do this by using fieldstone. These are rocks that are found near the surface of the earth and can provide you with a large, flat surface, perfect for a garden path. Walking on these through nature will create a sense of adventure and admiration for the surrounding landscape.
This is an easy and simple solution which you can do yourself, making it a perfect option for those on a budget.
Stepping stone walkway ideas
One of the most popular contemporary ways to decorate your garden is to add stepping stones. Stepping stones can be made of porcelain, concrete, stone, or brick, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Stepping stones are relatively easy to install, and they can really add personality to your outdoor space.
5. Create contrast with modern grey paving slabs
While there are plenty of styles when it comes to stepping stones, using modern grey paving slabs can help you easily achieve a contemporary aesthetic without much effort.
Using stepping stones with sawn edges, such as our Black Kadapha Limestone paving slabs, will provide you with clean cut lines that create a stunning contrast when placed within the ground.
Just make sure to choose the same colour and tones for consistency.
6. Get natural with clean cut wood
If you’re keen to use earthy, natural materials while still achieving a contemporary aesthetic, you can use wooden stepping stones that have been cut with clean edges.
For those of you interested in seamless indoor-outdoor living, wooden stepping stones can ease the transition from a wooden or wood effect porcelain patio through to the garden or leading up to a decked platform with a hot tub.
7. Be playful with circular stepping stones
Circular stepping stones are a beautiful and unique way to add a touch of modern elegance to your garden. They are also a great way to add variety to your landscape if your garden design mostly utilises other shapes.
There are many different ways to use them, and they can be used in a variety of different settings. You can use them to accent your garden, to create a focal point or to guide people to a destination.
Over the years, studies and psychological research have shown that humans are attracted to circular shapes as we associate them with happiness, or even feelings of safety. Either way, circular stepping stones make a beautiful addition to any contemporary garden, and perhaps an interesting psychological talking point too.
Curved garden path ideas
If you are looking for a way to add interest and beauty to your garden, consider adding curved garden paths. Curved paths can help to break up large areas of lawn, and they can also be used to create interesting garden features.
8. Weave your way through flower beds
If you’ve spent time growing a beautiful flower bed or have a particularly green finger, you’re going to want to show it off as much as possible.
Create a winding walkway using sandstone setts, that highlights the beauty of your outdoor space so you, your friends and family can all appreciate the love and attention you’ve given to your garden. To create a more contemporary feel, you could use modern grey slate as your paving material.
After all, studies have shown that flowers can have an instant impact on our happiness and can encourage intimate connections, giving you even more reason to design a flower-focused garden path.
9. Illuminate the way
To instantly add a touch of modern drama and interest to any curved garden path, add outdoor lighting.
This easy and minimalistic addition can provide a contemporary touch to any winding walkway, illuminating the way while highlighting the interesting shapes carved out by the path.
If you choose a lighting fixture that protrudes from the ground, ensure it’s the same colour or hue as your porcelain, stone or brick paving. This helps to create a seamless and minimalist look that is a key characteristic of modern gardens.
10. Be bold with irregular shapes
Curved garden paths don’t have to be clean cut. Be bold and play around with irregular shapes to create your own unique pattern that suits your personality and style.
To keep to a modern aesthetic, choose a clean cut paving slab that contrasts its surroundings. Typical choices would be a modern grey paving slab or grey sandstone, or a bright toned colour which makes a statement against a darker background.
Are you looking for the perfect addition to your front yard or backyard garden? Like a signature, a modern path completes the look of any home, offering a welcome guide for where to walk that simultaneously keeps your lawn or gravel looking neat and manicured.
Modern garden pathways and walkways are characterized by the use of modern materials and by proper geometric layouts and straight lines (square, rectangular, or round shapes). Generally, they’re made of concrete, concrete pavers, or wood. And moreover, the stepping stones will be surrounded by gravel or rocks. These types of looks are minimalist, with concrete edging amplifying modern pathway design.
Whether you’re building a small narrow pathway, a wooden boardwalk, a long concrete path, or a paved walkway, we have ideas to satisfy your modern contemporary taste.
