An unusual shaped garden or driveway can present a challenge when it comes to design ideas – but what can you do with a sloped garden to create a useful and beautiful space? This article features 6 garden and driveway designs which have been created in sloped spaces. Using clever engineering and working with the sloped garden rather than against it, these award-winning designs have all been created by Marshalls Registered Installers.
A sloped garden with steps
Created by Duncan Ross Gardens in Nottingham, using our Symphony Tumbled in Smoke
Rather than trying to even out or flatten a sloped garden, steps can be used to create a variety of levels. This garden design also makes uses of garden beds on different levels, to add interest as you move through the space. The paving is porcelain, which is a great choice if you’re looking for a low maintenance, easy to clean patio.
A driveway with a multi-level front garden
Created by Westend Landscapes in North Somerset, using a mixture of Drivesett Argent in Dark and Light
As with the previous garden design, this sloped driveway features multi-level planting beds to create a stylish finish. Multi height garden walls are a great way of creating sections at the front of your home, they can be used to create different areas for shrubbery or to add more character to your front garden. This driveway design uses old mill bricks, to match the look of the home itself.
A sunken seating area with a fire pit
Created by Dawson Landscapes in Hartlepool, using a mixture of Symphony Classic in Barley and Grey, Granite Eclipse in Graphite and Symphony Planks in Birch
A rising trend we’re seeing in garden design, are built-in seating areas and if you have a sloped garden you could look to capitalise on the height by creating a sunken area which is more sheltered and cosy. These are great if you’re looking to create dedicated spaces to spend more time with family and friends outdoors, and with the addition of a fire pit, pergola or a canopy, this is a popular choice for all-weather entertaining. This garden design by Dawson Landscapes uses a variety of paving products, to create a sleek, low maintenance garden, perfect for all the family.
Multi-level patio with natural stone walling
Created by Groundcraft Projects Ltd in Hemel Hempstead, using Arrento in Silver, Granite Eclipse in Graphite Bullnose Steps and Stoneface Drystack Veener in Harvest Mix
A multi-level garden gives you an opportunity to create different zones and, as with this design, you could end up with a nice sheltered patio area that is ideal for dining and outdoor entertaining. Using walling and steps can open up your outdoor space and give the impression of it looking bigger than it actually is. This garden transformation consisted of excavating over 100 tonnes of ground from the site, to create a multi-level patio area, using our porcelain paving and veneer walling.
A multi-level garden with feature steps
Created by Garden TLC in Oldham, using Capleton in Grange paving and Bullnose Steps and Granite Eclipse in Dark Paving and Bullnose Steps
Making a feature of your steps in a multi-level space is a great garden design idea and can really bring a sense of luxury. Contrasting colours for paving is a fantastic way of highlighting different sections within your outdoor space, as this design shows with the lower and upper patio areas. If you like this idea, we would always recommend getting a couple of samples and have a look at how the colours work together. A common trend we see is to have a lighter coloured patio area, with a darker border.
Multi level garden with swimming pool
Created by Arbworx Ltd in Brighton, using Symphony Urban in Clay and Capleton Pavers in Grange
A multi patio terrace can be a great design for a sloping garden, and as we’ve seen above the use of steps to connect the areas is key. This particular garden design involved the excavation of over 100 tons of soil, and uses a combination of the same coloured paving, but in different materials or shapes. This adds charm to a patio area, and breaks up the space. We often see lighter coloured paving around a swimming pool; cream, buff or even light grey are recommended, as it doesn’t absorb the heat as much as opposed to the darker colours.
Looking for more inspiration?
We hope these 6 garden and driveway designs have inspired you with ideas of how to work with a sloped outdoor space. When it comes to creating new levels, building steps and excavating the ground we would always recommend using a professional team. If you’re more of a DIYer, we’ve written an article on five DIY garden project ideas, that will help you make a difference to your garden and keep you busy during those warmer months.
