Help! Front of the house looks way to boring!

My opinion just adding gardens with a focal point would really be effective.What is your location so I can help you with a design plan and other options.

The house itself looks great. I feel uninvited by the big flat golf course of a front yard. Do I need golf or pony cart to get to the door? Maybe some break from all that flatness to relax on my long journey to that inviting door, like a mini forest, rock outcrop, water feature, landscape burm mound, gnomes! ok, no gnomes.

As Janet is not a landscaper nor lives in Florida, as to plants, I would speak with your local nurseries for their professional 'free advice' as to what works well in your area. I would take some pictures with you on your iphone, talk to them about what catches your eye, let them make mainenance advise as well as it is important in knowing if that is something you wil do alone or need yard care services. Rmemeber your local nurseries are where you will end up buying from, and a good working relation as to your needs and design ideas and mainenance level works best for all concerned. And the better the confidence you build the more you will enjoy the results and their guarantees and services.

I am with 2 kidney shaped burms, sea grass, a tree. Etc. Keep it simple low maintenance, for the front yard...close to house just make sure to use taller and smaller bushes. Don't use too many varieties pick 3 to 5.....and buy 3 to 5 each. Good luck

Congratulations on your new home! I'm not a guru on plantings for your area but I know the professionals at your local gardening nursery are...consult with them on the best quick growing plants and shrubs for your location. I'd add some height and depth to your window areas with window boxes or flowering shrubs. A nice setee for your entryway would bring some interest as would some potted annuals in vibrant colors.

I would paint the front door and the shutters a colour that pops. Since the roof is grey I would do black. Nurseries have plans already drawn up and you can get for free and they have the name of the plants and shrubs and trees on it. Put in some mulch as well.

You have a lovely new home. I would paint the white front door a bright color... maybe red. I have a red door with black shutters. Love it.

I noticed the large grassy area inside the curved sidewalk. I have that too😀. I lined both sides of my curving walkway with bricks. That immediately gave it a more impressive and wider look. Then I filled in the bed between the walk and house with mulch. Green grass is beautiful, but too much is boring. You can easily cover grass with mulch if you first put down a thick layer of wet newspapers or cardboard. That will kill the grass and keep it from coming up through the mulch. The mulched area would look great with a beautiful bench that says welcome.

You live in beautiful Mississippi so you will soon have lots of plants growing in.

I am no landscaper...BUT... I have done lots of homework on the subject. I think you should plant something tall on each end of the house...like crepe myrtles. They are beautiful and not too heavy looking. That will draw the eye from one side to the other and make your home look larger. If the flower bed on the left is straight across (that's how it looks in the photo) I would use the same paper/mulch method to widen and curve it too. Remember ... there are no straight lines in nature... or so I read. Then I would fill in the flower beds with low shrubs and LOTS of seasonal color. The large shrub on the left seems to be in the wrong place. It draws the eye to the center of the house which makes it look smaller. Maybe it could be moved or trimmed a bit.

There is a name for using paper or cardboard to block weeds and create gardens the easy way. It's called Lasagna gardening. There are books about it and web sites too. I've used this method for many years. It works every time. No expensive materials to buy and NO WEEDS!!! It can be used to build vegetable garden beds or just to smother out grass and weeds to make a mulched bed. I've done both.

Lastly....trees. The large front yard needs some! I would use the same Lasagna technique to create areas of mulch or berms ( as Leisa Yeager previously commented) planted with beautiful trees ... maybe magnolias. These should be placed on either side of the yard...not centered in front of the door.

In the meantime, you have room on the front porch for a beautiful potted plant. That would immediately make it more inviting.

You asked for "help". Hope my ideas are helpful. I also hope you will come back and show us what you did. Happy home making.

I love the idea of adding colorful flora! Here are a bunch more fantastic suggestions on this similar discussions: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/outdoor/garden/q-curb-appeal-ideas-17873553

There are beautiful Japanese Maple trees that could even be trimmed as they grow to look like a sculpture from when you plant them until they are very old. This if fairly young and the color would really enhance your front yard. There are different varieties/colored leaves, so google. Be sure to plant something on the opposite side of the yard. I like the grasses idea, to balance the whole look.

Jut a thought, you could paint your door, or stain it to reflect the leaf color.

Paint the front door and trim so snazzy color to make it stand out. Fushia? Eggplant purple?

Skip the advice of anyone on here who is not a landscape architect and HIRE ONE. It will be money well spent. you will also get advice for the exterior of the house...that is what they do!

Just remember the roots of trees are double the canopy above, soo do not plant them too close to the house as the roots will damage the foundation and water/sewer lines. A colour you enjoy for your front door would make a big difference, putting in a rock garden or other low maintenance areas would change the flatness, like others have said ask your local nursaries for what will work in your area for plants etc. Good luck you have a lovely home.

A warm yellow paint would absolutely bring out the beauty of your home and make it appear larger. Adding large curved bedding areas around the home would add another dimension. The 3 - 5 rule is good to live by when planting shrubs and plants. Pick your favorite spot to create the 'focal point' and add a stone sculpture/water feature/or your favorite tall flowering tree. Keep in mind safety when digging! (water pipes/electrical/etc.) Best of luck.