1. Use Wood to Create Modern Garden Path Designs
A modern pathway is a perfect solution for navigating larger sloped landscapes. This intricate wooden design, which feels highly organic, too, forms a path between tiered retainer walls and is beautifully accented with subtle lighting and manicured shrubbery. Indeed, you need a fair amount of space to pull off this type of design, but it’s well worth it for the visual interest it adds to an otherwise sprawling landscape. Furthermore, it is a useful guide for guests, especially in the evenings, and mitigates the risk of tripping over tiers or other potential issues underfoot, all the while keeping feet off the grass.
Image credit
For smaller spaces, this modern boardwalk, with its gorgeous geometric shape, is the perfect accompaniment to a rustic, rocky, gravel-and-mulch garden. Unevenly sized wooden planks, which intersect at the bends of the pathway, add visual interest, amplifying the norm by adding a contemporary twist. A slight rise above ground level makes this design especially practical by preventing dampness, pooled water, and scattered gravel across the walkway.
This modern rustic path is a perfect fit if you’re fortunate enough to live close to woods, meadows, or forested areas. With boards installed parallel to the direction of the path, not perpendicular as is common in traditional designs, this geometric design just begs to be walked or enjoyed in the afternoon sunshine. A raised above-ground installation travels neatly over land imperfections and prevents wood rot.
2. Replace Curves with Sharp Angles in Stone Walkways
Curved pathways are great. But sharp, geometric designs are ideal for contemporary minimalist walkways that suit most, if not all, residential gardens – no matter their size. Straight angles in a zigzag design like this one maximize space and are easy to install. DIY your pathway with differently-sized interlocking pavers like these beautiful slate Navarro pavers from Barkman Concrete.
Isn’t this dreamy? With not a curved angle in sight, this sharp and shapely design makes an ordinary garden look infinitely manicured. A cleverly positioned gravel strip alongside the concrete path also keeps it free of grass and debris. For this design, you’ll need to invest in some specially-cut pavers to secure a geometric look and feel, but it’ll be well worth it to ensure that your path snakes perfectly between your lawn and garden beds.
3. Add a Design Accent to Your Concrete Pathway
It doesn’t get trendier – or simpler – than this. Another easy pathway to DIY, this intelligent design uses unevenly sized pavers to create a unique and unusual twist on a modern walkway. While still geometric in nature, rocks and mulch lend a rustic feel, adding to the overall ambiance of this garden.
4. Install Wood Look Concrete Slabs
There are a million reasons to love concrete in design and architecture, chief amongst these being its versatility. Using wood-look concrete slabs from Barkman Concrete, this pathway feels organic. Yet, it holds none of the risks of actual wood rot, making it a durable choice for culminating in an entertainment area complete with a fire pit.
5. Use a Two-Color Combination to Add Modernity
Image credit: J.Reiko Design
A modern home deserves a modern pathway, which is easy to achieve through the clever use of color. This simple, straight pathway comprising small concrete pavers is leveled up by combining lighter grey pavers with darker ones. They complement the gravel running alongside it without looking overbearing – but still feel incredibly contemporary. Grass and shrubs are the perfect accents; as a bonus, they’re also low maintenance.
This example shows a different but equally effective way to use color pops with your walkway designs. While the pavers themselves are monotone, two different types of landscape pebbles add contrast in all the right places, drawing the eye to the beautiful shrubbery and elegant path.
6. Add Modern Charm with Rough Surface Cube Pavers
These modern-yet-rustic rough surface pavers in perfect cubes are a recent but welcome addition to the market. While these look like rough-face Granite Cubes or Basalt Kerbstones supplied from Asia or Eastern Europe, we have not yet found them around our areas. However, they appear to be hitting the high notes in modern designs. We especially love this two-toned grey composition in gentle tiers.
Check out this example: stonecontact.com
7. Light Up Your Modern Pathway with Integrated Lights
If, like me, you can’t resist being outside on those perfect summer evenings, accenting your pathway with small integrated lights is the answer to modernizing your garden entertainment area for the nighttime. This simple path is made of composite wood and edged by parallel panels embedded with tiny bulbs. It leads to a small, modern fenced patio area perfect for spending time with guests or loved ones.
For those with more expensive taste, these marble tiles with built-in lights, complemented by contemporary lighting fixtures, are an absolutely gorgeous way to light up your landscape. This designer has even gone so far as to build around their garden beds, which prevents the space from looking too stoic while adding a still-organic ambiance.
