19 Driveway Upgrades You Can DIY Using Paint

Having a well-maintained driveway can help preserve your property's value, while a new driveway can add  up to $10,000 to your home's perceived value. By contrast, if your driveway is in disrepair, your property's curb appeal will suffer. If the only thing stopping you from resurfacing your driveway is the high cost of materials or professional assistance, you're missing out on an opportunity. There are lots of ways you can upgrade your driveway using a fast, affordable, readily available finishing product: paint. Add a painted border, give it a stone-like or faux cobblestone finish, cover it in geometric patterns or huge hearts, paint your house number on the curb, or make it glow in the dark.

You might be under the impression that painting a driveway often results in failure. In fact, painting a driveway is cost-effective and, if you use the right paint and methods, it can last for three to five years. You do, however, need to prepare your driveway property for painting. For one, the best way to make your driveway look new again with paint is to wait for a stretch of cool, dry weather before getting started.

If you have a cement driveway, you need to pressure wash it, degrease it, fill any cracks with concrete patching compound, and acid-etch the surface before applying a weather-resistant concrete paint. Asphalt driveways need to be thoroughly scrubbed with a trisodium phosphate paste, painted with acrylic, oil-based, or water-based latex paint or epoxy, and finished with a flexible liquid sealant. Mixing anti-skid additives into your cement or asphalt driveway doesn't hurt, either. Remove moss and joint sand from between brick or stone pavers with a pressure washer, then use a breathable outdoor masonry paint or tinted stain.

The easiest DIY upgrade you can do to your concrete or cement driveway is giving it a fresh, solid coat of paint. Supplies-wise, you will need a pressure washer, a degreaser, concrete sealant, and high-quality driveway paint. Begin by blasting the entire driveway surface to eliminate built-up grime. Next, tackle stubborn stains with a scrubbing brush and the degreaser. Once the concrete is dry, repair any cracks before rolling on a layer of waterproof concrete paint. For a professional finish, cure the first layer overnight before rolling on a second layer.

If you like eye-catching aesthetics, give your driveway a gradient or ombre effect. This trend involves painting your pavers in multiple colors that you fade or blend together. This stunning technique requires purchasing two or more coordinating colors of exterior concrete paint, along with a wide, flat brush for flawless blending. First, mark your transition zones with chalk lines, mapping out where each shade will meet. Paint the pavers with the primary color, then gently blend in the other colors, overlapping them where they meet while the paint is still wet.

If you prefer natural stone driveways, but don't have the budget for such a pricey material, you can achieve the same look using paint. Natural stone finishes are multi-dimensional, so paint your driveway with a light solid color and then add accents in darker shades of the same color. As usual, prepare your driveway for painting by cleaning it and applying primer. Then roll on the lightest paint and splatter, stamp, dab, or drag on darker shades of paint using a sponge or rag. This will give you that stone-like texture.

Showcase your personality to the world with custom driveway art. You don't need to be an artist with years of practice to pull this off, either, though you can paint everything by hand if you have the skills. Paint your driveway with a few coats of your preferred base color — nature-inspired hues like mossy green, sandy beige, or soft blue are always a hit. Then paint on the motifs using stencils, like these Yazhiji Large Flower Painting Stencils for about $17 or these Weysat Reusable Large Star Stencils for almost $10.

Mimicking brick is an easy (albeit time-consuming) way to transform a plain concrete driveway into something special. There are many ways to create a faux brick pattern, but the most straightforward method is stamping. First, paint your driveway with a few coats of light gray paint. Then, splatter some white and dark gray paint onto that coat to create a mortar-like surface. Soak a brick-shaped rectangular sponge in a red brick concrete paint, like California Paints AllFlor Porch, Patio and Floor Enamel Paint in Tile Red, and stamp the driveway.

You can create a faux cobblestone pattern on driveway with a stencil, like this Pavement Patterns Reusable Cobblestone Design for about $35. Tape the stencil firmly onto the pavement — you don't want it moving around. Pour some light gray outdoor paint into a paint tray and roll it evenly over the stencil to create cobblestones. Before this first layer of paint dries, dab the stones with a sea sponge soaked in a darker paint shade. Create a 3D effect by edging each stone with a line of darker paint.

Herringbone is a pattern that instantly elevates any surface, though laying a paved driveway in this pattern is usually a job for the pros. To mimic this classic design in paint on a concrete or asphalt driveway, roll on a light-hued paint as a background color. Map out the pattern using either heavy-duty painter's tape or a Stencil Ease Herringbone DIY Patio Stencil. Then, roll your contrasting color over the tape or stencil, ensuring even coverage. Don't wait too long to remove the guides or they may take some paint with them.

