5 Landscape Design Ideas for a Modern Permeable Driveway in Wheaton, IL

Your driveway is one of the first landscape features that people see as they arrive at your home, and it is often taken for granted. The design opportunities hidden in your driveway can make your landscape feel welcoming and personal without detracting from safety and utility. Treating your permeable driveway as an important design element such as your walkway and front yard will not only help increase curb appeal, but ease driveway-related drainage issues. Here are five landscape design ideas for a modern permeable driveway in Wheaton, IL.

A Retaining Wall with Integrated Landscape Lighting

The light fixtures you place near your driveway are essential for safety, security and a welcoming ambience. Not only do these lights provide a clear visual path for drivers as they approach the parking area, but the added presence of ambient light provides security for your home’s entry as well.

Landscape lighting fixtures need to be strategically placed to provide focused illumination for the driveway surface without ever shining in the eyes of a driver. To accomplish both, fixtures should be placed near the ground and angled downwards. Installing them within a retaining wall is a fabulous way to integrate lighting into your driveway design.

If you have a curvaceous driveway, a retaining wall on one or both sides of the driveway can help guide visitors to your home, especially in wintry conditions. Installing drains within the retaining wall can also help keep your permeable driveway even drier and safer.

A Living Island

For the turnaround at the end of your driveway, you could include an island that features a wide array of colorful flowers and plants to help bring life to your front yard. A living island can be constructed and supported by masonry that blends with your retaining walls and other landscape features. An automatic irrigation system will help give carefully calibrated amounts of water at set times to specific plants to keep maintenance and water usage low; and you never have to worry about runoff from this garden island flooding your driveway, thanks to the permeable pavers.

Xeriscaping

The traditional American lawn, while beautiful, uses an incredible amount of resources and a careful eye for maintenance. For a more interesting visual texture, consider xeriscaping around your driveway by planting native shrubs; instead of mulch, opt for smooth river stones. The benefit will be a drastic reduction of maintenance as well as the opportunity for creative design. To mimic the permeability of your driveway, gravel or river stones used as the primary surface will help preserve the integrity of the soil, help prevent weed propagation, and allow rain and snow runoff to seep into the ground. A xeriscaped driveway landscape will feel both welcoming and elegant while helping your environment.

Trees

Planting a row of cedars along your permeable driveway can give your driveway an estate feel. Cedars can also do double duty in providing privacy (if spaced close together), as well as a windbreak on wintery days.

Paver Accents

Adding paver accents such as a driveway apron or inlays can enhance your driveway’s curb appeal. A brick permeable driveway would look stunning with a cobblestone apron; or a flagstone-inspired permeable driveway could be enhanced with tumbled quarrystone inlays.

Since a permeable paver driveway can be installed over a driveway heating system, you never have to worry about prominently-textured pavers getting damaged by snow plows.