Stream rocks are a good choice if you want to create a peaceful and contemplative effect. They create a solid yet permeable pathway that can sustain medium to high traffic. Stream rocks are also flexible aesthetically they can be used to make straight and angular causeways, or they can be used to create paths that simulate the sinuous curves of a waterway.

In order to make a stream rock path, create a ditch at least six inches deep and fill it with the stream rocks you have chosen. This will make a sturdy and well-defined walkway. You will likely also want to use a metal or wood border to keep your stream rocks in place. You can soften the look of the sharp border by planting groundcover along the edge of the path.

Fieldstones are another good functional option for a backyard walkway. Heavy duty and conveniently shaped for use as stepping stones, fieldstone is also a great aesthetic choice. Fieldstone is for situations that require a lower impact path, when you want isolated stepping stones rather than a paved corridor through your garden. It also works well when combined with an attractive groundcover; this integrated the stone more fully into the garden, creating a more natural look. If set in sand or gravel, fieldstone has a sharper and slicker design feel.

Gravel is one of the easiest materials to work with when creating a water permeable pathway. Using metal border materials is essential when working with gravel. While it is easy to set down a well defined path, the gravel won't stay there unless held in bounds by a border. Gravel is useful if you want to pave an already-established dirt path, or you need your garden walkway to be handicap accessible.

Brick is another sturdy and tried-and-true path material. However, it is more challenging to work with than any of the other pathway materials. This is because before the bricks are set, a ditch about six inches deep needs to be dug where the path will be and it needs to be filled with sand. On top of that, each brick needs to be set separately and closely fitted with the other bricks composing the path. However, all this hard work has a big aesthetic and functional payoff. One can create patterns on brick pathways that can't be matched by any other materials. Also, with a little maintenance, brick pathways can easily last a lifetime.

You don't have to be a professional to make a beautiful and functional garden path. Pay attention to your functional and design needs, and you'll be rewarded with a great design element that also gets you from point A to point B.