In an extract from his new book,Your Outdoor Room, garden designer Manoj Malde provides a step-by-step guide to creating your perfect garden pathway
No matter what your choice of material, one rule when designing a pathway is that it must lead somewhere.
Pathways create a framework for movement within a space, connecting different areas and providing a transition from one space to another, be that a shed, bench, seating or a lounge area. Design your pathway so that it complements the look of your garden.
Straight or angular paths work well in a formal design, while paths that curve will suit gardens with a more natural feel.
What materials can I use for paths?
When choosing materials for paths, make sure the style, colour and texture of those you select suit the look you are trying to create.
The simplest features are mown paths through longer grass or a meadow, or, if you have a garden with a woodland feel, consider a chipped bark path. Gravel would be perfect for a rural cottage feel, or if you want a path with a solid surface, materials commonly suggested for patios can also work well. Using the same material throughout the garden will also create a cohesive look and make a small space feel bigger.
Can pathways be more interesting?
The design of a pathway can impact the way you and your visitors move through the garden. Narrow pathways make people move quickly; wider paths create a calmer journey, hence people slow down their pace.
But paths are not just about getting from A to B. Remember the design and material choices of your path determine not only the direction but also how the user journeys along it. They can also influence people’s mood and state of mind. A short journey along a straight path can be extended by adding a few twists and turns into the design, and those same twists and turns can also lead a person to stop and look at what you want them to see.
The paddle stone paths (tobi-ishi) that meander through Japanese gardens encourage you to concentrate. They slow you down, giving you time to contemplate and absorb your surroundings. Japanese timber plank paths constructed like narrow bridges and laid in zig-zag pattern have the same effect. They also have a more mystical function – the Japanese believe that evil spirits travel in straight lines so walking in zig-zag lines protects us from evil.
In Moorish and Paradise gardens the classic chahar bagh (four gardens) design divides the space into four, with rills or pathways leading out from a central water feature. The four paths (or rills) represent the four rivers of paradise, which are milk, honey, water and wine. Paradise gardens are all about our sensory experience, symbolism a
