The Japanese steps are currently one of the most elegant and sophisticated ways to create a path through your garden. In addition, they are very useful when it comes to caring for and protecting the lawn and the plants you have placed on it.
But do you know exactly what they are, how they are installed and what advantages they offer? These are some of the questions we are going to answer in this ParaTuReforma article. Don’t miss it!
Garden decoration
The garden landscaping will allow you to transform the outdoor spaces of your home into authentic works of art. To do this, it is essential that you know how to combine plants and decorative elements without neglecting functionality.
Creating a comprehensive design taking into account the orientation of the sun, the topography of the terrain and your needs, as well as the proper selection of plants is key. However, the choice of paths leading from one place to another is also critical. That’s where Japanese steps come into play.
Japanese steps
A Japanese step is a path that connects two or more points within your garden.. It does it in a very peculiar way. Specifically, by means of flat stone or wood planks placed on the lawn and with a certain separation between them.
As a rule, each of these pieces of stone or wood is different, which gives a very natural look to the space. In addition, it safeguards visual harmony and allows you to protect the surface you have chosen for a longer period of time.
Tips for placing Japanese steps
Beyond the advantages that we will discuss in the next section, the Japanese steps stand out for how easy they are to install. These are the best tips we can give you in this regard:
- The surface on which you are going to place the tiles must be completely smooth. If it is grass, do not worry, as the soil will absorb their weight and they will be fixed. On the other hand, if it is gravel or pebbles, try to flatten it.
- You do not need to use any type of adhesive. The weight of the tile will fix it perfectly to the surface without the need for glue or anything else.
- Leave adequate spacing. Specifically, between each tile there should be about 40-60 centimeters. In this way, users will be able to walk very comfortably.
As you have been able to see, you do not need to hire the services of a professional to install your Japanese step. Moreover, it is not even necessary that you have great knowledge of DIY or that you have a large number of tools. With the above aspects in mind, it will look great.
Advantages of Japanese garden steps
Japanese steps offer a number of unquestionable advantages in aesthetic and functional terms. Let’s take a look at them:
- You will protect the lawn and plants in your garden. After all, you will give people who pass through this outdoor area a path to walk on comfortably. In this way, they will not have to walk across the lawn and you will prevent them from stepping on your plants.
- You will effectively communicate the different areas of your garden. The Japanese step will indicate the shortest way to go from the porch to the pool, to the barbecue area or to the outside entrance of the house, for example.
- You will create a feeling of relaxation and elegance. Japanese steps are indispensable elements in the Zen style. You will love to walk on them.
That said, it is clear that Japanese steps, within the universe of garden decoration, are options to take into account. Few offer so many advantages.
Materials used
Natural stone is undoubtedly the star material when it comes to creating and installing Japanese steps. In this sense, slate is the most commonly used. This is because it is an inexpensive material, easy to treat and install and also very resistant to weathering, although it is true that it is a little brittle.
However, it is not the only option available. At the moment, you can also find wooden Japanese steps in the market. However, you have to keep in mind that it is a much more delicate material and requires the application of various treatments periodically to prevent the sun and rain from deteriorating it. Our Haro model is a good example of the aesthetic beauty and naturalness it offers.
Finally, we must also talk about a very current trend in garden decoration. We refer, of course, to the Japanese steps of pressed concrete. All tiles are exactly the same and can be found in a wide variety of colors, although white is the preferred choice of most users.
In addition, these precast concrete pieces are sold with a completely smooth surface, which you will love if you are a perfectionist. It’s also a very weather-resistant material that requires very little maintenance.
Elegance and aesthetics
Before we finish we want to give you some additional tips regarding the fit of Japanese steps in your garden. In this regard, wood and slate are the two most versatile materials in terms of design that you will find.
Ideally, you should place the tiles of both materials on surfaces that contrast chromatically. For example, wood looks great on black and white sands, while natural stone fits much better on grass. The same can be said of precast concrete, especially when it is white. On the other hand, this material is not as attractive when installed over pebbles or gravel.
What is clear is that, as long as you choose the right Japanese steps and keep in mind the aesthetics of your garden as a whole, you will bring a lot of elegance to the space. In ParaTuReforma we offer you a wide variety of models for you to choose the one that best fits yours. Ask us for a no obligation quote and, if you have any questions, please contact our customer service, we will be happy to help you!
