FRONT GARDEN IDEAS

Fr ont G ARDEN IDE A S

These design tips and tricks are guaranteed to instantly improve your home’s kerb appeal

prucing up your home

Sto boost its kerb appeal? Our front garden ideas will give you all the inspiration you need to transform your outside space. As the first thing we see when we come home, our front garden sets the tone for our house, as well as creating that all-important first impression for family and friends when they come to visit.

What’s more, if you’re thinking of selling your home, you’ll want to make sure the exterior of your property is looking its best. After all, there’s no point the interior of your home looking amazing if potential buyers are already put off by the time they’ve reached the front door.

When it comes to the size of your space, even the smallest of front gardens can be transformed with some clever design tricks, turning a bland and uninspiring garden into somewhere that looks stylish and well-cared-for.

Set up a spot for dining

If your front garden gets all the sun, then make the most of it with a bistro set out there so you still enjoy sunny meals alfresco. If privacy is an issue, put up some willow screening or trellis to create a little dining nook. A wellpositioned potted tree would also work to make your spot feel a little more secluded.

Trail a climber around the door

Give your front door a lush frame with a climber such as wisteria, which will overflow with those much-adored fragrant lilac blooms in spring. To trail around the door, provide support in the form of wires or trellis, and make sure to keep on top of pruning to keep this vigorous climber under control or your may end up with a Secret Garden-esque hidden door! Prune twice a year in July/August and January/February.

Tile your front path

Jump on the geo trend with a pathway tiled smartly with outdoor tiles that feature a simple geometric design in muted colours. This classic pattern recalls Victorian style floors, but is given a modern makeover thanks to the simple shapes and pared-back palette. Pair with a bold colour for your door and gate such as a striking mid blue/teal.

Decorate with hanging baskets

Hanging baskets are a great solution for even the smallest of front gardens – pop up one or two by your front door to immediately make the space look more welcoming. Bright and colourful is the key, and popular plants include petunia, begonia, geranium and fuchsia. For trailing plants you can’t go wrong with verbena, ivy or bacopa. Don’t be mean with watering, as hanging baskets dry out very quickly – make watering a regular habit and you’ll be rewarded with a colourful display whenever you step out of the front door.

Create a country cottage feel

Tall, lush planting either side of the pathway up to your front door will recreate the mood of a romantic countryside setting. You could combine small trees and shrubs with ferns and wildflowers such as foxgloves, and use cobbles or flagstones for the path for the perfect country idyll.

Repaint your front door

One of the best ways to give the front of your home a brand new look is to repaint your front door. Swapping a neutral tone or plain wood finish for a colourful, on-trend shade will make your exterior stand out from the crowd. For best results painting wooden front doors, thoroughly clean the door first to remove any dirt, dust or grease, then scrape off any loose paint and lightly sand the door to create a good surface for the new paint to adhere to. Apply two coats of your chosen exterior wood paint and you’re photo ready.

Play with angles

A great garden path idea is to set a paved path at a diagonal for an informal feel, and go for different planting options on either side. A zigzag of box topiary balls feels looser than a straight line, then choose country-style planting on the opposite side of the path for contrast, and let it spill over to soften the straight edge. Pull up a pew

Invite guests to settle down for a good natter (cuppa or G&T optional), with a well-placed garden bench in your front garden. Make it bright and welcoming, with seat cushions in bold fabrics and surround it with pots and hanging baskets full of flowers in coordinating colours for a pulled-together look.

Pretty up window ledges

Filling your windowsills with blooms means the display can be enjoyed from inside and out – a double win! Traditional window boxes are great, but for an even simpler solution, pop some pots on the ledge and fill with plants that suit the window’s orientation, whether its best for shade-lovers or sun-thrivers. Pick a pot style that reflects your look – concrete-effect planters are great for an urban vibe, or go for traditional designs for a more formal feel.

Group succulents in pots

For a low maintenance garden idea that’ll provide a striking display next to your front door year round, opt for sempervivums, hardy alpine succulents which come in a whole rainbow of colours. These love a sunny spot, and you don’t even need to remember to water them as they can survive without watering for months over the summer. Most sempervivums are frost hardy so they can stay in their spot all winter, too.