Landscaping can be a tricky business, especially when you’re working with a front yard. There are so many aspects to consider: the area around your home, the shape of your lot, and even how much sun it gets throughout the day.
But there’s one thing that trumps all those concerns: how do you make sure this new landscape feels like home?
Takeaways |
---|
Good front yard landscaping can increase your home’s curb appeal and property value. |
Proper planning is crucial for creating an attractive and functional front yard. |
Consider factors like your climate, soil type, and amount of sunlight when choosing plants. |
Native plants and sustainable practices can help you create an eco-friendly front yard. |
Small front yards can still be beautiful and functional with the right design choices. |
Avoid common front yard landscaping mistakes, such as planting too close to your home’s foundation. |
Low-maintenance landscaping options can help save time and money in the long run. |
Start with a plan
The most important thing to do before you start any landscaping project is to plan. The best way to do this is by setting your goals and making a list of priorities.
Examples of goals might be “I want my front yard to look more welcoming” or “I want the right plants for my area.”
Priorities are things that are important for achieving those goals, like choosing a specific plant variety that’s suitable for your area.
For example, if one goal was increasing curb appeal, but you don’t have much money available for new landscaping materials, then choosing only low-maintenance plants would be more likely than planting annuals from seed every year and even then it wouldn’t hurt anything if they died after their first summer!
Researching the proper species (or cultivars) of shrubs, grasses and other plants suitable for your climate zone will help ensure that the plants chosen won’t die after a few seasons because they weren’t planted correctly in terms of sun exposure or soil type/moisture level requirements and sometimes these aren’t even noticeable right away!
Designing a backyard landscape that is both beautiful and functional can be a challenge. Our guide on making your own backyard landscape provides tips and tricks for creating a stunning outdoor space that meets your needs.
Focal Points
The focal point is the center of attention. It can be a statue, tree, rock or bench. The focal point should be attractive and interesting to look at.
It should also be in the right place so that it draws attention but does not overwhelm the space around it.
In general, tall trees are good choices for a front yard and they provide shade in addition to being attractive features themselves.
Curb Appeal
You’ve probably heard the phrase “curb appeal” before. It means the first impression that a house makes when you drive by it; it’s what makes you want to stop and take a closer look at what lies within.
So, if you’re planning on purchasing a new home or refinancing your current one and are looking for more ways to improve its value, landscaping your front yard can be a good investment.
A landscape design will not only make your property look better it’ll also increase its resale value!
The average homeowner spends approximately $1,200 per year on maintaining their lawns and gardens; however, these costs can actually decrease by over 80% when they know what they’re doing (and don’t have any maintenance issues).
If done right from the beginning, landscape design really isn’t as hard as many people think it is it just takes some research beforehand so nothing gets overlooked later down the line
Lighting
Lighting is one of the most common ways to create an outdoor ambience. It can be used for a variety of things, such as:
Creating a sense of space
Lighting can help define where the front yard ends and your home begins. In general, lights should be set high enough that they don’t shine in any nearby windows or right into trees or shrubs (if possible).
You also have options when it comes to choosing the style and color of your lighting fixtures; consider which ones will blend with other furnishings in your home while still adding something special to your landscaping front yard design.
Creating a sense of height
Another way lighting can add dimension is by creating shadows on objects within its reach. This effect makes some plants seem more imposing than others and provides depth throughout the landscape design even if there aren’t many tall trees around!
The right soil is crucial for growing healthy and vibrant flowers. Check out our guide on finding the right soil for your flowers to learn about the different types of soil and how to choose the best one for your garden
Show off Your Home’s Best Features
The landscape around your home is an excellent opportunity to show off the best features of your property.
If your yard includes mature trees, attractive flower beds and a large garden, then make sure those elements stand out.
Don’t be afraid to use decorative elements such as fencing or fencing panels to create borders between different sections of the yard that are aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.
Landscaping can also help sell your home if you include it on all promotional materials (social media sites, advertisements).
In addition to highlighting any existing landscaping features such as large trees or flower beds, consider adding some new plantings that will make the property look even better while showing off its potential buyer-friendly qualities like being pet friendly or having great views of nature beyond city streets or other properties nearby.
Use Height to Your Advantage
Designing your front yard can be a challenge, but if you understand the principles of landscaping, it will be much easier. One of the most important things to consider is height.
The first rule of thumb is to make sure that the plants in your garden are taller than your house, or else they will look very out-of-place and unbalanced.
If your house has a white exterior with black trimming around windows and doors, then you should use plants that contrast with these colors as much as possible for example, by choosing green shrubs instead of brown ones.
