A chic bathroom, an opulent living room, and a contemporary kitchen all draw attention to your house.
The significance of the driveway, from the plants that surround it to the choice of pavement or tiling and the gates that enclose it, is something that even the most ardent homeowners frequently miss.
It creates a first impression that guests will remember before they get a chance to appreciate your exceptional taste in soft furnishings.
However, the cost of slabs and surfacing can frequently reach double figures, so a brand-new driveway might soon deplete your finances.
Thankfully, Jordana Ashkenazi, Design Director and Founder of Element One House, is available to offer advice on how to create an elegant driveway without going over budget.
“People are craving outdoor spaces that actually reconnect them to nature because we spend so much of our modern lives surrounded by screens, artificial materials, and manufactured environments,” she told The Daily Mail. “The most beautiful exteriors rarely feel overly showy or forced.” They feel content, at ease, and genuine. Natural materials and simplicity nearly always hold up better than overly ostentatious fads.
The significance of the driveway, from the plants that surround it to the choice of pavement or tiling and the gates that enclose it, is something that even the most proud homeowners frequently forget. Kylie Jenner is seen posing on a driveway.
Synthetic vegetation
This driveway feature has quickly become a mainstay for middle-class houses across the nation, offering a simple method to make your front garden feel lush all year round.
Some may even spend money on matching plants on both sides to lend an extra touch of elegance; artificial Box or Yew spiral Topiary is a popular option when made in the shape of spheres or pyramids.
Jordana cautions that although the placement of these plants may have been intended to provide “instant kerb appeal,” it may ultimately “end up feeling more Airbnb entrance than warm family home.”
“The problem with fake greenery is that it never changes with the seasons and often looks overly perfect against real brick and natural surroundings.” “I think front entrance planting should ideally be real,” she said. “Fake topiary can quickly tip into looking a bit tacky, showroom-like and, at worst, verge on Poundland garden center rather than elegant luxury.” “Perfectly symmetrical fake topiary can sometimes make a home feel more like a staged showroom than somewhere genuinely lived in.” Simple real olive trees, seasonal planting, or softer vegetation can instantly add more warmth, authenticity, and character to a home.
Driveways made of resin with enormous initials and patterns
According to Jordana, a resin driveway “screams loud luxury.”
With celebrities like Mrs. Hinch, Sam Faiers, and Billie Shepherd choosing the sleek style, Britons’ obsession with resin hasn’t shown any signs of waning.
However, what is a resin driveway exactly? It is essentially a union of polyurethane resin and natural aggregate, which are tiny stones. It is costly, useful, and suitable for skateboarding by children. Characteristic? Not so much.
If you want to leave a lasting impression, you can even stamp your family’s initials or, worse, a family emblem, like Tyson Fury did with his “Gypsy King” resin makeover.
There are no questions for Jordana. A driveway made of resin “screams loud luxury and trying too hard to impress.”
“Family initials, patterns, and enormous resin motifs across a driveway can very quickly feel more nouveau riche than timeless,” she continued.
Seldom do luxurious dwellings need to yell. In actuality, the most ostentatious-looking houses are typically the most modest. I also believe that people tend to forget how long-lasting these decisions are. What happens if your situation changes, you sell the house, or you get divorced? “Driveways have become the contouring makeup of British homes.” After that, you are left with enormous initials imprinted across the driveway, which may seem rather strange to future owners. Everyone is attempting to create immediate luxury from the street, but sometimes it’s better to have less.
Pathways of resin
Resin paths, on the other hand, can be very effective if they consider the surrounding landscape choices, colors, and textures.
“The best resin pathways are always balanced with softer planting, thoughtful lighting, and natural textures surrounding them,” stated Jordana.
“If not, they might feel more like a business park than a lovely house.”
Gravel and natural stone driveways
This is a classic choice for a driveway.
Natural stone and gravel driveways are the best choice for middle-class homeowners looking to make a strong first impression since they combine the best kerb appeal with long-term value.
Jordana believes that working “with nature, rather than against it” is the goal of this “timeless” driveway choice.
“They have a subtle, sophisticated, and very country-house quality,” she remarked. “Somehow, the sound of gravel beneath tires still feels like old-money luxury.”
The “noise and slightly impractical” aspect that these gravel roads may produce, depending on how close they are to the house, is the only minor drawback, she cautions.
