Every property owner will tell you that owning a house is an ongoing investment. We invest in making it functional, comfortable, and welcoming. The latter two are what makes a house into a home. Let your home welcome you and your visitors from the first sight by improving your curb appeal.
Front Yard Landscaping Ideas Easy to Implement
Some front yard landscaping ideas can go a long way in making that happen.
Picket Fence
A white picket fence has a fairytale look to it. You should use this immediate reference that your visitors and passers-by may have and build one.
Alternatively, if it does not match the style of your home, choose any small scale and open-style fence. Keep the fence, about 2-3 feet away from the sidewalk and plant flowers in between.
If you find that this will seriously limit the size of your front yard, hang baskets or pots of flowers on it. Space them equally and allow them to spread freely.
Or no Fence
A fence could make a yard visually smaller than it actually is. Also, perhaps having a front fence is not a usual practice in your neighbourhood. For us, we’ve got a ton of new builds and no body has fences up. None of us have made it there yet as there are still homes being built and new neighbours sprucing up.
If you lack space or do not want a fence, you could add several features to show the limits of your property without fencing it. Some front yard landscaping ideas can be creating a path to your home, made from a series of long steps forming stairs or a flagstone walkway:
- Use small rock, brick, or concrete walls, matching the style of your home to edge these “stairs.”
- Incorporate the wall on one side into raised beds and arrange a series of them.
- Planting at several levels may make your front yard appear bigger.
- Incorporate several short columns into this structure.
The Sitting Area
Most people prefer the privacy of their backyard. However, a porch cannot do without a chair even if it is just for aesthetic purposes:
- Find a vintage rocking chair, or a set of 2 chairs and a small table.
- Repair them and decorate with plants, flowers, wooden pieces to make your porch more inviting.
Also, if your front yard is big, your backyard really small, or you generally prefer sitting at the front where you can look at the street, create a peaceful area where you could do so with your friends.
Building a barbecue area Is not tasteful, however, a cozy tea or coffee area is perfectly acceptable:
- Mark a circle with some rocks and fill the area with pebbles.
- Place your furniture there and surround it with shrubs and trees.
While waiting for the shrubs and trees to grow, place a perfect bamboo pergola to shield yourself from the sun and direct looks from the street. It will look natural and there are climbing plants which will love it.
Build Raised Beds
I’ve already mentioned raised beds as an addition to your front yard. The purpose of raised beds is to show-off more of your flowers and greenery than you would be able to if you only planted them horizontally. Build them on several levels and you will be able to fit more but in a very tasteful way.
Apart from the decorative purpose of these raised beds, they also help you control the conditions in which your flowers grow. You can make your own mix of the soil, regulate drainage, and easily control the weed.
Fix up The Porch
The porch may officially be a part of the house, but it is also a major contributor to your front yard and the curb appeal. It is not only exposed to a lot of traffic, but it is greatly affected by the elements. If the paint on your porch started chipping off, and wood started staining, you should remove the paint and apply a fresh coat of paint.
If you notice any more significant signs of decay, such as cracks and broken or crooked pillars you should do a major reconstruction of the porch. This might be a tough job for you so make sure to find professionals that can provide affordable renovation solutions which will spruce up your home. Sometimes it is simply enough to level it and support it with stone or concrete pillars. The most important thing about the porch is that it is stable and that it looks fresh and clean.
There is not much to say in this area. Your mailbox could be the first piece of garden art people come across when looking at your house:
- Find a decorative mailbox you like or build one.
- You can also add a welcome sign to it.
- Your mailbox should match the scale and the style of your house, so it does not seem out of place.
Just one simple warning, check whether your neighbourhood has regulations regarding the size and shape of mailboxes.
Add Scent
There is more to your curb appeal than what meets the eye. There is the scent of it. Make your visitors instantly feel pleasant by including some of the most fragrant flowers in your front yard.
Some of them are also insect repellents and they will make the time you spend at the front more enjoyable. This will also mean fewer insects in your home. Some of the best species to keep around are jasmine, rosemary, lavender, lilac, and plumeria.
The Gist of it
Your front yard landscaping ideas can go beyond a neat lawn and rose bushes. Have a clear image of how you want to feel when you see it, and it will help you get an actual idea of what it should look like. In the meantime, some of these tips may be just what you are looking for.
What front yard landscaping ideas do you have that you can share?
P.S. If you enjoyed this post, sign up to my newsletter to get the latest advice, tips, and giveaways right into your inbox!
Leave a reply and receive a response!