12 Easy Ways You Can Have a Front Garden to Be Proud Of
Add clarity, unity and excitement to your front yard without the need of a major makeover
The front garden of a house can tell you quite a lot about the people who live there. If it’s dark and filled with overgrown trees, for instance, then obviously the owners are secret axe murderers who only come out at night. Right? Well, that’s what I used to think when I was nine years old, anyway. I know better now, but I’m still intrigued whenever I see unkempt, neglected front gardens. Are the owners reclusive or ill, I wonder? Or are they just missing a green thumb?
Like it or not we do judge books by their covers. The same goes for front gardens. They are the ’public face’ of a home while the private backyard area is where we chill out and have fun. If you’re concerned at all about the ‘face’ your home presents to the world, here are 12 easy ways you can make sure it’s an attractive, inviting one.
Like it or not we do judge books by their covers. The same goes for front gardens. They are the ’public face’ of a home while the private backyard area is where we chill out and have fun. If you’re concerned at all about the ‘face’ your home presents to the world, here are 12 easy ways you can make sure it’s an attractive, inviting one.
2. Rouse expectations
Create a feeling of anticipation by offering tantalising glimpses of the garden beyond. In this front yard the pool is positioned alongside the entry path allowing visitors to enjoy the sight of its inviting turquoise water as they approach the house. As the palms grow they’ll screen a fraction of the pool. Openings in hedges and walls can be used to partially reveal other parts of the garden to visitors while still retaining a sense of privacy within.
Create a feeling of anticipation by offering tantalising glimpses of the garden beyond. In this front yard the pool is positioned alongside the entry path allowing visitors to enjoy the sight of its inviting turquoise water as they approach the house. As the palms grow they’ll screen a fraction of the pool. Openings in hedges and walls can be used to partially reveal other parts of the garden to visitors while still retaining a sense of privacy within.
3. Make directions clear
Ensure there is an obvious and direct link between front door and gate. The front door should either be seen or signalled in some way. For example, you could position a focal point like this beautiful pot to draw visitors to a place where they can see the door. If more than one door can be seen from the front garden, make it clear which one is to be used by visitors. Mark it with a beautiful fountain, distinctive paving or maybe paint the door a strong colour.
Ensure there is an obvious and direct link between front door and gate. The front door should either be seen or signalled in some way. For example, you could position a focal point like this beautiful pot to draw visitors to a place where they can see the door. If more than one door can be seen from the front garden, make it clear which one is to be used by visitors. Mark it with a beautiful fountain, distinctive paving or maybe paint the door a strong colour.
4. Connect garden and street
Establish a sense of connection between the street and the house by ensuring entrance gates allow peeks into the garden from the outside. This can be achieved without compromising privacy with the use of slatted timber or openings along the top of the gate. You’ll not only create a better sense of community, but also improve your security by making it easier for passers-by to spot intruders lurking in your front yard.
Establish a sense of connection between the street and the house by ensuring entrance gates allow peeks into the garden from the outside. This can be achieved without compromising privacy with the use of slatted timber or openings along the top of the gate. You’ll not only create a better sense of community, but also improve your security by making it easier for passers-by to spot intruders lurking in your front yard.
5. Add areas to pause
Front gardens are usually transition zones between the public street and the private interior of your house. But, if there’s enough space, why not also make it a place to linger by placing a bench? No matter how short the distance between the gate and front door, there’s still plenty of time for visitors to gather a variety of impressions from what they see around them.
Front gardens are usually transition zones between the public street and the private interior of your house. But, if there’s enough space, why not also make it a place to linger by placing a bench? No matter how short the distance between the gate and front door, there’s still plenty of time for visitors to gather a variety of impressions from what they see around them.
6. Connect to the boundaries
This pergola over the front gate creates a strong visual link with the traditional character of the house. Setting the gate back from the footpath a little provides an inviting porch-like space that mediates between the street and the green private world beyond.
