Steps & Paths

Steps & paths are a very important part of a homeowner’s landscape architecture. When most people landscape their property, they start by laying down the pathways, walk areas, access routes, and driveways. This provides the framework for their landscape. When people build a stone pathway today, they no longer just lead people from point A to point B, but are a fashionable gateway to your properties landscape architecture. Today’s steps & paths play functional roles but also add significant visual impact and beauty to a homeowner’s property.

Landscaping pathways can go directly to the front door, snake their way through gardens and wooded landscape, or lead the way to a sitting area or a pool. An effective stone pathway design depends upon the pathways destination. Straight paths are great for long views of a main focal point, such as a waterfall or statue, or a short walk to the back gate. For garden pathways leading to multiple locations such as a pool and flower garden, a Y-shaped stone pathway looks wonderful. You can build a garden pathway with rocks, which loop and curve through wooded areas and then add steps and blind corners for added rhythm and intrigue.

Pathway lighting is not only important for safety but also for visual aesthetics. The purpose of pathway lighting is not the lights themselves but the lights effect on your walkway and gardens. For paths and steps, many people have their pathway lighting fixtures hanging from above or off a walkway. This way the light reflects off architectural features, rocks, plants and over the pathway.

Whether it is LED’s pathway lighting or solar light for pathway and steps, the improvement made to outdoor lighting over the last few years is amazing. Low voltage lighting and pathway lighting were originally powder-coated aluminum, so easily damaged by the elements. Today, pathway lighting is available in a vast array of materials, sizes, lighting types, styles, colors and price ranges. They are also available with several styles of pathway light toppers, which add interest and beauty. Although selecting the right solar lights for pathways requires some planning, they require no wiring and are easily installed almost anywhere.

Low voltage pathway lights are available in many brightness levels. A power pack on low voltage lights supplies the electricity and most have an automatic timer, which lets you decide when you want the lights on and off. Because they are low voltage, theses lights are safe around children and pets.