skip to main content

Landscape Design Porches & Decks Design Dilemma

Porch and yard decorating ideas please?!!

5 years ago

Hello! I am new to Houzz, recently bought my first home and am decorating my front porch and yard! This is my first time having a front porch to actually decorate so I have no idea where to start and I have no clue as to what kind of flowers to put in my front yard. It looks horrible and I feel I am bringing down the property value especially when my neighbors have such beautiful yard decor! :( Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

Featured Answer

PRO

Celery. Visualization, Rendering images

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Check what plants for your area and what your neighbors have.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Kim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)
5 years ago
If you really plan to use the front porch, I'm thinking swing. Browse through the many pages of photos from Houzz of front porch swings for ideas here.
colonel115
5 years ago
First find a very good nursery in your area. They will stock plants and shrubs that grow in your area (zone specific). Since you are new to the house I would wait to see what might come up in the spring. Buy a garden book with lots of pictures. In my area we are planting winter annuals now but where I used to live I would be curling up with said garden book waiting for the warmth of spring. Congrats on the new home.
Related Discussions
Please help me with exterior decorating ideas!
Q
Comments (38)
Your house is really cute and there is a lot of potential to really make it stand out! I would definitely tear out those bushes (they are just kind of random) and put in three of the same shrub. There are so many choices out there. Just think about whether you want evergreen, flowering and consider the light conditions mainly. My first thought, and it seems a lot of others thought this too, is to get some nice planters to put on each side of the ledges. If that grass doesn't work out, then a ground cover would be low maintenance. Another idea would be to add some small evergreen shrubs to outline the perimeter of your new grassy area.
...See More
New (to us) house - looking for some front porch/yard ideas!
Q
Comments (12)
Yes those V shaped things at the top of your post should be removed. It shouldn't be difficult. Your hanging baskets need to hang lower. Go to your big box store and have them cut you some heavy chain in about 1 to 1 1/2 ft length to lower the baskets. Most baskets need to be watered at least every 2 days, some times every day depending on the weather. Also once a week submerge the whole basket in a bucket of water and let it sit for a half an hour to an hour to re-dehydrate the soil. I like the idea of a yellow front door and yellow flowers. It is only paint. Tell the hubby if he doesn't like it, it can be repainted. Take him with you when you go pick out the paint and have him pick out 3 yellows he likes and then you choose between them. That way he has a stake in the color. If you don't like any that he picked out just buy the color you like and wait a few week to paint. Then when he says it doesn't look the same just tell him it is hard to visualize a color from a little paint chip. Lucky me my husband lets all the decorating up to me. If it was up to him he would buy a 5 gallon bucket of white paint and paint everything in and out the same.
...See More
Beach house front yard ideas please!
Q
Comments (20)
Not landscaping suggestion, but the first thing I would do is paint the garage doors the same color as the house so they are not the glaring focal point. eta: I just spent a little time googling pictures of homes in Galveston. I found many pics of homes with lots and approaches like yours, but very few with any real landscaping. I don't know if it's because beach homes are more vacation homes so low maintenance, or frequent storms/flooding or maybe the sun/heat, but almost all of them simply had planted a number of palm trees with no other beds at all. I did see these that might give you some ideas: This probably wouldn't work with your offset garage and shorter driveway, but I thought it looked great:Here's a similar one with offset garages that kind of breaks up all the concrete and makes a walkway to the front door, along with a nicely planted side yard:
...See More
can’t decide seating arrangements for front porch. Ideas please.
Q
Comments (8)
I live in a historic home so I have wicker and rockers on mine! Is it just for looks or will you sit out there? If you sit out there, you need something that is comfortable for you to sit in that looks nice too. The orange would work for all except Spring IMO. As to dirt, yeah, anything that is outside even in a covered area will get dirty. If you sit out there, two chairs and a table between to hold that drink would be nice. If it's just for show, the bench would work as well.
...See More
K Laurence
5 years ago
Can’t make specific recommendations without knowing your zone. I agree with the advice to visit a local nursery ( not a Home Depot-type place ). & seek their advice & perhaps enlist their help in drawing up a landscape plan. It all depends upon you budget.
PN _Bos
5 years ago
What a pretty exterior - you have a lot to work with! I don't have much of a green thumb so I like to focus on flower pots where I can replace items seasonally, I can keep anything alive for 3-4 months ;-). Other ideas, I'd start by power washing the driveway & walkway; add some colorful seat cushions -- or if your feeling brave, maybe spray paint your bistro set your favorite color. I'd think about painting the front door too, it looks very dark. Good luck & have fun decorating!!
Brook
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thank you all so much for the suggestions!! I actually drove around my neighborhood to get some other ideas, as suggested, and am going to my local nursery tomorrow. I am trying to make this a weekend project. Celerygirl, that is beautiful!! Thank you all again, I can't wait to get started now!!
PRO
Yardvaark
5 years ago

I don't think that closing in the porch with a garden is going to make it seem more welcoming. Whatever changes are made should start with expanding the paving approaching the stoop so that people don't have to worry about stepping off the walk or tripping over plants. Then, keep the approach visible. If you wanted to enclose the sitting area, I'd keep it low. Tall wispy flowers would be OK since the effect would be semi-transparent. Your picture does not show right side, but I suspect the house could benefit from seeming somewhat sheltered and separated from the house next door.
PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
5 years ago
some ideas:

Related Stories

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 10 Ideas for Decorating Your Summer Porch

By Laura Gaskill

Watch the world go by from a porch decked out with comfy furniture and inspiring accessories

HOLIDAYS Porch Decorating Ideas From Thanksgiving to New Year’s

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Long-lasting wreaths, potted plants and more can cheer up your entryway from fall through winter

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 8 Ideas to Give Your Yard a Boost for Fall

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Make easy refreshes to your porch and landscape to extend your outdoor enjoyment

TRENDING NOW Ideas for Your Yard From the Most Popular New Outdoor Spaces

By Erin Carlyle

Creative seating and prep space for grilling are among the designs noted by Houzz users

DIY PROJECTS 8 Easy Halloween Decorating Ideas

By Becky Harris

Get in the spooky spirit with simple ideas for your entry, mantel and table. Then repurpose your pumpkins in the garden

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING No Fall Guys, Please: Ideas for Lighting Your Outdoor Steps

By Marianne Lipanovich

Safety and beauty go hand in hand when you light landscape stairways and steps with just the right mix

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 10 Friendly Front-Yard Seating Ideas

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

These gathering spots bring the party to the front of the house. Chat with neighbors and watch the world go by

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 7 Ideas to Get You Back on the Front Porch

Remember the good old days, when porches offered front-row seats to street scenes? They can be even better today

DECORATING GUIDES Uncover Your Junk's Hidden Decorating Potential — Scads of DIY Ideas

By Samantha Schoech

Release your typewriter's inner planter or a drum set's coffee table. These creative ideas will have you seeing the possibilities

MOST POPULAR 25 Ideas to Perk Up Your Side Yard

By Becky Harris

Turn this often overlooked area into an enticing and useful outdoor space

Sponsored

Whispering Pine Construction

Franklin County's Top Choice for Reliable Outdoor Construction

More Discussions

Help! Need curb appeal update!

4

Advice for Plants around Patio & Deck?

10

Update exterior and add landscaping

11

Front porch help needed, please!

0

Help with curb appeal

2