7 cheap garden paving ideas
by
Checkatrade

Our cheap garden paving ideas are going to prove that you don’t need to spend a fortune on renovations to make a difference. Sometimes, the smallest changes have the biggest impact.

Paving is a great way to make sure you’re able to enjoy time in your garden all year round. With the UK weather notoriously wet and windy, a robust design that doesn’t budge is the key to weathering any storm.

That’s why we’ve put together 7 cheap paving ideas that are budget-friendly, stylish and easy to install.

Read on for design inspiration.

Cheap garden paving ideas

Brick paving is one of the hardiest and easiest installations on the market. Whether you go DIY or hire a professional to lay down your floor, it’s a great option for those on a budget.

What’s more, brick paving comes in an array of designs and colours. Who says you need to keep things uniform? Mix it up with red, black, white and mottled bricks. Create mosaics, borders, edges and curves. And never assume brick = boring again.

If you want to know how much brick paving might set you back, check out our block paving cost guide.

Simple and affordable paving ideas

We love a stepping stone at Checkatrade. They take us back to our childhood when we’d jump from slab to slab and avoid the ground (aka, the ocean or lava).

Why not unleash your inner child onto your garden with this whimsical paving design?

Stone slabs are easy to install, hardy, and come in various budget-friendly prices. These are of a limestone variety, and this fairy forest tiled walkway is the perfect addition to any garden – but especially one with Neoregelia plants.

Simple and cheap garden path ideas

If you’re hoping to keep things plain and simple when it comes to your garden path, then contrast is key.

You don’t want a plain and boring paving design in your garden. No one does. And keeping things simple doesn’t mean forgoing style.

To create character, pick two clashing textures and bring them together for perfect harmony. For example, these wooden stepping boards laid over white and grey gravel creates a beautiful contrast. It’s simple without being dull. It’s elegant without being plain.

What more could you ask for?

Cheap walkway ideas

When we hear the word ‘contemporary’ we hear clean lines, style, class and EXPENSE. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Creating a contemporary style on a budget is possible, and here’s how.

1. Add raised planters – whether upcycled, DIY’ed or repurposed – to create green boundaries in your garden
2. Lay budget-friendly concrete paving slabs on either side of the planters (leave the middle free)
3. Fill the middle section between the planters (the bit you’ll walk through) with natural gravel
4. Add longer concrete paving slabs in uniformed rows. These are your stepping stones
5. Admire your handiwork

Walkway ideas on a budget

If you’re not the landscaping type, there’s a really easy way to create a walkway in your garden.

A gravel path.

Now, I know you’re thinking a simple gravel path is dull, but it doesn’t have to be. Allowing it to curve will create interest. Adding edging and borders will give it more interest. Lining it with solar lights will give it—

You get the gist.

And don’t forget to check out our concrete edging cost guide if you’d like to see how much edging might set you back.

Inexpensive walkway ideas

We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again.

Add texture for interest.

This keen gardener has built the perfect example of how to add layers and create character on a relatively low budget. The traditional red and white paving cobbles on the driveway are bordered by brick edging. The top tier is then filled with gravel, which makes way for box hedges – a much-needed injection of greenery.

You can use this concept with various other materials. However, the principle remains the same: keep things interesting by adding details and textures.

Cheap garden edging ideas

There are so many ways to add edging to your garden and benefit from the neat and tidy finish it offers.

• A simple edging tool that allows you to cut shapes in your grass, which is great for adding curves to flowerbeds
• Bamboo edging
• Reclaimed wood borders
• Planters
• Gravel
• Stone, brick or concrete blocks
• Gabion walls

Why not experiment by combining two of these ideas for a unique finish?

Like what you see? There’s more where this came from. Check out Checkatrade’s blog for more tips, ideas, how-tos, and inspiration. For more garden ideas on a budget, take a look at our cheap garden ideas.