There’s something about a brick walkway that draws you in before you’ve even reached the door. Over the years designing gardens in Portland, I’ve seen these pathways transform not just landscapes, but the way people experience their homes.
Create Instant Classic Charm with a Herringbone Pattern
Time and again, I’ve watched guests pause to admire a herringbone brick walkway—the zigzag pattern almost dances beneath your feet. This layout not only adds visual movement but also stands up to our Pacific Northwest rain, making it a go-to for both beauty and durability.
Options that might work:
- Brick pavers for walkways: Upgrade your walkway with durable brick pavers designed for classic charm and long-lasting outdoor appeal.
- Paver edging kits: Keep your walkway edges neat and tidy by installing easy-to-use paver edging kits.
- Polymeric sand for pavers: Lock your bricks in place and minimize weed growth using high-quality polymeric sand for walkways.
Why Does a Running Bond Feel So Inviting?
The first walkway I ever built for my own home used a simple running bond—bricks laid in staggered rows—and it instantly made the narrow space feel longer and more welcoming. Its subtle rhythm guides the eye straight to the door, making it perfect for classic curb appeal.
You might like:
- Clay Brick Paver Packs: Transform your entry with classic clay brick pavers—easy to install and perfect for timeless curb appeal.
- Polymeric Sand for Brick Joints: Secure your brick walkway and minimize weeds using high-quality polymeric sand designed for outdoor projects.
- Garden Edging for Walkways: Add crisp borders to your walkway with durable garden edging, keeping bricks neat and defined.
Embrace Old-World Elegance with Basket Weave Patterns
When a client wanted her garden path to evoke English cottage vibes, we installed a basket weave brick walkway—and the sense of nostalgia was immediate. The alternating squares add a checkered charm that’s both structured and playful, especially in heritage gardens.
To help you get the job done:
- Clay garden pathway bricks: Create authentic cottage charm by installing classic clay bricks designed for basket weave walkway patterns.
- Garden trellis arches: Frame your brick walkway with elegant garden arches to enhance the romantic, old-world atmosphere outdoors.
- English rose bush starter plants: Line your path with English rose bushes to bring fragrant color and traditional cottage garden style.
Add Drama with a Gentle Curve
One of my favorite projects was a curved brick walkway that snaked through ornamental grasses, creating a sense of discovery with every step. The curve softens hard lines and makes even small yards feel expansive and organic.
What you might need:
- Curved brick walkway edging: Frame your curved brick path with flexible edging for neat lines and lasting definition in your garden.
- Ornamental grass seed mix: Create lush borders alongside your walkway by planting easy-care ornamental grasses and enhance visual interest.
- Weed barrier landscape fabric: Lay down landscape fabric before installing your walkway to help reduce weeds and maintain a tidy look.
Make a Statement with Contrasting Brick Borders
I’ve learned that a contrasting brick border—using darker or lighter bricks—frames a walkway like art in a gallery, instantly elevating curb appeal. This little detail can define the edges and make the path pop, especially at dusk when outdoor lights cast shadows.
Some handy options:
- Outdoor Paver Bricks – Mixed Color Set: Create striking walkway borders by combining lighter and darker outdoor paver bricks for lasting visual impact.
- Landscape Edging Bricks: Define your walkway with durable edging bricks that provide crisp, clean lines and enhanced curb appeal.
- Low Voltage Outdoor Pathway Lights: Highlight your brick borders at dusk and night with easy-to-install, elegant outdoor pathway lighting solutions.
Transform a Front Entry with a Wide Brick Walkway
When we widened a client’s brick walkway to match her grand porch steps, the whole entrance felt more balanced and gracious. A broad path signals a warm welcome and works wonders for homes with roomy front yards.
Something that could work:
- Outdoor Lantern Pathway Lights: Create an inviting glow along your walkway with classic lantern lights for lasting curb appeal and safety.
- Boxwood Edge Hedge Plants (Artificial or Live): Frame your walkway beautifully by adding lush, low-maintenance boxwood hedges to enhance structure and elegance.
- Brick Edging and Paver Kit: Easily create a timeless, wide brick path with durable edging and paver kits for neat installation.
Mix Patterns for a Custom Look
A lesson learned: when a client’s garden felt too uniform, we mixed herringbone and running bond sections in the same walkway, and the path suddenly had personality. Switching up patterns can define different zones or add a designer touch without extra materials.
A few useful items:
- Interlocking red brick pavers: Create durable, eye-catching paths by combining these classic interlocking bricks in your preferred patterns.
- Paver edging kit: Define walkway borders clearly with a reliable edging kit to keep your mixed patterns neatly contained.
- Landscape fabric for paver installations: Prevent weed growth under your walkway and ensure stability by installing landscape fabric before laying pavers.
Could Permeable Brick Save Your Garden from Soggy Spots?
Years ago, I discovered that using permeable brick paving—with intentional gaps for water drainage—can solve drainage issues and reduce runoff in rain-prone gardens. It’s a practical solution that keeps paths usable all year, especially here in Oregon.
Products that may fit:
- Permeable Brick Pavers: Choose permeable brick pavers to create beautiful, eco-friendly walkways that help manage garden drainage effectively.
- Polymeric Jointing Sand for Pavers: Use polymeric jointing sand to securely fill gaps between bricks and help prevent weed growth in your walkway.
