In general, think of the area from the street to your front door as a series of spaces with "landing pads," beginning at the street and ending at your front door. The landing pads are areas for people to stop, unload a car, ring the door bell, step outside and discuss solicitations, and on and on. The space between two landing pads can encourage people to move quickly from the street to the front door by being just a straight sidewalk. Alternatively, you can create interest and slow down the flow by introducing a different paving pattern from the public walk, designing a curve or change the width of the walkway to the front door.
Adapted from an article
Sources
Paintings by Pio Carlone