Front yard landscaping ideas – 14 ways to add curb appeal

Front yard landscaping ideas define the exterior of your home. After all, your front yard is the most seen part of the house, it greets your visitors before you've even reached the door and will set the tone for the house beyond. With such an important function, it is vital that your front yard landscaping ideas are perfect.

There are many ways to create impact with clever front yard ideas, from using eye-catching materials, to creating a smart structure with pathways or planting. 

'Curb appeal is so important for the front of your home because it’s your first impression. The landscaping in front should be more formal and structured than your backyard and you should make sure there is beauty and color for every season,' recommends Dawn James, project manager at Crimson Valley Landscaping. 

These front yard landscaping ideas are the perfect starting place for inspiring your front yard redesign. 

Whether you opt for a classic brick design or oversized stepping stones, front yard walkway ideas are one of the most significant design elements of  your front yard landscaping ideas.

'To maximize usefulness and impact, the size of your entry walk matters. If you go too small, it’s more of a path while too wide means it may compete with your driveway,' says Cassi Hallam, expert at System Pavers. 

'Ideally, you’ll want an entry walk that’s between six and eight feet wide so two people can walk side-by-side comfortably. Vertical elements such as pilasters, trees or walls can enhance the entry walk look while better connecting it to your home’s architectural style. These can also be graceful tools to accommodate grade changes in your yard’s terrain.'

Flowers are a must for front garden landscaping ideas, bringing life and color to a space that can sometimes feel cold and functional. Adding front yard flower bed ideas to your plot will transform your space.

'Using groups of a few different types of plants help to keep the landscape from getting too busy. Pick plants that complement each other in color and texture. Don't forget to use evergreens, grasses, trees, and shrubs with structure for winter interest,' recommends Dawn James.

Adding flowers is one of the easiest wildlife garden ideas to incorporate into your front yard landscaping ideas. Adding some of the best flowering shrubs or flowers that attract bees, will also improve the environmental credentials of your plot. 

Incorporating trees and shrubs into your front yard landscaping ideas will provide the backbone to your front garden planting scheme. However, this greenery should not just be reserved for your garden – incorporate it into your front porch ideas, too. 

'Unite your home with your front yard by bringing nature right to your doorstep! Weave your porch balcony in garlands, frame your door with flowers and turn your steps into podiums for your plants. This will create an effortless transition from lawn to lounge and add an inviting presence when guests visit your home,' recommends Volodymyr Barabakh, co-founder of Structural Beam.

While backyard lighting ideas are a key part of your backyard design, front yard lighting ideas can often be overlooked. However, since you are much more likely to be crossing your front yard after dark (especially in winter), the right outdoor lighting is paramount.  

Start by highlighting areas that would benefit from practical lighting such as pathways or any steps. Consider using solar garden lighting ideas for an easy way to illuminate your front yard. They will come on when the sun sets and offer plenty of practical illumination without the hassle of needing to lay wiring. You can also add pretty solar lights to highlight aspects of your planting scheme.

The mail box is a staple element of your front yard landscaping ideas, therefore it's vital that it fits into the scheme. 

Why not imbed your mailbox into your garden wall – not only is it an aesthetically pleasing way to ensure your mailbox is integrated into your garden design but it will also provide your mailbox with an extra level of security. If you don't have a front wall, then there are still lots of mailbox landscaping ideas that are sure to add curb appeal to your front yard landscaping ideas.

Paving is a great low-maintenance choice for front yard landscaping ideas. However, a full paved front yard can look unimaginative and featureless. Therefore, it's vital to add characterful features to your front yard landscaping ideas. 

While water feature ideas are popular for backyards, they are often discounted when it comes to front garden design. However, the right garden fountain ideas can bring height and interest to your front yard as well as creating movement and bringing sound to the space. Consider partnering with a concentric paving design to focus the eye towards your fountain as the centerpiece of your front yard.

Anyone who is seeking lush grounds with a touch of whimsy will fall in love with this front yard, courtesy of Emily Henderson. Here, the designer teamed up with Pete Hieatt of Deluxe Plants to create an American take on the traditional English countryside. 

The duo paired the mélange of leafy greens with a stone walkway, water fountain, and tomato red front door. All of the front yard landscaping ideas used were designed to lead – and invite – the eye up to the front door, enhancing the home's front door to make it into a standout feature.

If you're looking for front yard landscaping ideas that are truly elegant – and low maintenance – give your home a memorable and majestic first impression with a structured planting. 

Landscape designer Fernando Wong pulled out all the stops, from manicured box hedges to pristine flowerbeds. By sticking with leafy greens – and adding a few pops of white buds – this front yard is elegant without being too restrained.

California-based designer Kendall Wilkinson made the most of the sloped front yard on this Monte Sereno property with raised flower beds.

'We wanted to highlight the grand entrance with varying levels of plantings to draw your eye up and usher you into this amazing home with a water feature and a mix of cement and stone in grey tones,' Kendall explains. 

'It's always important to partner with a landscape designer whose work complements the architecture and interior design, utilizing regional plants and mixing varying heights and textures.'

For an unexpected take on typical front yard landscaping ideas, get a little strategic about your grassy areas.

'The classic detail of a grass strip down the driveway guides the eye through the porte cochere and creates a sense of anticipation, thereby encouraging movement through the entirety of the exterior space,' explains Carson McElheney, a landscape and design architect in Atlanta. 

Carson explains that this driveway or front walkway will add visual interest and functionally while maximizing even the smallest of spaces.

For a front yard that puts Mother Nature in the spotlight, embrace your space’s natural features. Here, architectural and design firm Ike Kligerman Barkley planted tall grass and leafy greens around the yard’s large rocks. Paired with a wide, stone walkway, this front yard strikes a balance between organic and manmade – and, importantly, echoes the materials of the exterior of the house for a cohesive look.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need lush front yard landscaping to make a statement. Planning a dry garden or Mediterranean look can work just as well. 

Here, California-based designer Mindy Gayer takes a less-is-more approach by covering the majority of this space in gravel – and peppering in a few verdant plants when inspiration strikes. The final product looks and feels like a desert with a cool, modern twist. 

If you’re partial to a front yard that’s dramatic and whimsical in equal measure, these front yard cottage garden ideas from Grace Design Associates provide the best of both worlds. 

The wild array of flowers and stone walkway are reminiscent of a charming, modern-day fairytale. However, the greens on the roof offer a touch of drama, making this front yard look great from all angles.

As soothing as a symmetrical space is, the go-to design tactic can often veer into ubiquitous territory. If you’re looking to add some visual intrigue to your front yard landscaping, William Hefner created high-impact space above. Inspired by Japanese garden ideas and the Ryōan-ji rock garden of Kyoto, Hefner uses pavers and patterned stones to offset the leafy greens that line the facade.