Don't hate me but its your roof color that is squashing house into ground there's so much darkness up there that I would keep color of house as is and it looks more Mediterranean or Spanish in style so go with that adding tall growing floral plants or you know how they will have geraniums in simple Terra cotta planters . You have plenty of room for a tree that would add color like a flaming red maple. You have got to trick the idea as to height of home. I love your home you may also want to add a wrought iron fence to create a patio in front just stick to curved elements. So it won't look like a jail nor a zoo. Then have paver in stalled in a circular fashion and place a table and chair out there with colorful vines that flower. Hibiscus would be wonderful to have privacy yet have it look inviting. Heck you have so much space it allows for fountain and bird bath. Now your eye sees all of those elements and not just a roof stumping on a house. These things I said could be done over time and only the fence has to be installed. Many other sites show how to install pavers correctly. But it's it's your roof.

Put in a couple of trees, or wisteria-some grow as big as trees if not cut back. Maybe a climbing rose near the fence. I like Magnolias but they can get messy. Forget the name but one you don't need looks like tulips blooming on a tree. You'll be raking up after that one forever. If you like decorating outside at Christmas you may want to get a small fir tree of some sort, don't plant near house as they grow outward from bottom as they grow taller.

landscaping...take your time. Your home is lovely. Do you like putzing in the yard? Or is it a chore? Do you like fragrance drifting in thru your windows? Any favorite plants? What about flowers? What zone do you live in? Are there water restrictions? Clay soil? What direction is N? What are your favorite colors? Do you like water features? I would love to give you my suggestions...if you are working within a budget...you can do it in phases

Hire a professional landscape architect to draw up a plan you like. You can either implement the plan over time or have the professionals do it. Putzing around and experimenting can get very expensive if you are not a professional. Believe me!

A few nice (good for your area) trees placed appropriately and balanced in the front lawn....That is costly but effective....for the time being get a couple of big containers to flank the door, if not possible, 3 containers (3 diff sizes) at one side of door....I also agree with the idea of a landscaper, nurseries sometimes have this kind of service...you can help with some of the work

Check out the last episode of fixer upper. Your house makes me think of that one. Lots of good ideas.

By all means, get a landscaper, and yes do not plant trees too close to the house. As for the house. I am a decorator. My roof was the same color when I had a home in Orlando, FL not too long ago. I painted the home a soft neutral green. The color you have now is too dark and muddy looking. Made it a fresh clean color. The door I did in a color called "Rasin". It was a very dark purplish- brown. Yes, the color of a rasin. A very rich color. I thought I wanted a pop of color, something bright, but the "Rasin" looked so good next to the green I went with that instead. I chose the pops of color in large planters and colorful flowers in the landscaping. When I was done there were actually people stopping and taking pictures. Some would come to my door and ask for the name of the paint I used.

Well my home didn't have shutters but it did have white trim as this one does. I would get a sample of a darker green in the same tones as the softer green I would paint one shutter with only the darker green and then try also the rasin and see which I liked better, or maybe go with white. I think I would play with that and stand back and see which I liked best. Sometimes a few things in my mind might speak to me or a client and I will play and see what works best.

It looks like the entry walkway curves a bit. I would add some plants on one side of the walkway. Preferably the side that would be facing the street. Make the area about 2' (two feet) wide and plant Hostas that a bi-coloured for some eye interest. Also make sure to cover the garden with a neutral mulch.

Painting the front door(not the screen door) and the shutters a brighter colour would be great too. The colour that is there is too close to make any difference

from the picture, you front door does not stand out- go with a bold favorite color. I had lived in a newly developed area- painted my front door barn red. only barn red door on the block. made it easy for friends to find me.

if you have not landscaped before- you do not want problem plants. the county extension office can probably give you a list of what not to plant. when you do plant your landscaping/ gardens remember, that little sprig will grow to a full sized plant. plant your landscaping as if every plant/ tree/shrub is fully grown. this lets the root system expand to the max. the bonus? you won't have tree roots trying to get thru the basement/ foundation wall or heave up the drive way.

You need color with bushes and flowers for your area. I agree, paint the front door. You can save on landscaping if you research. Sunlight,zone,and how much maintenance you want. If you plant trees make sure they are dwarf size and place between windows. You do not want to obstruct view and take away from design of the house. Another piece of advice I learned the hard way.....do not plant too close to the house. Love to see a pic when you are ready.

Yes, just like a raisin. I painted the front door this color, kind of a purplish-brownish. At that time Home Depot had a sample color called "raisin". That has been years ago now. If looked rich. I suppose you could take a box of raisins and see if it could be computer matched. These days you can match most any color. I never dreamed so many people would actually stop and come up to my door and ask what the color was, it was stunning next to the green.

Landscaping is your key to curb appeal. Paint the front door a pop of color. Paint the shutters a different shade of the door color. I used pots (big ones) at the corners of my side walks and flower beds. It helps with putting pops of color without using permanent plants. Because your house is lower to the ground and your windows are long put dwarlf plantings so you don't cover up your gorgeous windows. Thankful you don't have to tear out and then add. Have fun with it and start with the plants and colors you love.

There are two features that I really love, the half round trim above the door and window and the faux-block corners of the bumpout area. I think the shutters kind of cheapen the look. I'd love to see you continue the faux-block look to the remaining house corners. I'd say remove the shutters and continue the faux-block effect up the side of all your windows and the door. These "blocks" should be painted a different color than the rest of the house like gray. The main house color would look better in a tan to make it stand out more. I'd want to get a ceiling light for the front like a partial chandelier. The front door should be done in a bright, bold color to help bring out the front entrance more.

A tall potted evergreen shrub would look great to the right of the door.

And then there's the landscaping. This yard is just begging for a red Japanese maple out in the yard, this side of the walkway, as well and other plants and flowers lining the walk and across the front of the house.

I bet these changes would do wonders for your cub appeal and make your home the envy of the neighborhood.