You often hear about the entryway to your home being the place to welcome your guests, but what about your front yard? The very first impression that people have of your home is the front yard and porch, so your welcome for visitors begins before they even make it in the front door! Wouldn't it be great to offer your guests a gracious and thoughtful welcome as soon as they approach your property? These tips will help you boost curb appeal to make your home more welcoming and inviting.
Exceptional Front Yard Landscaping
Driving up to your home should be an experience, but it can be challenging to find plants that are hardy enough to survive without a great deal of time and effort for maintenance. Front door container gardens are incredibly popular, with small herbs or flowers that can be easily moved inside if the weather turns chilly. Landscaping your front yard should begin with foundation plantings, which allow you to create a feeling of depth, color and movement without a big upfront investment or ongoing upkeep.
Select plants that scale appropriately with the surroundings. For instance, if you have a relatively small area, you wouldn't want to fill it with overwhelmingly tall or broad plants. Instead, choose options whose scale complements your home. Arrange the tallest blooming plants in the back, situating them so they lean forward toward ground-hugging flowers or your groundcover. As you're planning your plantings, consider how much the mature plants are likely to spread before packing plants in too tightly.
Lighting and Walkways
A good rule of thumb is to allow at least three to four feet of clearance space for your guests to comfortably walk to your front door. Anything less than this can leave people feeling crowded and uncomfortable, something that you want to avoid at all costs! Create an exceptional statement piece in your front yard when you update a boring walkway by adding a custom brick look. If this is something you're seeking, Exterior Medics can help design something beautiful with their exceptional masonry services team. Once you have the perfect walkway in place, you want to be sure you're keeping things well-lit with bright LED lights to illuminate any dark corners and protect guests from falls or trips on your stairs. Solar lighting is the perfect solution for a long walkway that winds through a darkened yard, too.
Front Porch Makeover
Even adding a few thoughtful touches to your front porch can go a long way in making a positive first impression. Create a quick pop of color when you paint your front door or add some brightly-colored pillows to your porch furniture. Guests will appreciate the thoughtful touch, as this gives your guest the impression that you are ready and excited for someone to drop by and visit. A small table and chairs, a swing or some rocking chairs can complete the look, providing family and friends with yet another wonderful location for a quick chat or a long afternoon conversation. You might be surprised how big of a difference a fresh coat of paint on your front door or porch can make. The grunge that builds up after several years isn't really noticeable until you look back and see how amazing your space looks after a cleanup!
Provide your guests with a warm, welcoming exterior that complements your home by sprucing up your front yard and porch. You don't have to spend a fortune when you keep these simple tips in mind—get creative with DIY projects that can make a big difference in the enjoyment of your home! At Exterior Medics, we help you improve the home that you love, and we are your trusted partner for renovation projects big and small. Contact our friendly and knowledgeable professionals today at 703-634-6517 or request a free estimate online!
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