A pathway is more than just a means of getting from point A to point B; it is a journey. Whether just a few steps to the front door or a meandering trail through a sweeping garden, a journey can be made memorable with one simple design trick: repetition.

Repeating a key plant or color, or both, down the length of a pathway creates a sense of movement, enticing the eye — and the feet — to explore further. It creates a unifying theme while adding highlights that make you want to savor the experience. Alyson Ross Markley 1. An Alluring Stroll

Plantings and pathway blend easily in this picture-perfect scene. One is naturally drawn to the partially obscured stacked stone sculpture yet also wants to linger on this delightful meandering path.

The color palette focuses on shades of purple provided by 'Beni Otake' Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Beni Otake') and 'Velvet Cloak' smokebush (Cotinus coggygria 'Velvet Cloak').

The chartreuse foliage of 'Mellow Yellow' spirea (Spiraea thunbergii 'Ogon'), 'Golden Spirit' smokebush (Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Spirit') and Bowles' golden sedge (Carex elata 'Aurea') adds high contrast, taking center stage.

Rhododendrons add rich magenta accents, while black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') adds deeper black notes.

Key plants and colors are repeated on alternate sides of the pathway, luring you deeper and deeper into the dappled glade. AR Design Studio Ltd 2. The Boardwalk Experience

What a fun adventure this stroll to the lakehouse must be. Neither straight nor curved, this jaunty boardwalk traverses the marsh in a zigzag, reaching its final destination by means of a ramp.

Cattails grow easily on either side of the boardwalk in the shallow water, enhancing the experience. Perhaps we will hear the trill of a red-winged blackbird or see a tiny marsh wren flitting among the reeds if we take our time.

We may not all have a natural wetland on our property, but this design may suggest a new way to create a casual, naturalistic pathway using wooden boards simply flanked with taller grasses, such as maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'). Le jardinet 3. An Intimate Walk

When the view is expansive and the pathway sweeps out of view, how can we design a pathway that feels intimate?

Waterfalls of soft yellow Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola') placed strategically along either side of the walkway become trail markers in this Asian-inspired garden, leading us from one to another.

Layers of foliage in shades of green, accented with a deep burgundy 'Crimson Queen' Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Crimson Queen') are the key features in this design. The repetition of the finely textured mounding grasses ties into this foliage-focused theme while creating pools of light that naturally draw the eye. Ann Kearsley Design 4. The Softened Straight Path

Straight paths can easily look like a runway, suggesting a fast entry and exit with no reason to linger. To create the illusion of curves, repeat a key plant. Purple catmint (Nepeta sp) and pink dianthus (Dianthus sp) have been used in this photograph on alternating sides of the path.

As these mounds spill onto the flagstone, the straight lines become partially obscured, while the eye is naturally drawn from one purple haze to the next, all the way to the renovated barn.

Who wouldn't want to linger on such a delightfully fragrant journey? Peter Raarup Landscape Design 5. Woodland Highlights

Woodland paths naturally suggest a slower pace, yet they can be uneventful without a few highlights. Here groups of shade-loving caladiums have been repeated along the pathway, sweeping the eye easily from one side to the other and inviting us to see where the disappearing path leads.

This contrast in foliage color and texture makes the journey more interesting, while the repetition of these groups makes the stroll memorable.

Do you find yourself rushing along your garden path, or do you enjoy those few moments? By simply rearranging and repeating a few plants, you can transform the experience from predictable to exceptional.

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