The ideal driveway leads you and your guests up to your front door smoothly and in style; it is the first introduction to your home and, arguably, the last impression left.

Your driveway should hint at the splendor to come without clashing with the surrounding landscape or suggesting what does not align with your home’s tastes and values.

This may seem like a tall order for a well-trafficked parcel, but rest assured this is your moment to seize the first brushstroke of your home’s palette.

Just as your residence likely follows a design theme and aspiring aesthetic, so too should your drive. Lush greenery and well-maintained flower beds suggest a peaceful country retreat, a comfortable haven in which to admire the natural beauty so much of the outside world is deprived of.

Conversely, geometric hedges and sharp stonework suggest a more minimalist approach, the prologue to a thoroughly modern abode. And of course, there are plenty of in-between options to reflect your home in the best possible fashion: finely laid borders, elegant statuary pieces, and lighting implements all denote a sanctum that is as welcoming as it is well-kempt.

You needn’t be in possession of an estate-length drive to transform it into a palatial prelude to your home just beyond. Just as your guests deserve a fine first impression, so too are you worthy of a daily greeting worth looking forward to all year round.

These top 60 best driveway landscaping ideas honor their surroundings while highlighting what matters most: your very own domicile.