Because the driveway is one of the first things visitors see about your house, dated designs may make your property appear out of date, no matter how renovated the inside is. Real estate brokers say you should avoid a few trends if you want the outside of your property to mirror the modern interior.
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Statues
According to Suzi Dailey, a Realtor with Realty ONE Group, giant statues or figures on each side of the driveway have fallen out of favor. “Simple and tasteful is much more popular,” Dailey explains. “Ornate is not popular at all. People view it as ostentatious.”
Metallic Finishes
With the farmhouse image still appealing, Joseph Hermon of Oxford Property Group in New York says consumers are moving it outdoors. “People are opting to bring the modern farmhouse look into their driveways, so wood, wood-style plastics, and stone are more popular than shiny metals right now.”
Gates
Manual gates are increasingly losing favor, whether due to the rising popularity of gated communities or because home security systems are now available at various price points. “Gates without remote control are passé because most people are home more often now, and getting up to open and close your driveway gate multiple times each day is considered a nuisance and a turn-off for buyers,” said Hermon.
Loose Stone and Gravel
“Gravel driveways are over — the maintenance is a pain in the rear, and they’re nearly impossible to enjoy for any leisure activities, and that’s a major consideration when you have kids or lots of company coming and going,” says Hermon. “Blacktop is a step up, but pavers are coming back into style in all shades and shapes.”
Asphalt and Stamped Concrete
According to Shane Graber, a broker at Graber Realty Group in Miami, a well-designed driveway may set the tone for your house. “Asphalt and stamped concrete driveways are out.” Instead, he anticipates a rise in artistically sculpted concrete driveways, paver driveways, and turf stone pavers with little ground impact, allowing grass to grow between the pavers “to create an uber-natural appearance,” he says.
Rectangular Shapes
According to Bonnie Heatzig, senior director of luxury sales at Douglas Elliman, “Clean lines and minimalism dominate the exterior home stage, especially for important entry statements like a driveway.” She also advises clients to be bold and experiment with driveway forms. “It doesn’t need to remain the same shape as when you purchased the home,” she said. “Lifestyles change, and your driveway’s shape can also fit your needs.”
Ribbon Driveways
The era of Hollywood driveways, often ribbon driveways, is ending. According to Brittany Kovatch of Keller Williams North Atlanta, they only have two parallel strips of concrete where your tires would go. “The newest trends are texture, geometric shapes, color, and mixed materials (think concrete and brick or grass block pavers),” according to the source.
