Front door and CHEAP landscape ideas

Question

Just moved in and the front of the house is sooo boring! We would like to extend the porch, create awesome landscape and paint the front door a vibrant color. But, I don't have the funds for that and my husband doesn't like bright colors. So I am at a loss for simple yet creative DIY ideas. HELP!!
The large tree in front has now been removed

Lorraine · Answer

I love bright colors too, I painted our door periwinkle. You could go classic black, or for something a little different navy blue? As well as the trim. Get colorful pots,(Ross,TJMAXX ...) fill with more color! A large piece of Wall art for center between windows,fill bottom spaces with cool plants. It's a start, what I've done is buy hard scape when it's on sale a little at a time,whatever I could afford at the time,find a corner in the back yard and saved it until I had enough for a small patio and continue to add to it because I want more!!!

Cathy S · Answer

i agree - start with temporary color first via pots and annuals. or, on weekend mornings, find the best looking flower garden in your neighborhood, look for your neighbors to be working in their garden, compliment them on it, and tell them you just moved in. at the least, you will get really good advice and some knowledge of the easiest, prettiest flowers & plants for your home. at the most, they will send you home with potted transplants of the same (for your colorful pots for now). another place to find free plants - look for 'free plants' and 'bring your own shovel' that people post on-line such as freecycle and craigslist.

Millie Allen · Answer

if you do paint the door, tie it all in by painting the garage door the same color. It's hard to tell by the picture, but it looks like the ground slopes away from the front stoop? If so, consider a porch/deck to make it even. This could look really nice.

Leslie · Answer

You could put a pot of flowers on each side of the front of garage to match your front door, to tie it in. Would leave garage door white though. Front door is supposed to be a separate color from any other color on your house so attention is drawn to it. Garage door color is supposed to blend in so as not to be noticed as much.

Emm · Answer

can you add shutters to your windows? we have a brick rambler that was quite boring, and we added shutters and windowboxes---it made all the difference in the world! the flowers will bring a pop of colour (and you can use winter greenery and bows at holiday time) and the shutters will give it a real homey look. you can choose shutters in neutral colors (black or brown) or go with something more bold, like red, green or goldenrod. there is so much you can do with this great house! and a container garden out front would give you a lot of flexibility. you also might want to pull out those bushes and add some more vibrant low shrubs---we did that too. it wont be too expensive, but it will take some work! good luck!

Moxie · Answer

This may be a bit way out there; but for the budget and wanting curb appeal without bright colors I think you are looking to add character. I like the idea off adding a tall plant to the side of the door and I would put some of the water applied faux stained glass film (easily removable, many patterns offered on line and big box stores like Lowe's stock them) on the clear storm door and perhaps a few smaller potted flowers on the right at the steps. I think this would add artistic flair and focus to the front door/curb appeal without being super bright. Just my thoughts. Have fun whatever you do.

Lindcurt · Answer

Paint the door a blue-gray. Trim the windows in the same color as the storm door. Paint the concrete porch a dark brick red. 
Properly pruning of the shrubs under the windows could delay replacing them for a while. Go to a landscape nursery and ask how to do it properly. A Big Box store will not know. The evergreens to the left of the door need to go away. Ask at the nursery what would be a good choice for that area. Probably not something with stickers since they would be near a sidewalk. 
One large pot of color at the right side of the porch steps would probably be enough for this year. 
Leave the garage area alone until you have more money.
Some big bright house numbers on the left side of the door would give you a bright spot to draw the eye toward your new beautiful porch.

Dobi · Answer

I would definitely trim the bushes, and I think that I would paint the borders of your windows a contrasting color something that you eventually paint the door! have you looked at the flea markets in our area for porch lights? I would change that out as well. You could also paint your porch floor, even though it is concrete, it takes color really well. Too bad about the tree, it could have been a really good focal point for your yard.

Patti @Hearth and Vine · Answer

Definitely paint the door. Black, dark blue even red it you favor it. Then make a garden by going out the height of your home from the base. For example if the height is ten feet make the garden ten feet wide. It wouldn't cost anything to dig up the grass. Consider making the edge curved marked out with a garden hose. Remove the bushes. The slowly add your plants with some nicer shrubs at the foundation and perennials that will come back year after year. Then as @Cathy S suggests make friends with neighbors. They will know what grows well in the area and will probably share some plants for free. If not, ask a local nursery. Be patient. Rome was not built in a day. If you simply put in a few plants and mulch the area it will still look nice. It's exciting to create your own space. Good luck!!

Debbie Thompson · Answer

I agree with everyone else...paint the door. I would also add window boxes below the windows, removing the shrubs. Good luck!

Cindy Fahr-Webster · Answer

paint the garage door also. I would get rid of the bushes also. paint trim around windows and the door. Maybe a tan color or merlot color.Maybe add a water fountain between the two windows and some flowers along the home.

Sue Sanders · Answer

I would remove the shrubbery covering the windows.  Replant with various dwarf shrubbery and add some colorful flowers.  Also would plant a taller slim shrub at corner of the house.  I would not paint the window trim or garage door as would distract from the front door being the focal point.  The eye should be drawn to the entry.  Since your house is white you could even paint the front door a pastel to please your husband who doesn't like bright colors.  I personally like a  brighter color like a red, burnt orange, medium blue, etc.

Ksm9542 · Answer

I would trim the shrubs under the windows and some day add more shrubbery across the front ---bringing some plants forward to add depth.  Adding some colorful plants and flowers will add the pop of color you want.  Ppaint the door, but not bold to satisfy hubby.   Also add similar plants/color to the side of the porch as in the front.  See if this helps enough before considering painting the garage door.

Upstater · Answer

Trim the bushes down, add perennials (from friends, neighbor, relatives) and black mulch to front bed. Paint the door a color you and hubby agree on, add a wreath to the door with lots of color, add pots with colorful flowers to both sides of the door and both sides of the garage. Check with Home Depot or Lowes for a great outdoor light ( find one on clearance) to replace the one on the porch- or find one and repaint it! Add a colorful door mat and you are set for now!

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Would paint the window trim as the windows seem to disappear. I'd remove the bushes entirely and start afresh. Maybe a tall column-like tree on the far right - pyramidal cedar? Am a big fan of edging. Would do a curvy edge from the far right, right around and extending out from the tree which is a problem area. Then I'd plant various perennials and some kind of drought resistant-shade loving ones like creeping jenny around that big tree.

At Home With The Barkers · Answer

To add a warmth and welcoming feeling to the front door for the cheapest possible I would add a gorgeous wreath. Very simple but colorful. I made this one that you may like. http://athomewiththebarkers.com/summer-sunflower-wreath/

Jean Cox · Answer

Shutters would add color. Take out the bushes and plant colorful flowers across the front. Paint door to match shutters. Potted plants on the porch. Stepping stones from the front door to the driveway.

Chris · Answer

Yes, trim down the shrubs under the windows.  ask your friends if they have any dark leaved ninebark-get a dwarf (or buy one), which is easy to stem layer and by using 3 plant them put them between those other 2 shrubs.   Add some red daylilies infront of the shrubs for color.  Paint the front door a burgandy or the brightest red your husband will agree to.   the color scheme could also go yellow with some forsythia for early spring color, yellow privet, and yellow daylilies.   a coordinating crabapple (or red leafed smoke tree) in the color that your are choosing could be in the end of the house and gotten as a seedling from a friend or purchased when you have funds.  Do not get any barberry as they are an invasive plant and those pickers become a challenge when trimming the shrubs.

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