Why are beautifully designed steps important?
Garden steps are a fact of life in many gardens, particularly in Sydney where most of our projects are based and where sites tend to get steeper and more oddly shaped the closer you get to the water. The good news is these steep sites can provide amazing creative opportunities for landscapers, with steps often the main sculptural element in the space.
There’s a common misconception that a level garden is ideal for every landscape, but changes in level add depth and dimension, breaking the monotony of flat spaces. They allow for distinct zones – a cosy seating area tucked below a retaining wall, a raised terrace with panoramic views, or a sunken firepit surrounded by lush greenery – that make a garden feel dynamic and invite exploration. Steps connect these levels while bringing aesthetic and functional qualities of their own.
One of the first things we do when approaching a new project is to look at the crossfall of the site (the highest and lowest points) and where the level areas are or could be created. How these areas are linked – usually by steps – has a huge bearing on how one views and experiences the garden; for example, one long, thigh-punishing flight of stairs only draws attention to the steepness of the site. By contrast, breaking the stairs up with landings not only visually distracts one from the steepness of the climb, but also encourages people to meander rather than stride through the space, watching their feet, pausing to look around and noticing the beauty of the garden.
Landings can be kept simple or turned into mini terraces with potted plants, sculpture or seating. Wherever they go, steps should feel natural in their placement, following the contours of the garden and aligning with paths or focal points to create an intuitive flow through the space.
When steps are more than just steps
Beyond just linking areas in the garden, steps can be a practical addition to the landscape as extra seating – this is particularly helpful in small gardens or courtyards, where crowds can easily overflow the entertaining areas. Wide, generous steps can even turn a slope into an amphitheatre-like setting for gathering.
Mostly though, we see steps as one of the primary sculptural features in a garden – it’s all about using clever design tricks to turn them into a statement. One of our favourite strategies is to stagger the steps. Rather than a straight line between the gate and the front door, for example, it’s nice to have elongated steps, with each step shifting a few centimeters to the left or right so the whole flight travels diagonally.
Steps can be the star of the garden. A grand staircase leading to a raised deck creates a sense of drama and arrival, while a spiral staircase in metal or stone becomes an eye-catching sculptural element.
An artistic masterpiece deserves a beautiful frame, and so a gorgeous flight of stairs looks its sculptural best when framed in greenery. Ideally, it’s best to minimise the amount of visible structure – as always, it’s about creating a balance between hard and soft elements. How we do this will vary from site to site; we might simply push the edge of each tread into the garden bed so the steps are lapped by greenery. Or if the steps are built on a steel frame, it’s possible to have greenery growing underneath and between the treads, so the steps look they’re floating in an ocean of foliage. Ornamental grasses, cascading plants like creeping thyme or rosemary, or pockets of succulents tucked between the risers all blend hard and soft materials and add richness and texture to the design.
Choosing materials
Steps can be crafted from an array of materials to suit any style or context. Timber adds warmth and blends naturally into gardens with a rustic or organic feel. Stone, whether sleek granite or rugged sandstone, conveys timeless elegance, while concrete offers a minimalist, modern look and can be polished, textured or stained for added character.
Steps are also an excellent way to reflect the architecture of the home. Using similar materials, colours or patterns – brick steps to match a redbrick house, or timber steps to complement a timber façade – ties the garden and home together. Retaining walls often accompany steps on sloping sites, so it pays to choose complementary materials for both; a Corten steel retaining wall paired with timber steps, for example, creates a striking contrast of textures and tones.
Safety first
Outdoor steps should be approached very differently to an indoor staircase. Rather than narrow treads and high risers, garden steps should be wide and low, with lovely deep treads that encourage meandering and are safer for running children and the like. Keep the height of each riser and the depth of each tread consistent to avoid trips and stumbles.
Lighting serves a dual purpose, both as a safety measure and also to highlight the sculptural form of the steps. Options include pole lights shining down onto the steps, lights set into the treads, or LED strip lights underneath the overhang of each step.
Designing the perfect steps is about more than connecting levels – it’s an opportunity to play with materials, showcase craftsmanship and enhance the overall aesthetic of a garden. With careful planning, steps become a seamless blend of form and function, providing safe access while adding character and depth to the space. And where the ground levels out, stepping stones can carry the journey on through the garden.
Additional photography by Nicholas Watt
