Your front garden path gives visitors to your property that vital first impression. Because it’s not an area you would typically use for entertaining or relaxation, it can become a ‘poor relation’ to your back garden. But it’s this space that speaks volumes about your home before anyone sets foot inside. London Door Company are experts in creating kerb appeal for homes of all periods, so here are a few easy tips that will give your front garden path and driveway the ultimate wow factor.

1. Tidy up

Even if you have a second-glance-worthy frontage, garden debris can spoil its appearance. It seems obvious, but those dead leaves, overgrown shrubs or grass growing between flagstones can give the front of your home a downtrodden, unkempt look. It may only take an afternoon of your time, but it’s worth clearing away overgrowth, scruffy doormats and anything else that’s drawing the eye away from the fabulousness of your home and front garden.

Modern Grey Front Door

2. Apply a little Feng Shui

So now you can see what’s in front of you, consider the layout of your pathway. Easy, uncluttered access from the front gate to the front door encourages good energy to flow into your home. Applying the concept of Feng Shui to your garden can aide wellbeing as well as creating a stylish foreground to the house. Footpaths can create movement resembling water with no harsh lines or geometric layouts. Add curves to straight pathways using borders and soft potted plants to reinforce positive energy.

Victorian Style Front Door

3. Consider your neighbours

You can do whatever you like, subject to local planning rules, but every stylish front garden should be somewhat in keeping with the ‘look’ of your street. Giving your home kerb appeal could encourage your neighbours to do the same. If the homes on your road are of a similar period to your own, you could take inspiration from what’s been done well – and avoid expensive mistakes.

4. Think about planting

Plants play a vital role in adding a little extra life to the front of your home. Why not go for evergreens where possible to avoid having too much work in the winter, or consider placing pots by your front door as an end-note to your garden path. Box planting at the sides of straight pathways can look elegant and soften harsh lines in your front garden. If you’re planting at the side of the house think about window height, shrubs such as Daphnes or Lavender are perfect near doorways or along borders where you can enjoy their fragrant scent and beautiful blooms in the summer.

5. Paths with personality

If you’re revamping your pathway, choose a material that suits your front garden and style of house. For example, you may select neutral pavers for a contemporary home or traditional monochrome tiles for the porch area of a Georgian property. Country cottage style homes can look charming with stepping stones leading up to the front door. For something timeless, brick is neat, easy and smart but only use new bricks for newer properties. If you have a Victorian home, the contrast may look a little startling – go for old reclaimed bricks, and it’ll be in perfect keeping.

Contemporary Front Door with Sidelights

Updating the front of your home can be a relatively quick and rewarding project. The main difference is, while not many people will be invited to marvel at your state-of-the-art bathroom, the world can see what’s going on in your front garden.

Discover more path and paving ideas on our Pinterest profile or to find our more about London Door Company’s stunning designs request our free 2019 brochure today.