This pergola over the front gate creates a strong visual link with the traditional character of the house. Setting the gate back from the footpath a little provides an inviting porch-like space that mediates between the street and the green private world beyond.
7. Establish a sense of arrival
Make the front entry large enough for people to pause for a minute or two so they can look back at the garden. A special feature close to the front door, such as a fountain, piece of sculpture or topiary plant, adds unique personality to your entrance area.
Make the front entry large enough for people to pause for a minute or two so they can look back at the garden. A special feature close to the front door, such as a fountain, piece of sculpture or topiary plant, adds unique personality to your entrance area.
8. Light it up
Use lighting near steps and paths so that entry to the house is safe and inviting at night. Uplighting beautiful trees and other features adds excitement and drama to this front garden in Perth.
More: Light up: 10 Good Reasons to Use Outdoor Lighting
Use lighting near steps and paths so that entry to the house is safe and inviting at night. Uplighting beautiful trees and other features adds excitement and drama to this front garden in Perth.
More: Light up: 10 Good Reasons to Use Outdoor Lighting
9. Separate parking areas
With space at a premium in so many gardens today, the front garden is also often the place where we park the car. To prevent it looking like a car park, keep pedestrian paths and the driveway separate, even if they’re only divided by a narrow strip of lawn or planting. This gives the entrance its own value.
With space at a premium in so many gardens today, the front garden is also often the place where we park the car. To prevent it looking like a car park, keep pedestrian paths and the driveway separate, even if they’re only divided by a narrow strip of lawn or planting. This gives the entrance its own value.
10. Use plants that perform well
To keep your front garden in fine form all year round, especially if you’re not an avid gardener, go for plants that have attractive foliage and need little maintenance such as these evergreen box hedges. Bromeliads, camellias, flaxes, succulents, Michelia, bay trees and Portugal laurel are also good performers.
To keep your front garden in fine form all year round, especially if you’re not an avid gardener, go for plants that have attractive foliage and need little maintenance such as these evergreen box hedges. Bromeliads, camellias, flaxes, succulents, Michelia, bay trees and Portugal laurel are also good performers.
11. Turn fences into features
This great-looking front fence of recycled hardwood sleepers makes a design statement in its own right, beautifully complementing the contemporary architecture of the Sydney house. Simple planting of Sansevieria trifasciata (Mother-in-law’s tongue) and grasses continues the minimalist look.
This great-looking front fence of recycled hardwood sleepers makes a design statement in its own right, beautifully complementing the contemporary architecture of the Sydney house. Simple planting of Sansevieria trifasciata (Mother-in-law’s tongue) and grasses continues the minimalist look.
12. Make gates an artwork
Why settle for a boring gate when there are so many wonderful designs out there? This artful metal gate may not be to everyone’s taste, but it clearly signals there is fun and adventure beyond.
Take a look at more beautiful gates
TELL US
What creative ways have you used to spark interest in your front garden? Share your story in the comments section below, and we’d love to see a high resolution photo, too.
MORE
Expert Tips for Planning a Welcoming Small Front Yard
Home Front: Simple Ways to Personalise Your Front Exterior
11 Clever Tricks With Side Gardens
Why settle for a boring gate when there are so many wonderful designs out there? This artful metal gate may not be to everyone’s taste, but it clearly signals there is fun and adventure beyond.
Take a look at more beautiful gates
TELL US
What creative ways have you used to spark interest in your front garden? Share your story in the comments section below, and we’d love to see a high resolution photo, too.
MORE
Expert Tips for Planning a Welcoming Small Front Yard
Home Front: Simple Ways to Personalise Your Front Exterior
11 Clever Tricks With Side Gardens
The secret to creating a welcoming front entrance is to ensure those first impressions are really memorable. Uneven pavers or slippery paths are both ugly and dangerous. Make your front path wide and pave it well. Use mondo grass between pavers, as shown in this attractive Melbourne garden, or edge it with fragrant, flowering shrubs or a neatly trimmed hedge. Do this and your message to visitors is loud and clear – come in and venture further.
More inspiration for garden paths