If you’re looking to refresh the front of your home, you might be looking for front yard landscaping ideas. The front yard is all about making a great first impression. The best front yard landscaping can contribute to increasing the value of your home.
We spoke to Amanda McNiff, our Landscape Designer, about putting together a front yard landscape design that you’ll be proud to show off.
Amanda will answer some of the most commonly asked questions about front yard landscaping and provide numerous ideas that you can apply to your property.
According to Amanda, whereas the backyard is often about personal enjoyment and entertainment, the front yard is more about curb appeal and wow factor. You want the front of your home to look presentable and welcoming.
Some important considerations for front yard landscaping include maintaining year-round appeal, selecting landscaping that complements the home's architectural style, and possibly incorporating a focal point.
The desired level of maintenance is also a key consideration. Some homeowners are specifically looking for low-maintenance front yard landscaping ideas, which we’ll cover.
While the emphasis for front yard landscaping is typically on aesthetic appeal, Amanda says that functionality and safety are also important for a front yard. For example, you want to make sure that visitors and family can safely navigate from the driveway to the home. You also want the front of your home to be secure.
Here are some front yard landscaping ideas to consider.
“Front yard landscaping is often heavily focused on plantings, and this can have a big impact on curb appeal,” says Amanda. “You want to think wisely about what plants will be the best fit.”
This means selecting plants that stand out and give you the wow factor you’re aiming for. We typically use a backdrop of something evergreen (your “foundational layer”) and then add layers of color in front of it.
One of the most important factors to consider when selecting front yard plants is year-round interest. You don’t want your front yard landscaping to look once the seasons change.
According to Amanda, front yard walkways are highly visible, so you want them to look their best. A great front yard landscape upgrade could be replacing builder’s grade concrete walkways with pavers or natural stone.
Or, perhaps you need a walkway where one doesn’t already exist. Homeowners often like the idea of adding a walkway to connect the front of the house to the backyard.
For front yard landscaping, you might even consider a larger project such as upgrading your driveway to pavers. According to Amanda, a paver driveway is naturally going to look higher-end and be more aesthetically appealing than a standard asphalt or concrete driveway. A driveway is a high-visibility item and you want to pay attention to how it looks.
Another larger hardscape project might include adding a landing area near your front porch. People often like to mingle around the front yard, and creating a landscaping spot for guests as they come and go can be a nice addition. You might also consider extending or adding a front porch area.
Another great front yard enhancement is adding landscape lighting, shares Amanda. This can significantly enhance your curb appeal in the evening hours. Enhancing your home’s architectural features and landscaping with lighting allows for aesthetic appeal once the sun goes down.
Of course, it also adds a major element of safety and security. Not only will your walkway and driveway be safer to navigate in the dark, but you’ll also deter thieves and trespassers from stepping foot on your well-lit property.
Whatever your goals may be, landscape lighting can be a simple but valuable addition to your front yard landscape design.
While it may sound like a simple idea, Amanda says it’s becoming increasingly popular to create a pad with some enclosed fencing to keep the trash and recycling bins.
“This might be in a front yard or maybe a side yard,” she says. “But having the bins enclosed does contribute to the aesthetic appeal in the front of the home. You also want to think about how you have to drag them out. If the bins are in a grassy area, it can be a pain to drag them out each week. So people often add a pad and maybe a small hardscaped area to help facilitate getting them in and out easily.”
If you have a small front yard, then you’ll want to focus on projects that can have a big impact, even in a limited amount of space. These would include additions such as colorful plantings, container gardens, rock enhancements, and landscape lighting projects.
Ensure you work with a landscape designer who is skilled at maximizing space and working effectively on small properties.
Amanda says that homeowners are often looking specifically for low-maintenance front yard landscaping ideas.
“One thing that I always tell homeowners to keep in mind is that there is no such thing as ‘no maintenance landscaping,’” Amanda says. “But there is definitely a big push for low maintenance landscaping since everyone is very busy these days and nobody wants a yard that will take up a ton of time or money to maintain. Fortunately, there are many plans that offer interest without needing a ton of care.”
Amanda says since plants can end up being the most time-consuming aspect of caring for a front yard, choosing low-maintenance varieties will pay off. Often, these are native plants that are already well-adapted to the region and won’t require a lot of extra watering or care to perform well.
“We also have a lot of interest in container gardens for the front yard,” says Amanda. “These will need to be watered but we can handle changing them out to new plants each season. Two big containers by the door can make a colorful entrance.”
Hardscaping can also be low maintenance, says Amanda. Hardscaped areas mean less turf to maintain. Some homeowners are also incorporating rock enhancements into their plant beds as these are an attractive addition that won’t need watering or care.
If you’re looking for front yard landscaping ideas that won’t break the bank, you’ll want to focus on smaller enhancement projects that give you a lot of bang for your buck. This could include things like swapping out old shrubbery, adding low-maintenance plants that require minimal care, rock enhancements, and container gardens.
Like any project, there are numerous variables that can significantly impact the cost of front yard landscaping. Everything, from the project size to the materials you choose, can make a significant difference in what you’ll pay. Adding some plants is going to be a lot less expensive than redoing a walkway.
You can talk to a landscape designer about what you’d like to accomplish and what your budget constraints will be. They can help you generate ideas that maximize your investment.
According to Amanda, landscaping that focuses on curb appeal is also likely to boost the value of your home. Some reports suggest that landscaping can increase a home's value by as much as 15 to 20 percent.
Since front yard landscaping is the first thing people see, it makes sense that it has such a significant impact. A home with a neatly maintained front yard (pruned shrubs, colorful plants, and a nice lawn) can easily stand out.
The kind of front yard landscaping ideas that we’ve discussed thus far are all ways to enhance curb appeal. Projects like landscape lighting, new plantings, and upgraded hardscaping can all have a significant impact.
Ultimately, there are numerous excellent ideas available for front yard landscaping. But you must choose a design that works best for you. Making your home look special—and truly different from all of the other homes on the block—comes down to finding the unique solution that will work best for your property.
Success with this endeavor boils down to making a wise choice in landscaping companies. You want to make sure that you’re working with a landscape designer who can put together a front yard landscape design that will help you get the most out of your front yard.
It helps to partner with a professional who will listen to your ideas and also bring their skills and expertise to the table. Together, you can craft the ultimate front yard.
We’d love to work with you on creating a dream front yard that you can be proud of. Whether you’re looking for a simple plant installation project or something larger, Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape will pay attention to all the details that matter when it comes to creating the complete space you desire.
Are you ready for front yard landscaping that wows at your Arlington, VA home? If so, request your consultation, get your customized plan, and relax as you get the royal treatment.