Adding curb appeal to your home starts from the outside in, and one of the best ways to create an inviting outdoor atmosphere is through landscaping on your front porch or entryway. If you’re designing a custom home, the ideas in this blog will inspire you. With these proven landscaping strategies — including thoughtful plant choices and helpful schematics — you can instantly make any entryway welcoming enough to be featured in design magazines.
When designing a custom house, or improving a home, the outdoor look and feel of the home are crucial. Often we focus intently on the inside and forget how valuable first impressions are. There is also something special about pulling up to a home where the porch and entryway are inviting. Landscaping and paying attention to curb appeal are essential to maximizing the beauty of your home. To create the most impactful curb appeal we recommend focusing first on the design of your front porch.
Why curb appeal matters
We can all admit that we judge a book by its cover and a house by its front porch. Especially when it comes to homes, first impressions are influential. You may design the most beautiful interior custom home, but guests and buyers will never lose the first impression when pulling up in front of the house.
Particularly, if selling, you don’t want to undervalue curb appeal. Homes with strong curb appeal sell faster and are valued higher by buyers. Realtor Magazine goes so far as to say there is a 7% average increase in the sale price for homes with high curb appeal. Front porch landscaping creates an impact on how your house is viewed. According to Yardzen, landscape improvements yield the largest value increase. Not only is there a financial reward to your investment, but you are also invited into your home with beauty. Who doesn’t want that?
Reality Homes’ Tips for Increasing Your Home’s Curb Appeal
The first step to updating the front of your home is to take stock of your space. Many of us are great at making Pinterest boards and mood boards full of inspiration. Yet, translating that inspiration into reality is challenging if you aren’t flexible. Understand your limitations whether they are a quirky layout, lack of space, or financial constraints.
In alignment with understanding your limitation, it’s necessary to have a plan. You may be able to add a planter here and a new light fixture there and have everything come together. But more often than not, this way of improvement leaves the space looking disjointed and half done. Decide on a theme and a color scheme, and create a plan for the whole front area. This will promote unity throughout the design even if you can’t complete the project all at once.
To get started, use the front door as your focal point. The guests look here and it is a great place to show personality. If you’re working with an older home it might be worth updating the front door and windows around the entryway. A modern door and windows create an impact on the whole space. If you’re building a custom home or don’t have the budget to fully update, painting your door something inviting and unique can quickly brighten the space.
Speaking of color, pops of color are great to integrate into your front porch space. Whether this is the door and fence, adding a unique touch distinguishes your home and makes the front area appear planned and not an afterthought. When updating an old home, it might be time to think about updating the outdoor paint overall. Plan pops of color in a complimentary palette to the home as a whole.
Outdoor lighting is another great option on the list of front porch landscaping ideas. Create a garden path or light walkway up to your front door for design appeal and added security. If you don’t have wiring, a quick budget option is solar lights. Make sure these lights complement the sconces (if you have them) by your front door.
Now that you’ve updated the front door, the color, and the lighting you’ll want to spend some time on your front porch. Adding in outdoor seating is an ideal addition to your curb appeal design. It provides a cozy space for guests and nothing looks more inviting than a garden chair and table set with fresh flowers blooming in the center of the porch set.
Often, we forget about the mailbox other than its utilitarian function. Yet, mailboxes are a great space to demonstrate your personality and have a bit of fun. Paint your mailbox to compliment your house’s color pallet and add in plants and flowers to add a touch of charm.
If you need assistance with your front porch garden ideas, it’s always a great option to hire a landscaper. They can take the themes of your front entrance and integrate them into your front garden to inspire a truly unique and personalized space.
The last simple adjustment to your porch landscaping is the addition of wood accents and planters. To draw the eye into your front space create symmetry with these accents. Finding two matching planters at a flea market or thrift store is a great option for improving curb appeal on a budget.
From adding a pop of color with flowers to playing with different types of textures, there are endless possibilities when it comes to front porch landscaping. These ideas are just the beginning – get in touch with a Reality Homes expert to begin designing your home’s custom curb appeal today.