8. Make Your Garden Path with Uniquely Shaped Pavers
This unique and modern idea uses trapezoid-shaped concrete slabs over pea gravel, creating a wonderland of texture and visual interest. Rather than your average plain geometric path, these pavers lend an edgy aesthetic that feels contemporary without being overly complicated to construct. With the right tools, a mold, and a bit of patience, you can make your own pavers to the exact specs you require.
You don’t always need an influx of angles for a modern look and feel. This walkway, made of round white marble pavers interspersed with black gravel, perfectly emphasizes the gorgeous tropical vegetation surrounding it. It’s easy to construct and feels contemporary, thanks to the use of modern materials.
Everything about this sweet garden nook feels trendy. This is primarily due to randomly placed steppingstones in a unique, trapezoid shape – spread out like a honeycomb. The concrete steppingstones, which are not hard to come by, fit in well with the fun design of the garden wall, complete with modern birdhouses and window boxes. And, of course, don’t forget to incorporate some color, which makes it feel bright and fresh.
Zen is the name of the game when it comes to this interesting garden path made of tiered, circular pavers in different sizes. Like a platform video game, it looks modern but still adds harmony and synchronicity to the space. Furthermore, it adds height and depth, making the garden look bigger than it is.
9. Incorporate a Cascading Path Design into a Slow Slope
This cascading path, made of narrow wooden slats encased in a metal trim, is a testament to architectural design that is funky and unique. Indeed, the aesthetic is reminiscent of a waterfall – and I bet it’s not something you see every day. While this design isn’t suited to every type of garden, it’s definitely a win if you’re trying to make an unshapely space look full of depth and interest. LED strip lights complete the look while also helping to guide visitors at night.
10. Use Gravel Between Pavers for a Contemporary Style Path
Never underestimate the value of gravel when it comes to landscaping. It’s less maintenance than grass and is the perfect edging for pathways and shrubbery alike. This modern design makes use of raised marble pavers on top of a bed of light-colored pebbles set along a wooden patio wall. The combination of colors looks vibrant and contemporary, allocating each part of the landscape into its intended space with sharp, angular bends.
These days, there are endless ways to make concrete look like other materials, as is the case with these brick-look concrete steppingstones. In this unusual garden design, pavers are laid out like a puzzle, forming a pathway over a bed of brown river rocks to a small entertainment area.
If you’re looking for an easy walkway to DIY, consider using long, straight slabs of concrete that you can pour yourself or purchase from your local garden center. It’s much more interesting to look at than your typical concrete path, especially when you use a second modern landscaping material like pea gravel. We love the two-toned color palette that perfectly complements the narrow strips of lawn running alongside it, leading to a welcoming front entrance gate.
This subtle, blended path is an excellent mixture of rustic and modern styles. It comprises thick wooden planks surrounded by gently raked, sandy gravel in a monotone color scheme that feels like something straight out of a magazine. A minimalist dry garden completes the look. Breaking the color ever so slightly, we see rows of small shrubs in uniform patterns, which further complement the straight lines and angles of the home.
11. Have Grass Between Concrete Pavers for a Modern Look
This is a trendy garden path design in the contemporary age and is unlikely to ever go out of style. Best of all, installation is as simple as setting concrete stepping stones with large gaps between them, which will become interspersed with grass over time. Indeed, to add a modern look, we recommend highlighting your path with a few contemporary light fixtures. Not only is this practical, but it also emphasizes certain garden features, like your flower beds.
If you want to save on materials, consider a diagonal pathway installation like the one in this example. It feels super contemporary and neat, adding visual interest and maximizing space without overrunning too much of your lawn with bends or twists.
This intelligent design uses two rows of plain, straight concrete pavers. But what sets it apart is the unique way in which it transforms from a lawn pathway into a gravel walkway leading up to the home. Harmony is essential in bringing your aesthetic together, and this is a great way to ensure your walkway is neat and functional without becoming an eyesore.
12. Add Concrete Edging to Your Garden Path
We can’t get enough of this modern landscape design. A simple sidewalk with light paving stones is complemented by white concrete edging with integrated wooden benches and garden beds. The concrete walls make this design look beautifully intentional, adding height and separating guests from the garden while still inviting them to spend time in it.