A well-planned path invites visitors to take a stroll through your garden on a beautiful sunny day. While the path you choose will be unique for each homeowner, there are a few things you can keep in mind as you plot a route through your shrubs and flowers.

The path should be functional as well as visually pleasing. “Down the Garden Path,” a publication of the Johnson County Extension Master Gardeners in Kansas, says you should decide which points you want the path to stop by. It can also lead directly to an interesting attraction, such as a fountain.

A functional path works best if it takes the most direct route to these destinations. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself going off the path to take a shortcut. Lynn Ocone, writing for This Old House, says you can consider adding secondary paths from the main route.

For some gardens, a straight line might be the most efficient option. Ocone says you can soften any blunt appearance by adding plants or other interesting features along the way.

Down the Garden Path says that while a straight path works best if it leads to a destination, visitors will expect that a winding path will take them on a longer walk. A winding route invites people to take a leisurely excursion through the garden, and it also provides places where you can place a bench, sculpture, or other element for a visitor to stop and enjoy.

Both straight and winding paths can help make the garden appear larger. Ocone says a straight line makes the garden look longer, particularly if the end point is masked by plant life. A winding route draws the eye in such a way that a small garden appears bigger, and it also invites exploration when it disappears around a corner.

Consider the shape of your yard when deciding what kind of path to use. Ocone says curving paths should follow natural contours and elements, bending around trees and bushes. The winding paths also work well to lead down slopes, although straight paths might incorporate steps or stairs to make up any difference in elevation.

The width of the path depends on the planned use. If you simply want to escape into the garden as a quiet retreat, a narrow path wide enough for one person will suffice. A four-foot-wide path is enough to allow two people to walk side by side. Five or six feet will permit you to bring equipment such as garden carts over the path.

Keep the path true to any existing elements in the garden. Down the Garden Path says it should not break up symmetrical layouts or direct your eye to any underwhelming elements. You can even direct the path in such a way that it takes your eye away from these sights.

Consider how the path will look from certain angles. Laura Gaskill, writing for the home design site Houzz, says that if the path will be visible from your house you can try to give it an interesting birds-eye perspective. She says you can also break up a grassy expanse by having the path take a stepping stone approach through the yard.

Before you build the path, map out its planned route and see how it fits your gardening routine. Use stakes and string, rope, or other materials to define the boundaries of the planned path. If you find yourself having to deviate from this route, adjust the path as necessary.

The materials you use to build the path should also complement your home and its location. Natural materials, such as stone and timbers, work well for forested paths while brick and rectangular pavers tend to be more fitting for formal areas. You can also consider mixing certain materials to get a more interesting look.

Down the Garden Path says that once you have settled on a route and material, start the work by leveling any uneven areas. If steps are required, install these first; it will be easier to conform the steps to the path than to have the steps fit with the route of the path.

Don’t forget about safety. Keep pavers and other materials level to avoid any tripping hazards from uneven surfaces. Some surfaces might benefit from a coating of textured varnish to make them less slippery. And if you’d like to take an evening stroll on the path, invest in a few lights to put in the garden and direct you on your way.