Landscape Ideas for a Front Entryway

Stepping Stones

• Stepping stones are among the more simple landscaping ideas when it comes to front entryways, which is where the pathway up to the home is laid out in a series of flat stones, typically in the grass or on natural ground. Stepping stones are where people step when heading toward the front door. The stones require no paving and hardly any measuring as long as they are all of the same general size. Stepping stones are particularly well suited for homes aspiring for a minimal, natural look.

Garden

• Framing front entryways with gardens is one of the best ways to literally add life to the entrance of a home. You can use countless variations, depending on the climate of the location and the overall character of the home, but there are a few general tips that work well in most front entry gardens. One is to choose at least a few plants or flowers that grow year-round as this keeps the entryway from ever looking completely dead even in the off-season. Other considerations include choosing plant life with pleasant, yet subtle, fragrances and keeping the overall garden size within reason so not to overwhelm guests.

Lights

• The lighting in a front entryway is a design element that is not only important after the sun goes down but adds a smart-looking, yet welcoming accent. Subtle lighting along the ground on each side of the pathway is the most practical solution, but there are other ways to get creative. Some yard lights are designed to hang from the branches of nearby trees while others are built inside realistic-looking rocks, helping to create the effect of natural illumination. Many outdoor lights are also solar powered, requiring little post-installation cost or maintenance.

Decorative Fences

• Another way to frame a pathway leading up to the home is through the use of decorative fences, meaning those that are no more than a foot or two high and are installed simply to add a nice border to the entryway. One type of fence that helps to convey a welcoming environment is the standard white picket fence. Another more rustic decorative fence is one made of stones stacked on top of each other. These small barriers can work in combination with other landscaping entryway ideas, such as flower gardens.