Deciding to refurbish or lay a new driveway can leave you with many decisions to make. Should you choose a resin-bound driveway or block paving? Should you choose blocked edging or a decorative pattern?
One of the most impactful decisions is choosing the colour, as it will be the first thing people notice about your neat new driveway. Block paving and aggregates used in resin-bound surfaces come in a wide variety of colours, making the choice a difficult one.
Here are our top tips to help you choose the perfect shade.
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Consider the age of the house
A new build, modern home will have a very different aesthetic to a detached early 20th or late 19th century home. A buff-coloured resin-bound driveway might suit a late Victorian town house in brick, or a dark grey block paving might work for a stone-built property.
Older and more rural properties can benefit from a locally sourced aggregate that provides a seamless transition with the home.
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Avoid a direct colour match
Trying to get an exact match between the driveway colour and the exterior façade of the building can be jarring.
In truth, an exact match is almost impossible to get, as the aggregate or clay blocks for the paving will be sourced from different places than the original building materials.
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Complement the brickwork
Instead of matching, find a colour that contrasts yet complements the brick, stone or concrete façade. For example:
Slate grey resin-bound driveway and paths could complement a modern build with a monochrome palette, such as white walls and black window frames, doors and trim.
Black or charcoal driveways also work well with grey or white-rendered properties. It is also perfect for minimalist homes.
For houses fronted in warm terracotta or a London yellow brick, more earthy colours would be a good complement. A beige or ochre shade would marry with the traditional red clay brick, whereas a paler brick might suit a natural blend.
For limestone or sandstone-built homes, a warm contrast in driveway colour would be a honey-coloured, pale cream or yellow shades of aggregate.
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Think about front door colours
Unlike the materials your home is built of, front door colours change with the seasons, and that also needs to be taken into account. A front door can be repainted, but laying a driveway is a much bigger project.
Current style guides suggest black, grey and bright red front doors are out for 2026. These shades are being replaced with deeper berry colours, fresh or dark greens, and deep blues.
You’ll want to choose a driveway colour that can move with the style, no matter what other colours are in this season.
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Work with your personal style
This applies to both colours and the type of driveway you have installed.
If you hate beige with a passion or know that oil stains will make a mess of your new driveway, then paler colours should be avoided. Other homeowners might prefer the traditional red and interlocking patterns of block paving.
It comes down to a balance between personal choice and practicality, and if you are stuck, then our driveway experts can help you choose.