Another option would be to plant bushes at least as tall as those on the sides; this way there won’t be any mismatch between heights whatsoever!
Installing a fence in your front yard can add privacy, security, and curb appeal to your home. Our guide on front yard fencing costs breaks down the various factors that can impact the overall cost of your fence installation.
Properly Frame Your Home’s Design
The first step toward a beautiful landscaping design is to properly frame your home. This can be accomplished in several ways, but the best way to do it is by using trees, bushes, and fencing to create a natural boundary around your house.
By incorporating these elements into your landscape design you will immediately make your house look more appealing while also adding value to your property!
When framing with trees and bushes, keep in mind that they should be planted at least 3 feet away from the foundation of your house (1 foot away if you have brick siding).
If planted too close together they may cause damage when they grow larger over time. Another great way to add interest and appeal is by using a fence as part of this frame.
However keep in mind that fences should never go up against windows (unless there are double-paned) because this could cause heat loss within the home during winter months–or worse yet snow buildup during cold winters when temperatures drop below freezing levels outside!
You Can Never Have Too Many Flowers
Flowers are a great way to add color and life to your yard. You can never have too many flowers, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do it.
A lot of people will make the mistake of just planting an area full of flowers without thinking about what they’re going to do with their space or how they want it to look in the end.
If you want something attractive, you need to plan ahead and be sure that all your elements work together harmoniously.
You should also consider what kind of flower would thrive best in your climate before making any decisions about what you want planted where.
You might think that no matter where you live, roses are always going grow well but if it’s hot enough for them here then there isn’t much point because they won’t survive long enough at all!
A gazebo can provide a beautiful and functional addition to any backyard space. Check out our guide on how to make a corner gazebo for step-by-step instructions on building your own.
Create a Welcoming Entrance
Make sure the entryway is inviting. It’s important to think about lighting, landscaping, and curb appeal when considering your front yard design.
If you’re starting from scratch and building a new house or building a new entrance, make sure it has all the features of an inviting front yard design!
If you are using an existing entryway that already exists on your property, be sure to take into account how it will impact visitors’ first impressions of your home as they reach that point during their visit.
Consider Every Angle When Landscaping Front Yard
When landscaping your front yard, you need to consider every angle. This includes everything from the house itself to the sidewalk and driveway.
You also want to consider what you like or don’t like about the current landscape of your property, as well as what time of year it is and how that will affect your landscaping plans. Finally, make sure that budget and time constraints are taken into account as well.
Flowers are a popular and heartfelt gift for Mother’s Day, but have you ever wondered about the meaning behind each type of flower? Our guide on the flowers associated with Mother’s Day explores the symbolism and significance of some of the most popular options.
Conclusion
Landscaping can be a great way to make your home more beautiful, but it’s important to keep in mind what you want from the start.
The first thing you should do is plan out the design of your yard so that everything flows together well.
Then, you can add all the other details like lighting and flowers that will make it stand out like never before!
Further Reading
If you’re interested in learning more about designing your front yard, check out these helpful resources:
12 Expert Tips for Eye-Catching Front Yard Landscaping: This article from Bob Vila offers a variety of tips and ideas for creating an attractive and functional front yard.
Planning Your Front Yard Landscape: Better Homes & Gardens provides a comprehensive guide to planning your front yard landscaping, including advice on choosing plants and creating a layout.
Simple Front Yard Landscaping: MyMove offers simple and affordable front yard landscaping ideas that can help you transform your outdoor space without breaking the bank.
FAQs
What are some common front yard landscaping mistakes to avoid?
Some common mistakes to avoid include planting too close to your home’s foundation, failing to consider the amount of sunlight your yard receives, and ignoring the importance of curb appeal.
How can I make the most of a small front yard?
Consider using containers and vertical gardening techniques to maximize space. You can also create the illusion of more space by using a variety of plants and incorporating curves into your landscaping design.
What are some low-maintenance front yard landscaping options?
Consider using native plants that are adapted to your area’s climate and require less water and maintenance. You can also use hardscaping elements like gravel or pavers to minimize the amount of lawn you need to maintain.
How can I incorporate sustainable practices into my front yard landscaping?
Some ways to incorporate sustainable practices include using native plants, reducing water use through drip irrigation or rain barrels, and choosing eco-friendly materials for hardscaping elements.
How do I choose the right plants for my front yard?
Consider factors like your climate, soil type, and the amount of sunlight your yard receives. You should also consider the maintenance requirements of different plants and how they will complement your overall landscaping design.
I am Hellen James, a landscape architect. For many years I have written about landscaping for various publications; however, recently decided to focus my writing on personal experience as a profession.