If you live or work on a semi-rural or large property, the chances are that a long driveway is required to connect you to the road. While a driveway is necessary for practical reasons, it is also the first thing that visitors see when they approach your property.
If you are looking to build a new driveway, make sure you take some time to consider driveway design ideas. This way you know you will end up with a functional and aesthetic driveway that will last for years to come.
Rural Driveway Ideas
When designing your rural driveway, consider the following ideas:
- Use of Asphalt: Asphalt is a durable and cost-effective material that can withstand heavy traffic and harsh weather conditions. It is also easy to maintain and repair.
- Incorporation of Landscaping: Enhance the appearance of your driveway by incorporating landscaping elements. This can include trees, shrubs, flowers, and even decorative rocks.
- Addition of Lighting: Adding lighting to your driveway can improve visibility at night and add a touch of elegance to your property.
- Consideration of Drainage: Proper drainage is essential to prevent water pooling and damage to your driveway.
These ideas are based on our extensive experience in driveway construction and design, ensuring a blend of functionality and visual appeal.
Explore more detailed, specific driveway ideas below for various property types.
Driveway Ideas for Country-Style Homes
Country-style homes generally require long and winding driveways to connect your house to the road. This will impact your choice of construction material. While bricks and concrete can look great, they can be expensive over a large area. Asphalt may be more suitable in this instance as it is more cost-effective when used for large areas.
In fact, asphalt is recommended for driveways of over 150m2 because the cost of moving the equipment for the baseworks area, asphalt crew and kerbing crew if needed, is proportionally less when spread over a bigger area. Once underway, it is more cost-effective to remain on-site than moving to another job. As the area increases in size, the square metre rate will usually reduce.
Long red oxide asphalt driveway with white kerbing by NK Asphalt.
Driveway Ideas for Farms / Semi-Rural Properties
Farms often experience traffic from heavy vehicles, as well as cars. This means it’s important to make the structure as strong as possible so it can withstand damage. The last thing you want is a driveway that is constantly requiring maintenance or repairs.
The material you choose to construct your driveway will be dependent on the expected size, weight and volume of traffic, as well as the layout and conditions. A popular option is asphalt, given that is is a durable material that resists damage from high temperatures, heavy traffic, and water, reducing the need for maintenance and repairs. It is also quick to ‘cure,’ so you could be using your new driveway as soon as the next day after the asphalt has been laid.
If your farm receives a lot of rain during the year, you may experience water pooling on your driveway or running off your property. By law in Western Australia, you are required to confine stormwater runoff to your property. Drainage solutions such as soakwells can direct water into the soil and away from buildings and neighbouring properties. These underground tanks are made from concrete and will help prevent water damage to your driveway, reducing the level of maintenance required.
Make sure you factor in additional elements into your design, so your driveway is as functional as possible. For example, you may require wide turnaround bays. Kerbing may also be necessary, either to protect nearby gardens or to outline the edges of the driveway and help drivers avoid running off the road.
Asphalt driveway resurfacing with custom garden in between.
Driveway Ideas for Properties in the Perth Hills
Semi-rural driveways can have a multitude of functions. Your property may be residential, or it may be commercial. Perhaps it’s in between and you run a business from your home. Your driveway is important regardless of whether one or one hundred vehicles will traverse it per day, however, the expected traffic should be considered during the design process. This can impact the choice of materials, layout and styling you are going for.
Another thing that can impact your design choice is the gradient of your driveway, since a lot of the properties in the Perth Hills are sloping.
While sloping driveways can cause issues, such as water erosion from run-off and damage, damage to vehicles as they bottom out, or a loss of grip on your vehicle in wet weather, there are ways you can design your driveway to combat this. Zigzagging is one of these ideas.
By adding length to your driveway by winding it up to your entrance, will reduce the slope’s gradient and aid in water dispersal. This way both your vehicle and your driveway avoid damage. Plus, the winding driveway will only add charm to your property. Why not add kerbing and line the outside of the driveway with pretty garden beds?
In some cases, the incline can be too steep to safely and practically use asphalt. In this case, it may be necessary to use concrete with a rough surface finish. Our team can visit site to confirm the conditions and offer no obligation advice on the best alternative.
If your property is used for commercial reasons, you may require parking spaces to be constructed alongside the driveway. Make sure you factor this into your design.
Driveway Ideas for Rural Coastal Homes
If you are lucky enough to see the ocean from your property, why not consider constructing a driveway that features a striking colour? Red oxide gravel asphalt creates a beautiful contrast against the blue ocean, to help your property stand out.
This red asphalt is a popular colour choice for long driveways in Perth, particularly given its benefits in a hot climate like Perth. In the summer, this colour will reduce the amount of heat absorbed by your driveway. Despite being a slightly lighter colour than black or brown asphalt, it still has low glare compared to concrete. So really, it’s a win-win. As with all asphalt types, they start out fairly dark in colour, becoming a permanent lighter colour of the aggregate in the asphalt.
Straight red asphalt driveway with white kerbing on a rural property.
Driveway Ideas for Large Properties
If you live or work on a beautiful large property, you will want your driveway to be just as elegant. Kerbing can give your driveway a more formal appearance by creating clean lines and contrasting against its main colour. Use it to create a barrier between your driveway and any garden beds alongside it to keep your garden looking neat and tidy.
Aside from the aesthetic benefits, kerbing also has functional properties. It will also protect your driveway from damage to the edges by sealing it off to water and debris.
Most likely, you will require room for multiple vehicles, in the form of parking spaces and turnaround bays. This can definitely be factored into the design for your driveway and built-in with it.
Completing the finishing touches on a new residential asphalt driveway.
Driveway requirements will be unique to each property, so make sure you speak to our experts in driveway design and construction for a free measure and quote.
We have over 30 years of industry experience and our team can help you decide what design elements will make your driveway project one to be proud of. Our team delivers far more than just an asphalt surface, as we specialise in all areas of driveway installation, including drainage and kerbing.
Get a long asphalt driveway quote
If your job is 150m2 or more and in the Perth or surrounding areas.
