Tips to Designing Stylish, Safe and Comfortable Outdoor Front Steps

This solid and stylish looking outdoor front steps constructed with natural stone. Outdoor front steps should be designed with the utmost care because the landing is the place which signifies that your guests have now arrived at their destination. The outdoor steps should be designed keeping in mind their looks and style, their material and their ideal width and height.

The ideal width for safe and comfortable passage is at least two feet. Apart from this, design steps with expansive treads of height 13 to 16 inches and with a gradual ascent having a rise of about 5 to 6 inches from one step to another step.

Materials for steps and walkways come in a wide range starting from the basic concrete to decorative tiles to rugged flagstone. The factors on which your choice of material should depend include the amount of time you will be able to dedicate to your project, the final look that you would like and your budget.

Though concrete might seem too traditional and boring but also remember that nowadays you have a whole gamut of decorative treatments available on concrete. Concrete also comes in the form of pavers, and easily available in different styles.

It comes in a variety of ranges from the inexpensive tile like varieties, to the interlocking types which assemble via joints forming a smooth and durable surface. But in spite of this, still many people prefer the simple, clean look of poured-concrete for their walkway.

Another good idea for your yard walkways is natural stone-like hardy granite or porous sandstone. Stony yards use “flagstone,” which are big and flat stones, 1 to 4 inches thick, and available in a range of colors and textures. Though their price can be a bit high but the effect is simply marvelous. Take care of climatic requirements before you make your selection, since certain stones, like quartzite and slate, might be inappropriate for wet places or icy weather conditions.

For an outdoor walkway having a natural look, you can go for bricks. Bricks are inexpensive, easy to assemble and quite long-lasting. Here also keep climate requirements in mind as different varieties of bricks are used in different conditions.

For adding a new and exciting look to your old boring concrete walkway you can go for a layer of outdoor paving tile. Though the choices in tiles are limitless but make sure that you don’t end up buying tiles that look good but would get slippery in wet conditions.

Last but not least, take care of proper illumination. Install appropriate lighting on your walkway and step treads for needed safety. You can also think about getting an interesting and eye-catching fixed light to serve as an attractive focal point. Thus your outdoor front steps would by stylish, comfortable and also safe.