• Border high-traffic walkways with mondo grass.lawn and border bed image by TMLP from Fotolia.com
  
  An inviting walkway to an entry begins with materials that complement nature as well as architectural aesthetics. Go beyond the basic sidewalk with walkways that blend with nature while serving as reliable paths. Carefully planned walkways stand the test of time and add curb appeal to your property. Plan a well-lit walkway that provides easy access to an entry without tracking in unnecessary dirt, mulch or yard debris.
  
  

Covered Walkway With Pavers

• Trellis covered walkways are ideal for areas exposed to rain.City Arboretum image by Timothy Edgerton from Fotolia.com
  
  Use square or octagonal pavers to create a structured walkway with geometric appeal. Pavers come in many colors, including brick, sand and gray tones. Have a trellis built over the walkway as a shield from the rain during inclement weather. Connect the trellis to the entrance of your home for a more secluded entry. You can also plant Carolina or confederate jasmine at the bases of the trellis. These vines will climb the natural contours of the trellis for a fully shaded walkway. Use Italian bistro lights to illuminate the trellis and entrance.
  
  

Pea Gravel With Solar-lit Border

• Pea gravel also prevents erosion.Pebbles image by Kerry from Fotolia.com
  
  For a budget-friendly walkway, dig a pathway foundation and line it with landscaping plastic for weed prevention. Fill the pathway with pea gravel all the way to the entrance and border the walkway with seasonal annuals, such as impatiens in the spring and summer and pansies in the fall and winter. Add solar-powered accent lighting as a border to cast an evening glow over the walkway and surrounding areas.
  
  

Outsized Stepping Stones

• Irregularly shaped stepping stones complement a natural landscaping theme.Sperlingpaar image by Dieter Groth from Fotolia.com
  
  Large, thick stepping stones make a substantial walkway requiring little preparation with the exception of digging surrounding soil to set the stones as permanent landscape features. Larger stepping stones with solar-powered lighting can lead to covered entrances, such as front porches or terrace levels opening to a backyard. Space stones 12 inches apart and plant mounding perennials in surrounding soil areas and between each stone.
  
  

Railroad Walkway

• Hire contractors to connect and set the tracks.Railroad spikes image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
  
  Get your walkway on the right track by buying train tracks from a scrap metal yard to use as a border for railroad or landscape timbers. The timbers serve as stepping stones. Create a "railroad" walkway to an entrance lit with a vintage railroad lantern. This walkway entrance is ideal for urban and suburban backyards where homeowners think beyond the ordinary for eye-catching landscape schemes.