17 Landscaping and Design Ideas for Added Curb Appeal
By now, we’re all going a little stir crazy and looking for ways to spruce up our front yards, porches, and more––or at least daydream about it. Here, we corralled 17 ideas to add to your Pinterest board.
Potted Succulents and Cacti
The easiest way to jazz up an otherwise plain front patio is by adding a few potted succulents and cacti. Choose plants at different sizes and have fun with the planters––try out colors and materials you may not choose for your indoors!
A Cozy ADU Entryway
Thinking of renting out your ADU? Don’t forget to add some lush plants and small trees to create an inviting (and private) entry for guests or roommates.
Desert-Inspired Garden
Desert-inspired gardens can feel sparse, but mixing cacti and other succulents with leafy plants can soften the garden and make it feel verdant.
Simple Flagstone Path
Take your flagstone path DIY up a notch and landscape with plants like blue fescue and petunias to create a graceful, soft edge.
Lush and Layered Veggie Garden
Try lining your yard with planter beds filled with veggies like artichokes, working with colorful blooms to add color to an already lush scene.
Add a Fountain
Add some zen to your space with a bubbling water fountain. It adds a tranquil vibe to your space, and if you’re lucky, may make an inviting spot for birds!
Maze-Like Pathways
If you have the space, creating multiple paths in between garden beds and hedges adds depth and mystery to your space. We especially love adding some edibles to the space for fun front yard harvesting.
Low-Water Landscaping
Turn a boring patch of lawn into a vibrant landscape composed of succulents and drought-tolerant perennials that are sure to win admiring looks from passersbys.
Skip the Lawn, Go for Fescue Grass
Not only is fescue grass a great low-water option, but it’s also insanely easy to upkeep and wards away pests. It also lends a hand to sloped yards in need of erosion control. Be sure to look up the best variety for your space, as there are lots to choose from.
Invest in a Hanging Chair
Most people add a couple of rocking chairs or swinging couch to their porch and call it a day, but we’re here to say you should give a swinging chair a chance. Bonus: It will keep your kiddos entertained for hours.
Light the Way
A simple gravel path is a canvas for a touch of whimsy. Liven up wide spaces in a walkway by draping string lights over artfully placed tumbleweeds or bushes.
The Rugged Path
Add billowy grasses and dry-climate perennials to give a pebbly or dirt path a more polished (but still rugged) look.
Take a Step
Terraced stone steps in a mix-and-match pattern create a strong focal point, while “character” plants create visual interest on both sides of the path. Rusty-hued Carex testacea softens the front path.
Get Glitzy Underfoot
Add small pieces of recycled glass to pea gravel for a little shimmer. Just be sure the glass is polished down to avoid any accidents!
Sandy Path
Not into pebbles? Lay down white or pink sand amongst beachy grasses (including Sesleria and Muhlenbergia) for a dunes-inspired space.
The best part? It’s cheap and easy to create: Dig a channel 6 inches deep in the soil, then just pour in the sand. At a building-supply yard, you’ll pay $52 to $62 for a ton—enough to cover about 43 square feet.
