Lessons in Small-Garden Design From 11 English Entryways
Unsure how to turn your tiny front yard into something special? Check out these inspirational ways to make an entrance
Victoria Harrison
March 26, 2017
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
Want to increase the curb appeal of your home but don’t know where to start when it comes to your tiny front garden? Take a look at these great ways to transform a small front garden into a chic entrance. Whether it’s a mini wildlife haven or a petite urban jungle, each of these spaces makes an impact.
1. Frame it with style. This tiny garden has oodles of style and a sense of formality, thanks to the smart iron fence and gate dividing it from the public footpath.
An open fence like this creates a physical barrier without blocking the flow of light into the garden. To add a more natural feel, plant low boxwood hedging teamed with pretty alliums and tulips.
Find a fence contractor near you
An open fence like this creates a physical barrier without blocking the flow of light into the garden. To add a more natural feel, plant low boxwood hedging teamed with pretty alliums and tulips.
Find a fence contractor near you
2. Make it attractive to wildlife. Bursting with life and color, this garden is a great example of how to make the front of your house appealing to both homeowners and wildlife.
Planting a wide variety of native plants and flowers is a great way of luring bees, while a colorful mix helps create a cottage-garden feel. Most garden centers or nurseries can advise you on which flowers are wildlife-friendly.
Check out Houzz stories on supporting beneficial insects in your garden
Planting a wide variety of native plants and flowers is a great way of luring bees, while a colorful mix helps create a cottage-garden feel. Most garden centers or nurseries can advise you on which flowers are wildlife-friendly.
Check out Houzz stories on supporting beneficial insects in your garden
3. Cut a planting bed into paving. If you want to maximize color and plant life in a small front garden, forget the traditional method of edging a path with a slim border of plants, and put them front and center instead.
This garden combines practical paving with an eye-catching central bed overflowing with plants. Try putting fragrant herbs such as lavender or thyme next to your path for a burst of scent each time you walk past.
Add or remove pavers with the help of a professional
This garden combines practical paving with an eye-catching central bed overflowing with plants. Try putting fragrant herbs such as lavender or thyme next to your path for a burst of scent each time you walk past.
Add or remove pavers with the help of a professional
4. Grow an urban jungle. If a cottage garden isn’t for you but you still want to green up the front of your house, why not create an urban jungle with lush, leafy plants and shrubs lining the path to your door?
Even in a tiny space, a jungle-style garden can add color, movement and vital green life to a city home. For the best results, consider which direction your home faces and what type of soil you have, then choose plants that will thrive in those conditions.
Even in a tiny space, a jungle-style garden can add color, movement and vital green life to a city home. For the best results, consider which direction your home faces and what type of soil you have, then choose plants that will thrive in those conditions.
5. Ramble up the walls. If the ground in front of your house is limited, use the walls as well. This pocket-size space still feels like a cottage garden because of the climbing roses on both sides of the door.
A hanging basket attached to a bracket above the window adds another shot of color, while a painted bench tucked under the front window offers a sunny spot to sit and watch the world go by.
A hanging basket attached to a bracket above the window adds another shot of color, while a painted bench tucked under the front window offers a sunny spot to sit and watch the world go by.
6. Keep it simple. If your front garden is just a small strip like this, it pays to follow the maxim of doing one thing and doing it well. Rather than try to cram in lots of plants, these homeowners stuck to just two types: low boxwood hedging and tall purple irises. It’s simple but very effective.
Clipped hedging like this needs regular upkeep to keep it looking crisp, but in such a small area, it should be a fairly easy task.
Hire a gardener to keep your space maintained
Clipped hedging like this needs regular upkeep to keep it looking crisp, but in such a small area, it should be a fairly easy task.
Hire a gardener to keep your space maintained
7. Add height with an arch. The path to your front door may not be long and winding, but you can still create a sense of arrival with an arching arbor above the front gate.
This pretty climber-covered frame provides visual height and, when combined with a low gate, lends a real sense of drama to the front of the house. Lining the path with shrubs and perennials brings extra interest and color.
This pretty climber-covered frame provides visual height and, when combined with a low gate, lends a real sense of drama to the front of the house. Lining the path with shrubs and perennials brings extra interest and color.
8. Create crunch with gravel. A crunchy gravel drive can announce visitors and is low-maintenance, so it’s ideal for small front gardens or shady areas if you don’t want to worry about the upkeep of planted borders.
You can still add leafy interest by including a few pots planted with colorful annuals, herbs, or even a small tree such as an olive or a bay laurel.
Get the scoop on 5 types of gravel and stone
You can still add leafy interest by including a few pots planted with colorful annuals, herbs, or even a small tree such as an olive or a bay laurel.
Get the scoop on 5 types of gravel and stone
9. Embrace formal symmetry. This tiny gravel courtyard is imbued with classical grandeur, courtesy of the formal planting of clipped boxwood shrubs and a small standard tree in a stone raised bed.
To create a similar structure in your own space, design a simple geometric framework and provide structure with clipped boxwood hedging or topiary. Small standard trees are key to this look, and their petite proportions suit a compact garden.
To create a similar structure in your own space, design a simple geometric framework and provide structure with clipped boxwood hedging or topiary. Small standard trees are key to this look, and their petite proportions suit a compact garden.
10. Include some curves. If a square plot feels too linear for your liking, introduce organic curves and an element of fun with circular boxwood hedges like these. A similar effect could be created using circular flower beds or four oversize round planters.
11. Fill containers with color. The tiny paved area in front of this smart townhouse is bursting with life and color, thanks to a profusion of flowers and greenery spilling out of pots and window boxes.
If you have a tiled or graveled garden, add color by clustering pots and planting lots of just one type of flower for maximum effect.
More
12 Stunning Spring Container Gardens
Spring Checklist: Freshen Up Your Home’s Curb Appeal
If you have a tiled or graveled garden, add color by clustering pots and planting lots of just one type of flower for maximum effect.
More
12 Stunning Spring Container Gardens
Spring Checklist: Freshen Up Your Home’s Curb Appeal
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All the designs are fantastic. It’s great way to transform your front garden into a chic entrance. I loved all your designs but the one where we have used the walls is perfect to utilize the limited space in front of your home.
The plants have now grown in two years, rosemary, roses, lavender. All that smell lovely and cover the pipes