How To Design A Beautiful Front Yard

Now that the winter season is almost over and warm weather is right around the corner, this is a great time for you to design a beautiful front yard. From the landscaping to the right lighting products, here are some ideas that might help you to design something unique.

The Landscaping - Be kind to yourself and to the environment by combining a hardscape with your landscape. Besides cutting back on your water bills, you'll eliminate a lot of the work that normally goes into maintaining a yard.

  • If you want green as your ground cover, talk to an expert at your extension service who will be able to recommend a ground cover that grows well in your area.
  • One idea is to copy the landscape of many homes in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico that don't have any grass at all in their front yard.
  • Save grass for the backyard where children can play on a soft surface.
  • Incorporate large rocks to add interest to your landscaping.
  • Mix things like succulents, different ivy plants, mosses, vegetables and cactus with flowering plants like rose bushes, bougainvillea and geraniums.
  • Add statuary to the design. A tiered Mexican water fountain, pots of different sizes and designs, and religious statues like angels placed in strategic places would be great.

The Lighting - There is nothing quite as dramatic or beautiful as selecting lights for part of your front yard landscaping. Besides adding beauty, though, lights add safety. You and your guests will be able to safely maneuver walkways and stairs when it is dark. Did you know that outdoor lighting is also a deterrent to thieves and mischief makers? Who wants to toilet- paper or spray paint a house that's well lit? Who wants to try to enter the front door of a house that is well lit? In addition, check with your insurance to see if outdoor lighting will reduce the cost of your premiums. Besides adding lights under trees, among bushes and to illuminate the rocks, light the walkway that leads to your front door and to your backyard.

If you are wanting an elegant look for your front yard, choose brass or pewter for your light fixtures. For a more rustic look, consider wrought iron. If you do select wrought iron light fixtures, think of painting them the same color as your front door. For a dramatic look, black, turquoise or brick red are all really great choices.


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