SOL & ARBOR
Back to Journal

Journal

Five ways to plan a front yard that lifts your curb appeal

A finished front yard with a lit path and layered planting at dusk

Curb appeal is not about spending the most. It is about a few deliberate choices that make the whole front of your home feel intentional. These are the moves our designers reach for again and again.

1. Give the front door a clear path

The eye follows the walkway. A generous, well defined path to the door reads as welcoming and makes even a modest facade feel considered. Widen where you can, and let the planting soften the edges.

2. Layer planting by height

Tall anchors near the house, mid height shrubs in front, low ground cover at the edge. Layering gives depth and keeps the beds looking full through more of the year.

3. Repeat a few plants, not many

A front yard feels calm when a small palette repeats. Three or four plants used with intention look richer than a dozen used once each.

4. Light the approach

A little low light along the path changes how the house feels at night. It is one of the highest impact, lowest effort upgrades you can plan for. (An after hours render can show you exactly how it will look before you buy a single fixture.)

5. Leave room to grow

Plant for the size things become, not the size they arrive. A design that looks slightly sparse on day one is a design that looks right in two seasons.

Want these choices made for your specific lot, sun, and style? That is exactly what a front yard design is for.