21 Driveway Paving Ideas to Up Your Curb Appeal

Choosing the right driveway paving will complement the architecture and surrounding landscape of your home, adding instant curb appeal. Common driveway paving materials include concrete, asphalt, gravel, or driveway pavers that range from brick to cement to cobblestone. The best option for your home depends on everything from your budget to your appetite for maintenance and the look and feel that you want to achieve.

Check out these driveway paving ideas for homes in a range of settings and styles that show how choosing the right driveway paving materials will enhance your curb appeal and make the last dash to your doorway a smoother and more beautiful ride.

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Cement Pavers

Michelle Boudreau Design

The Palm Springs driveway of this midcentury modern home renovated by Michelle Boudreau Design has large cement pavers that cover the sloping surface. The pavers complement the desert landscaping of the front yard and blend seamlessly into the sun-bleached sidewalk.

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Gray Asphalt

Fantastic Frank

This sloping hillside driveway has smooth gray asphalt paving that complements the minimalist lines of this stark white Ibiza home from Fantastic Frank.

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Concrete

Maite Granda

A wide concrete driveway provides a smooth entrance to this cottage-style Florida home from interior designer Maite Granda. It's framed by a white picket fence and a variety of mature trees.

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Understated Gravel

Matthew Carter Interiors

A neatly kept, understated gravel driveway complements the secluded garden feel of this Napa Valley, CA home from Matthew Carter Interiors.

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Terracotta Tile

Fantastic Frank

This Mediterranean home from Fantastic Frank has a sloping terracotta tile driveway lined with a low stone border that adds texture and warmth to the boxy minimalist facade. The slightly uneven surface makes the driveway feel integrated with the Spanish island setting, giving the space a sense of history and charm.

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Asphalt + Crushed Stone

Design by Crisp Architects / Photo by Rob Karosis

The large curving driveway of this Connecticut home by Crisp Architects is paved with asphalt suffused with crushed stone.

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Gravel + Tree Canopy

Matthew Carter Interiors

A gravel driveway gives this St. Helena, CA driveway from Matthew Carter Interiors a natural feel that complements the dreamy tree canopy and lush landscaping.

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Slick and Smooth

Whittney Parkinson Design

A smooth concrete driveway on the side of this new build from Whittney Parkinson Design flows seamlessly into a wrap-around walkway leading to the front door of the suburban home.

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Brick Pavers

Home Consultant

A warm brick paver driveway adds warmth to this Southern California house from Home Consultant, complementing the smooth, tan stucco on the exterior and custom wood garage and front doors.

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Natural Gravel + Stone Border

Design by JLF Architects / Construction by Big-D Signature / Photo by Audrey Hall

For this home located in Snedens Landing on the Hudson River, JLF Architects and builders Big-D Signature took cues from the surrounding landscape with a linear layout that naturally follows the bluff-top to make the most of its river vantage point without disturbing the wooded environment. This included a naturalistic gravel driveway outlined with stone that follows the curved yard landscaping to enhance the home's understated rural cottage aesthetic.

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Cement Pavers + Green Grass

Maite Granda

The circular driveway of this Florida home renovated by interior designer Maite Granda has a large cement paver floor with green grass peeking out that complements the adjacent lawn and allows the dramatic overhanging roof structure and modern framed windows of the facade.

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Polished Concrete

Whittney Parkinson Design

Whittney Parkinson Design added a polished surface to this concrete driveway that adds texture to the sloping circular drive and contrast with the warm wood detailing on the facade of the new-build home.

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Short Asphalt Driveway

White Sands

The short driveway in front of this Spanish-style Southern California bungalow from White Sands is covered in asphalt that makes it blend seamlessly in with the sidewalk.

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Two-Tone

Home Consultant

The driveway leading to this Southern California garage-turned-guest house from Home Consultant is paved with smooth cement that is contrasted with square terracotta colored tiles. Extending the tiles to the back patio adds warmth to the now car-free dining space.

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Asphalt + Belgian Block Edging

Design by Crisp Architects / Photo by Rob Karosis

The driveway outside this Chappaqua, NY home from Crisp Architects is paved with asphalt with a Belgian block edging. Using Belgian block edging — rectangular or square shape stones apposed in a line — creates a polished feel and helps to separate hardscaping and landscaping.

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Grass + Pavers

Brophy Interiors

Brophy Interiors added cement pavers surrounded with thick grass borders that add the illusion of a front yard in this Southern California home that is close to the street and located behind a high wall. The grass, raised garden bed landscaping, and wood slat garage doors help to soften the fortress-like entrance.

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White Asphalt

Mindy Gayer Design Co. / Photo by Vanessa Lentine

Mindy Gayer Design Co. paved this Southern California driveway with white asphalt that complements both the front sidewalk and white brick and siding of the facade.

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Large Cement Pavers

Home Consultant

Home Consultant lined this Los Angeles driveway with tightly laid cement pavers that create the illusion of a unified surface that's easier to achieve than pouring a slab.

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Pale Asphalt

Mindy Gayer Design Co. / Photo by Lane Dittoe

Mindy Gayer Design Co. used pale asphalt on this wide, flat driveway that complements the minimalist white facade of the modern Southern California home and allows the blue door and green lawn and landscaping to stand out.

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Grass-Edged Pavers

Brophy Interiors

Brophy Interiors used cement pavers edged with grass that add a graphic touch to the front of the house while complementing the landscaping of this modern Southern California dwelling. The facade is lit with warm light to highlight the clean lines and landscaping of the home.

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Black Asphalt

Design by Crisp Architects / Photo by Rob Karosis

A winding black asphalt driveway cuts a slick path through the snow and complements the bare tree branches in this home from Crisp Architects.

What type of paving is best for a driveway?

The best driveway paving is easy to maintain and works with the style of your home. Paving materials include concrete, asphalt, gravel, or pavers that range from brick to cobblestone that vary in cost, installation, maintenance, and durability, depending on the conditions and climate where you live.

What is the least expensive type of driveway material?

Gravel is the least expensive paving option for your driveway. A budget-stretching option for long driveways, gravel is easy to install but does require frequent maintenance to keep it free from weeds and to replenish gravel that has washed away.