Traditionally, encaustic tiles were made from colored clay pressed into molds and fired at high temperatures. However, today's replicas are typically made of porcelain. Either way, they're too expensive for a driveway. Replicate this look with paint stencils that you DIY using VViViD Blue Stencil Vinyl Masking Film — a 24 inch by 28 foot roll costs about $25 — or stencil paper. For inspiration, search Pinterest for encaustic tile patterns. Once the paint has cured, spray on a layer of UV-resistant sealer to protect your pattern from tire marks and wild weather.

Want to add driveway curb appeal with a design that makes a statement? You can't beat a checkerboard pattern. Painting this design takes time, but DIYing it saves you a lot of money compared to installing stamped concrete. Good preparation is key to succeeding on your first try, so don't skip washing and priming your driveway. Then use a tape measure to map a set square size — for example, 12 inches by 12 inches — across the surface. Complete the look by picking two coordinating paint colors that also match your home's exterior palette.

If what you want is a modern and contemporary look to your driveway, then 3D geometric patterns can do the trick. You can use paint to draw diamonds, triangles, or hexagons in different colors or shades to give you a 3D illusion. Since this relies on absolute precision, map out your shapes using a high-tack painter's tape to create precise lines. Once taped, apply your contrasting tones with a foam roller to ensure an even, crisp finish. You can also use stencil paper for easier mapping and application.

While porcelain slabs might not spring to mind as driveway materials, they're an increasingly popular, albeit fairly luxurious, option. They're tough and sleek, but definitely not cheap. Give your concrete driveway this high-end makeover on a budget using paint. Paint your prepared concrete driveway light gray or off-white. Once the base coat has cured, use a T-square and ¼-inch painter's tape to create a grid of oversized squares or rectangles. Paint between the tape lines with textured paint (the faux grout lines), peel off the tape, and apply a satin-finish sealer.

Paint your house number onto the curb for a quick, functional driveway upgrade. Wash and dry the area you want to add the number to, and then use painter's tape to create a rectangle and mask off the surrounding area. Coat the area inside the tape with a reflective or high-visibility paint, like INSL-X White Acrylic Latex Traffic Paint. Add your house numbers to the white rectangle using a paintbrush or stencil, and you're done! You could even give some paintbrushes to your kids and get them to add some cute designs.

Another easy upgrade that can elevate your driveway is giving it a freshly painted border. You don't even need to paint the entire driveway for this trick! Clean and prep the surface as usual, then use chalk and a measuring tape to map out your border lines. Lay painter's tape along the lines to frame off the border, then paint it whatever hue you wish. Apply a second coat if needed, then seal it with a weatherproof finish. White or black is classic; brick red or bright blue are fun.

If you fancy Mediterranean designs, then terra cotta is the hue for you. The color mimics unglazed clay tiles and is a classic companion for plants. Start by thoroughly pressure-washing your driveway and repairing any cracks or chips. Get three different colors of concrete paint: dark clay, warm rust-orange, and soft sandy-peach. Roll on the dark clay shade — that's your base. Once it's dry, use a rag to lightly and randomly dab the mid-tone and accent colors over the painted surface. Finish your creation with a UV-resistant matte sealant.

You don't need to invest in expensive outdoor lighting to make your driveway stand out after dark. For a futuristic upgrade, treat your concrete driveway with a spray-on photoluminescent coating. Once your primary base paint fully cures, lay down painter's tape or stencils to create a simple diamond pattern. Next, mix the glow in the dark sand — TechnoGlow is a well-rated option — with water in a pump sprayer and spray it all over the driveway. After the mixture cures, carefully pull up the tape and apply two light coats of exterior-grade clear acrylic sealer.

Terrazzo is typically used for flooring inside luxury homes, but you can easily adorn your driveway with this speckled, designer look using paint. Paint your driveway a light, neutral color. Then you can add the terrazzo pattern in one of two ways. The first method is to paint it on using a stencil. The second method is to randomly hand-paint each individual stone using multicolored acrylic paint that's suitable for the material your driveway is made of. Once dry, sweep up any loose chips of paint, and seal the surface as usual.

There are many ways to spruce up a boring driveway with unique finishes, but few look quite as visually dramatic or upscale as adorning it with a monochromatic pattern. Start by painting your entire driveway with a layer or two of light gray or dark slate exterior paint. Once that's cured, use heavy-duty painter's tape to mark out consecutive borders, bold geometric patterns, or a central divider line, then paint the areas with various lighter and darker shades of the same color.

Driveway borders are the perfect place for a pop of personality. You can add instant old-world charm to your front yard by turning those plain stepping stones at the top of your driveway into intricate faux-mosaics. There's no need for pieces of glass or ceramics. As always, paint the pavers all over with a grout-colored paint. When it's dry to the touch, place a Fingerinspire Holtz Mosaic Stencil over the surface and use an Aylove Round Stencil Brush to hand-paint the tiles. Seal your creation with a high-gloss topcoat to mimic glaze.