Simple Ideas for Small Front Gardens

Why front garden design matters

Your small front garden can make a big impact:

• First impressions. A well-designed front garden is the first thing you see when you come home, and what visitors and passersby see, too.

• Increasing property value. Attractive front gardens can add to your property's value, as potential buyers are often willing to pay more for well-maintained outdoor spaces.

• Welcoming and practical. Balancing beauty with practicality means incorporating practical elements like bin storage and neat pathways while ensuring these necessary features don't dominate or detract from the garden's aesthetic appeal.

Small garden design and layout inspiration

From archways to height-varied plants, there are many ways to make your small front garden look great.

Keep it simple

If you want a low-maintenance garden, a neat lawn and a few flowerbeds can inject colour and appeal. Alternatively, you could opt for low-maintenance gravel or artificial grass and add a layer of shingle to prevent weeds from appearing.

Define borders and paths

Borders can help you separate your front garden from your neighbours, giving you more privacy. Shape and decorate your borders however you like to create unique details. For a low-maintenance alternative, picket fences add elegance and flair to the edges of your garden.

Archways

An arched pergola near your front door can look charming, making this among the most popular ideas for small front gardens. Consider adding climbing plants around it for an eye-catching statement. Choose a metal pergola for a modern touch or a wooden design for a rustic feel.

Height variation

Place tall plants on either side of your windows or by your driveway and play with their heights and colours to create an impactful design. Position low-growing plants beneath the windows to let light shine in.

Plants and seasonal colour for small gardens

Make your small front garden appealing all year-round by planting seasonally and choosing varied colours.

Seasonal planting

If you want your front garden to look good year-round, add perennials that bloom from early spring to late autumn. These include lavender, geraniums, rudbeckias and heleniums. You could also add winter plants and flowers, such as winter aconites, heavenly bamboo and scarlet willow. Inject colours with winter blooms like camellias, coronilla and pansies.

Colour coordination

Choose a cohesive colour palette of two or three complementary colours, such as white and purple, or warm orange and yellow. Repeat key colours and plant the same varieties in multiple spots for added continuity.

Creating depth

Create depth by layering plants of different heights. You might use low-growing ground covers at the front, mid-height perennials in the middle, and taller structural plants or shrubs at the back.

Decorative features and accessories

Try something a little different in your small front garden and add lights or ornaments, or place hanging baskets next to your door.

Hanging baskets for colour and height

Hanging baskets bring a splash of colour to any small front garden. Choose vibrant bedding plants for a short-term project or evergreens for a long-lasting show. If you’re decorating your space with summer baskets, the best plants include geraniums, creeping Jenny and petunias. If you want to display your basket in winter, go for ivies, pansies, violas and sedges.

Define your garden with straight lines

Another brilliant idea for small front gardens is to display your flowerbeds in straight lines; choose two or three plants with similar colours and position them in a line. For example, lavender, English bluebells, and Jack Frost have different shades of purple that complement each other.

Lights and ornaments

Add solar lights to your small front garden to help it stand out day and night. Choose colour-changing lights to enhance the look of your flowerbeds or opt for solar string lights for a charming touch. If you have extra space, consider installing solar lampposts to brighten your garden.

Low maintenance options

Even a small front garden requires upkeep; to make things easier, choose low-maintenance design options that help save time.

Grass alternatives

Artificial grass offers a neat appearance with no mowing or watering required, making it ideal for busy households. Gravel and shingle can create a sophisticated look that helps suppress weeds.

Low-maintenance plants

Plants like lavender, sedum, and ornamental grasses can survive hot summers and excessive rainfall without constant attention. You may even want to opt for evergreen shrubs that provide year-round greenery.

Automatic watering

Installing timer-controlled sprinklers or watering systems ensures your plants receive consistent moisture during dry spells, even when you forget to water them. You can tailor this to changes in weather and temperature to ensure your garden plants thrive.

Common small garden mistakes to avoid

Small front garden mistakes range from overcrowding flower beds to planting only for one season:

• Blocking light with tall plants. Positioning tall shrubs or trees directly in front of windows can block natural light from entering your home.

• Overcrowding flower beds. Planting too densely can lead to plants competing for light, water, and nutrients.

• Ignoring autumn and winter. Consider planting an array of plants with various flowering months for all year-round vibrancy.

• Forgetting pathways. Add well-defined paths in suitable materials to guide people naturally towards your front door.

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