Even with houses, the first impression counts.
Traditionally, spring is the busiest time of year in the property market and much of it is due to how good gardens will look over the next few weeks.
Experts, like Andrew Winter of Selling Houses Australia, ensure a pristine, manicured front yard that can increase your chances of a quick sale.
So, if you are planning to sell or not this spring, now is the perfect time to start creating a stunning front yard. Here is how.
SET THE SCENE FOR YOUR FRONT GARDEN
The first thing many of us see when we walk through our neighborhood is the garden. Then the house. Or the other way around. When it’s neat and tidy, it gets a nod of approval.
Next, attract the creative landscaping of garden beds and a streamlined flow across paths, pavement, and features.
For landscape architect Lee Gray, creating a comfortable drive to the home and a warm, inviting ambience is key to a front yard with a wow factor and allure.
“The most effective concept to consider when designing an entrance to your home is to draw visitors from the street to your front door,” she says.
To do this, you need to provide paths for a gentle flow from the verge to the door. Resetting a pedestrian gate is one way to get guests and passers-by to stop and watch as they enter the property.
“When your visitors arrive, they have entered your property while waiting for your intercom answer or opening your gate,” she says.
“This takes visitors off the footpath and welcomes them to your home, eliminating the urgency of waiting.”
CREATE A GARDEN JOURNEY
While a large front yard is always enviable, Lee says a small setback can also be filled with interest.
“In one project, we wanted to lead the guests through a garden and create a journey. In order to slow down our visitors and improve the experience, we created beds with interesting plants that entwine around the entrance steps, ”says Lee.
The use of flower pots, feature trees, and a meandering path can turn the otherwise short walk from the street into a mini parkland experience.
“We’ll also be using plantings like hedges to pull and guide visitors through a garden,” says Lee.
“This is especially helpful when our front path is long or has curves and twists.”
KEY TO A FRIENDLY ENTRANCE
Where the terrain is sloping or uneven, large steps come in handy, but can also literally take your zone to the next level. Plan it carefully and it will become an architectural element that compliments the entrance of a house and makes you feel like you have arrived in style.
“Often times, we incorporate large, easy-to-negotiate steps into a layout,” says Lee.
“In order to keep the steps manageable for all visitors, it is best to work on a step increase of 150 mm.”
The width of your path also plays a role.
“Imagine a path that is too wide that allows two visitors to walk side by side to create a friendly open entrance that is easy to navigate,” she says.
If the ground is flat but visually interesting, steps placed in the lawn or surrounded by stones can be a design element that breaks up a larger area, especially in gardens with minimal or repeated planting.
“The most important aspect of stepping stones is to create them at a comfortable pace that you can walk without concentration. It’s best to avoid small fairy steps or giant steps, ”advises Lee.
HIGHLIGHT PARTS OF YOUR GARDEN
Nothing defines a path or lawn better than a well-tended hedge or a ground cover, but the lighting comes into its own even after dark. Practical so that you don’t stumble in the dark, the work path lighting offers homeowners a safe passage and welcomes you at home.
Highlighting parts of the garden with glowing warm light will also add ambience and no doubt value too.
“I’ve had great success using beautiful garden path lighting to delimit pathways and help create the inviting effect,” says Lee.
ENCLOSE YOUR HOME IN THE LANDSCAPE
A planting plan that matches the style of your home is essential to make a great first impression.
“If you frame your home with well-proportioned trees, your facade will really stand out,” says Lee.
“Taking inspiration from the facade and features of your home in your front fence or street interface creates the impression that your home blends in with the landscape.”
However, Lee warns of heavy, thick leaves that can spoil the look of your home or hide its best features and make the garden appear smaller. Instead, frame a home with layers and furniture like a bench, garden art, and low plants. Lee also says not to forget the roadside, which spatially expands the feel of your front yard.
CREATING TIPS ON THE WOW FACTOR IN YOUR FRONT GARDEN
1. Slow things down
Remember to slow down your guests by creating a journey through your entrance. Small gardens or interesting cobblestones can help with this.
2. Design your home with trees.
Trees will soften your facade and separate you from your neighbors. When choosing trees, look for trees that grow 5 m or less for a single story home. Two-story houses will benefit from higher canopies.
3. Consider path lighting
The path lighting ensures that guests can come safely from your property. Look for fittings that look nice even during the day. These will help guide your guests to the door.
4. Increase your attractiveness on the street
Your roadside contributes significantly to your attractiveness on the road. Lawn will always look great, but consider groundcover such as ivy or myoporum if you want a more low-maintenance option.
5. Offer a pot
A feature pot on either side of your front door or a unique pot on your porch or porch will frame the front door and draw in your visitors.
6. Plant a hedge
If your path is long or winding, a hedge with avenues of narrow trees will welcome your guests and lead them to your front door.
7. Offer a bank
Consider adding a garden bench as a focal point or element in your garden. Garden benches provide a warm feeling of living.
8. Flat steps
If your property requires entry steps, consider keeping the risers shallower than your internal stairs.
Source: Lee Gray Landscape Design