They’re not really pleasant to walk on bare feet unless there are stepping stones, and you frequently hear every arrival before they even get to the door. However, they often age wonderfully and never seem unduly artificial.
Slabs of slate
Slate slabs are a more contemporary addition to your front drive because they are durable, solid stones that don’t fade over time, which makes them a desirable choice given the constantly shifting British weather.
Fortunately, slate can look “absolutely beautiful in the right setting” for individuals who have made the decision to invest in it. This is especially true for homeowners with “modern architectural properties.”
“Larger slate slabs can still look incredibly sophisticated on architecturally designed homes, especially modern builds with the right landscaping and proportions,” Jordana said.
She cautioned that using smaller slate slabs on a “average suburban property” could result in an exterior that is “dated, cold, and overly grey.”
“Outdoor spaces are now moving back toward softer, warmer, and more natural finishes, but there was a huge period when everyone wanted everything charcoal, dark, and ultra-modern,” she continued. “If slate is balanced properly with greenery, softer landscaping, and warmer materials, it can still work beautifully.”
But according to Jordana, who favors “softer, more timeless materials” for driveways, the fad has “largely peaked.”
Bin storage
Although concealed bin storage appears more organized and tidy, it’s not always the best choice.
Nobody pays a lot of money on a gorgeous house only to have enormous wheelie bins outside of it.
Although hidden bin storage appears “cleaner and tidier” in urban areas with little outside space, Jordana acknowledged that it’s not always the most sensible choice.
“You might find yourself constantly having to pull the bins in and out yourself every week in places like London, where the bin collection times seem completely unpredictable,” she clarified.
Additionally, there is the aspect of hygiene. Unmaintained bin storage can serve as a rat breeding ground, which is obviously not ideal.
Jordana stated that she is “on the fence” about aesthetically pleasing bin storage ideas.
Since no one really wants bins to be the main feature of the front garden, I definitely favor concealed bin storage from a visual standpoint. However, in reality, it’s not always as practical as people think.
Artificial grass patches
Although artificial grass may seem like the ideal solution to soften a concrete driveway’s stark appearance, the truth is a little different.
According to Jordana, “small strips or patches of artificial grass between paving often feel too forced and overdesigned.””In the end, it might appear more business than domestic.
Artificial foliage has “such a long way to go visually,” according to Jordana, even if it’s a low-maintenance method to brighten your house.
“Even in 2026, there is still a single, easily identifiable shade of green.”
Synthetic turf may also feel “quite unpleasant underneath,” she continued.
“It can sometimes feel less like a fresh outdoor sanctuary and more like a hidden cesspit underneath the surface due to pets, dirt, and trapped moisture,” she said. “Natural lawns may not be perfect year-round, but at least they age naturally and soften a space properly.”
Slabs of concrete
Concrete slabs are marketed as an inexpensive, long-lasting surface for your front drive that can endure severe weather and decades of car use.
However, Jordana emphasizes that “landscaping, planting, lighting or natural stone” is essential to prevent a “stark, harsh and clinical look” for those want to add some flair to their driveway.
“There are, of course, different styles and finishes of concrete slabs available now, but ultimately they still visually read as concrete,” she explained. “From a purely design perspective, they can sometimes look cheap and overly commercial because there’s very little softness or warmth to them on their own.”
Jordana says that although she values their “practicality,” “visually they need balance.”
“Large expanses of concrete can make a home feel chilly rather than welcoming without any greenery or texture.”
Big electric gates
Large electric gates and advanced security systems are essential for celebrities who are anxious for seclusion.
According to Jordana, “there are homes where electric gates make sense, particularly larger estates, stately homes, or properties where security and privacy genuinely are important.”
Her best advice is to select a style that goes well with the property’s architecture.
When paired with larger homes, long drives, or properties that already have extensive borders and landscape surrounding them, they can appear beautiful, timeless, and extraordinarily luxurious.
However, Jordana noted that large electric gates can start to feel “shouty, cheap, or pointless” when they are installed just on pretty typical suburban properties.
Lighting on the floor
According to Jordana, driveways with in-ground floor lighting can appear stunning when it is delicately laid.
“It can completely elevate exterior materials like slate, stone, or concrete and adds warmth and elegance,” she said.
However, excessively strong illumination and massive, conspicuous lighting poles are strictly prohibited.
According to Jordana, “outdoor lighting should feel soft and atmospheric rather than looking like an airport runway.” “Restraint is what makes it feel expensive, like most luxury details.”
