How to Make a Stepping Stone Walkway

Building a walkway is a simple, satisfying home improvement project that can beautify a backyard or add curb appeal to the front of your home. You can choose natural stone, preformed paving stones or the tiled look of brick masonry. Patterns of stone and grass, stone and mulch, stone and gravel, or even stone and moss make eye-catching combinations. Different materials and designs let you create the look you want. There are some other benefits to adding a stone path to your landscape. 

• A stepping stone path creates an inviting look that draws guests into your outdoor space.
• It guides foot traffic, such as a garden path leading to planting beds or a backyard pond and reduces wear on the lawn.
• It adds a designed look that defines different areas of your landscape.
• If conditions are wet or muddy, a stepping stone walkway provides a solid path.
• It creates contrast to your plants and landscaping.
• Custom designs can be created, ranging from a straight, formal walkway with pavers, to a more informal winding path with natural stone.
• Requiring little maintenance, it gives you a long-lasting feature.

Whether you want a simple garden path or a more complex walkway that branches off to different areas, you need to do a little planning and prep work before you begin. Start by thinking about your landscape design. Take a look at Design Your Landscape for ideas and principles to consider. Decide on the type of stone you want to use for your path. Our Wall Block, Pavers and Edging Stones Buying Guide will tell you about different styles. Here are some other useful tips.

• Use mason line or a garden hose to experiment with different pathway designs. You can also use them to mark the design when you’re ready to begin installation.
• Plan how wide the path will be. A width of 36 inches is standard. A 48-inch-wide walkway will require more stone pavers but will allow a couple of people to walk side by side comfortably.
• Depending on the number of stones you need, you may want to have them delivered.
• Use a yard cart or wheelbarrow to move the stones and sand to the work area, but don’t overload it.
• Wear work boots and work gloves during installation. You’ll likely be doing a good bit of lifting, so consider wearing a back brace. Knee pads are a good idea as well — they’ll make the work more comfortable.

Once you’ve got your walkway in place, there are many ways you can accentuate it and build upon it to create the perfect outdoor space. Here are some ideas to get you started.