Try going to the Train station forums and see if anyone will come to your town to help you know where to put them. I don't think we can be of much use unless we can actually see your town and what it looks like.
For starters, place paths leading to all the major buildings like your house, retail, and the train station. If you'd like you can add other paths to where your villagers live.
Put some around your house... then the main places ((station, hall, plaza, retail)) ... connect them.
Do villagers in front of their house... connect them.
Do PWPs ... connect them.
Find areas you normally go... make sure there is a path there so you don't destroy flowers ((your path from beach to retail))
Start with a basic, no side paths. Easiest way.
Once you have a "basic" layout of paths, try adding little accent paths or ones with borders.
I started with my basic brick path, added special corners, and have water areas/ponds with fish.
- - - Post Merge - - -
Also, when doing paths, I always recommend having an axe and shovel on hand.
*shrug* I just put mine down in the places where I walked the most - between villager houses, around the town hall, through all my bridges, etc. Everything is nice and perpendicular, in a city block type layout. I'm happy with it. :3 Scope out my dream addy if you want a better picture (and please don't mind the pattern looking incomplete, it's a work-in-progess)
Uhhh maybe you should just see how bad my town is (warning its disgusting) my dream address is 6400 3540 4115 also tell me if I should change to a different path