- Landscape Edging for Garden Paths: Install landscape edging to maintain clean lines along your brick walkway and keep grass from encroaching.
Experience Texture: Tumbled Brick Underfoot
Walking barefoot on a tumbled brick walkway feels like stepping back in time—the edges are softened, the surface irregular, and it instantly adds rustic charm. I always recommend this for older homes or anyone craving that lived-in, story-rich texture.
A few picks to consider:
- Tumbled brick pavers for walkways: Enhance your garden path with rustic, tumbled brick pavers for an aged, timeless look and feel.
- Polymeric sand for brick joints: Secure your brick path and help prevent weed growth by applying polymeric sand between walkway bricks.
- Live moss starter for outdoor landscaping: Add natural charm by introducing live moss between bricks for a soft, vibrant, and inviting greenery accent.
Dare to Blend Brick with Gravel for Unexpected Texture
On one project, we set bricks in wide arcs with gravel filling the spaces, and the result was both low-maintenance and visually striking. This brick-and-gravel walkway blends formality and informality, and is a great DIY-friendly option for creative homeowners.
These may be of interest:
- Landscape bricks for walkways: Choose durable landscape bricks to set creative patterns and achieve a stunning walkway for your outdoor space.
- Decorative gravel for landscaping: Enhance your walkway with high-quality decorative gravel to add texture and keep maintenance low.
- Garden edging strips: Define your walkway borders neatly with garden edging strips, for a polished and lasting appearance.
What Happens When You Go Diagonal?
Trying a diagonal basket weave on a narrow side path once made the whole area feel wider and more dynamic. Angled patterns draw the eye outward, which is a clever trick for expanding tight spaces.
These products might help:
- Clay Brick Paver Set: Create eye-catching patterns on your walkway with durable clay brick pavers designed for outdoor use.
- Landscape Edging Bricks: Frame your diagonal walkway neatly and prevent shifting using sturdy landscape edging bricks or stones.
- Polymeric Sand for Paver Joints: Finish your diagonal basket weave pattern by locking pavers in place with easy-to-apply polymeric sand.
Go Green: Let Moss or Groundcover Creep Between Bricks
Some of my favorite walkways emerge when we leave room for moss or creeping thyme to fill the joints between bricks. Not only does it soften the look, but on a warm summer day, the fragrance and texture are a delight underfoot.
Consider these options:
- Creeping Thyme Seeds: Sow creeping thyme seeds between your bricks for fragrant, lush groundcover that softens your walkway beautifully.
- Live Sheet Moss: Lay live moss between bricks to create a natural, soothing green accent for your garden paths.
- Handheld Garden Weeder Tool: Easily clear narrow joints between bricks and prepare soil for planting moss or groundcover seeds.
Client Spotlight: From Drab to Dreamy with Limewashed Brick
A recent client wanted a softer, more modern look, so we tried limewashed brick for her path—the effect was luminous and instantly fresh. The subtle whitewash brightened the walkway and harmonized beautifully with her pale stucco home.
Explore these options:
- Limewash paint for brick: Refresh your brick walkway with limewash paint for a naturally brightened, modern look to complement any style.
- Outdoor wall lantern lights: Enhance your walkway’s ambiance and safety with outdoor wall lantern lights for a welcoming entry glow.
- Landscape edging for walkways: Define your limewashed path and keep garden beds tidy with durable, easy-to-install landscape edging.
Turn Up the Contrast with Mixed Brick Colors
One experiment that paid off: mixing deep red, clay, and charcoal bricks in a single walkway gives a patchwork effect that’s lively and totally unique. I recommend playing with color when you want your path to be a focal point, not just a connector.
Items that might be helpful:
- Mixed Color Concrete Paver Bricks: Create a vibrant walkway by combining paver bricks in various colors for a standout patchwork effect.
- Outdoor Polymeric Sand for Brick Joints: Finish and secure your mixed-brick walkway with polymeric sand designed to stabilize and prevent weed growth.
- Paver Edging Restraints: Keep your walkway design neat and stable by installing flexible paver edging restraints along the path.
Could Recycled Bricks Tell Your Garden’s Story?
The most memorable walkway I ever built used reclaimed bricks from a demolished local school, each one a little chipped and full of history. Recycled materials infuse a sense of place and sustainability you simply can’t buy new.
These products might be useful:
- Reclaimed Brick Landscaping Pavers: Enhance your garden with authentic reclaimed brick pavers for a unique, character-rich walkway project.
- Heavy Duty Garden Hand Tamper: Level and compact your soil with ease using a reliable hand tamper for walkway brick installation.
- Polymeric Sand for Paver Joints: Secure your bricks and prevent weed growth by filling joints with quality polymeric sand for paver paths.
Break the Rules: Try a Mosaic Brick Inlay
For a client who loved art, we created a mosaic inlay within her brick walkway—using bricks and pebbles to form a swirling sunburst at the path’s center. It’s unexpected, stops people in their tracks, and proves that a walkway can be as expressive as a painting.
Possibly handy products:
- Assorted Mosaic Pebbles for Outdoor Projects: Enhance your walkway design by integrating assorted mosaic pebbles for unique, eye-catching inlays and texture.
- Clay and Concrete Garden Bricks: Create sturdy walkway borders or intricate inlays using classic clay and concrete garden bricks and pavers.
- Mosaic Tile and Stone Tools Set: Make precise cuts and placements for your inlay pattern with a mosaic tile and stone tools set.