The front yard is a home’s public face, its first chance to make an impression. Yet it is often an afterthought, coming in behind planning the perfect kitchen, bathrooms, interior spaces, and a dream backyard. Which means that there may not be much budget by the time one gets around to it.
That’s OK, because it all starts with a simple do-it-yourself facelift, which should be done even if you’ve got major renovation in mind. The idea is to get down to the bones of the situation. Trim hedges, trees, and other plantings; add a layer of mulch to help control weeds and add fresh texture; and then mow the lawn.
Toss out or rejuvenate broken or worn-out wind chimes, water features, rusty furniture, and other distressed yard décor. Bring in any bikes and kids’ toys and hide the trash cans, as they’re all detractors. Lastly, buy or rent a pressure washer to thoroughly clean the house, driveway, sidewalks, stepping stones, planters, and fencing. Even a moldy tree trunk can benefit from a careful wash.
Addressing Eyesores
Take a good look at the front and the sides of the house that are visible from the street. Check out every angle, from up close to far across the street. Are gray electrical boxes and meters dragging down the ambience? Paint them to match the house. Is the air conditioning unit visible? Surround it with lattice or a low fence, using materials that will block it from view while allowing airflow.Consider building a similar enclosure for the garbage can, or buy a shed to house them out of sight. Cover well heads (aka well pipes) with a specially designed mock landscape rock. Corral messy garden hoses on a decorative wall-mounted holder, a hideaway hose reel, or just roll it up in a hose pot. Next time you buy a hose, go for gray or other neutral colors instead of garden green.
Elegant Entry
The front door is a chance to make a powerful statement by using a new color to update the entire façade. Black and dark green are stately choices, while creamy whites evoke feelings of cozy warmth and security. Grays are neutral and work well for a home with stonework, while it’s fun to have an eye-catching red, deep or pale blue, or trendy yellow. If you decide it’s not right, it’s easy to repaint.Adding wood trim to a bare entry gives it a more traditional look, while removing dated woodworking gives a cleaner visage. Changing out the door hardware can add pizzazz to a plain door, and consider adding a whimsical door knocker. If the door has seen better days, consider replacing it and perhaps adding sidelights if the budget allows.
Other considerations include upgrading the porch light or a wall-mounted mailbox, setting matching planters on either side of the doorway, or installing a series of container plants. And don’t forget to roll out a new welcome mat, going for classic, cheery, or whimsical to set the tone.
Planting Ambience
There’s an old truism that the best time to have planted a tree is 20 years ago, but without a time machine, another option is using dwarf (under 30 feet) ornamental trees. To name a few, flowering dogwood, Japanese maple, hawthorn, redbud, saucer magnolia, or Carolina silverbells will add a focal point to a lawn, provide a pop of color, attract pollinators, and are relatively low-maintenance compared with their larger cousins.Start with the green: Add hedges, shrubs, ornamental grasses, lawn, and the aforementioned trees to create a lush forest palate. Then add colorful flowers. This can be in the form of formal planter boxes, around the trees, at the base of a post-mounted mailbox, or an expansive flower bed that replaces a section of lawn.
They can be annual or perennial; starting flowers from seed helps keep the cost down, particularly for those in temperate climates who want a four-season annual bed that refreshes the curb appeal quarterly. Consider adding some wildflowers to feed local wildlife and add the priceless ambience of butterflies, birds, and bees fluttering around.
Take things a step (pun intended) further by adding a stepping stone path from the street to the front door, or from the driveway to the house. Wind it around the trees and other plants to add shape and character. Or leave all these plans for next spring and opt for the quick simple update of adding window boxes filled with butterfly flowers.
Bright outdoor furniture pulls a look together and provides a place to kick back and meet the neighbors. No front porch? Build a front yard paver patio (another way to boost curb appeal). Or if there’s an existing big tree on the property, consider building a tree bench around it. Now that you’ve created the “wow” factor, enjoy it.
