When you think of landscaping, the first place that probably comes to mind is your backyard. After all, that’s where you most likely spend a majority of your outside time – playing, swimming, exercising, or just enjoying the weather. However, landscape designs span so much farther than what’s behind your house. Check out this guide to landscape designs for the rest of your property to tie it all together.
Landscape Designs for Your Front Yard: The Best Front Yard Inspo
Your front yard plays a major role in your home’s value. If you’ve ever heard of “curb appeal,” you’ll know what we mean. This term applies to the way your home looks when viewed from the street, and having low curb appeal can mean fewer buyers, lower offers, and less value for your overall property. That’s why it’s so critical to give your front yard as much TLC as your backyard. Here are a few front yard inspo ideas to boost your home’s curb appeal and maximize the beauty of your outdoor space.
Go stand on the curb and take a look at the front of your home. How does the property look as a whole? Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Is the property appealing to you?
- Is the landscaping neat and orderly?
- Does the property fit in with the rest of the neighborhood?
- Is the driveway easily accessible? What about the sidewalks?
- Does it need any structural enhancements (like a fence, landscape borders, etc.)?
Once you’ve answered those questions, you can start making a list of what should be improved in terms of your landscape designs.
Consider adding or updating hardscaping. You want your property to have an easily accessible driveway and sidewalk to the front door. Fences also add value to a property. Choose your hardscapes carefully – their position will be permanent, so you want to ensure you place them in the right spot. Further, you’ll want to choose durable materials that can withstand the seasons. Water features are another inexpensive but effective way to enhance curb appeal.
Decide on landscaping. Now is the time to hit Pinterest for front yard inspo, but do your research, too. Trees, shrubs, and ground cover are all long-term purchases that will have a long life and grow larger every season without requiring too much maintenance. On the other hand, flowers die off every year and require quite a bit of upkeep. If you add flowers to your landscape designs, opt for annuals.
Think twice about your lawn. Before you add a lawn to the front of your property, consider your region. Do you see regular rainfall or do you live in a dry, hot area that experiences regular droughts? If droughts are a routine occurrence where you live, you should look into alternatives to a lawn to save yourself time and effort. Explore drought-tolerant landscaping like water-thrifty plants, rocks, and decorative hardscapes.
Side Yard Landscaping Ideas: What Should You Do With This Space?
Don’t forget about the sides of your property, either! While they may not be visible from the curb or utilized regularly like the backyard, it’s still important to maximize the space (it’ll increase your home’s overall value). Here are a few tips for making the most of this often-forgotten piece of your property.
- Create a small patio or hangout spot in your side yard. Adding hardscape (like pavers) and a few chairs can create a cozy and private outdoor haven, especially if you’re limited on backyard space.
- Consider putting gravel and pavers down. Side yards can see a lot of foot traffic if you’re using them to travel between the front and back of your home, and that can wear down the grass pretty quickly. Gravel, with or without pavers helps to minimize the visibility of foot traffic and requires little maintenance. Artificial turf with pavers is another inexpensive and low-maintenance solution that won’t show as much wear.
- Build a putt-putt course or bocce ball court. Side yards are often too narrow to really use as an entertaining space, so why not make the most of their shape? Install a simple putt-putt course or bocce ball court to enjoy while entertaining or hosting.
- Make it your gardening haven. Raised garden boxes can easily fit in a side yard, so you can save your backyard space for play. Just ensure your beds are getting enough sun and precipitation to survive the side yard.
- Plan a place for your pups. A long, narrow side yard is the perfect space to build a dog run for your four-legged friends.
Get Landscape Ideas From the Experts at Hometown Landscape
Ready to make the most of your entire property? Contact Hometown Landscape today for a consultation.