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I bought my first house 2 years ago, and I really don't like how the front of it looks. Style is from the 80's, and to me it's really simple and ugly. So I'm looking for some landscape ideas that I could implement make the house look modern and inviting. Need to start in a week, so any ideas would be much appreciated. I did drive around to see what people did to same style house, and they didn't do a thing, as if they don't care about it. Please help. Thanks!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: andrey_2004,

Here is the side of it.

Do you have a px taken from the street?

I would suggest window shutters and painting the door a bright color... ot something different.

You do not want to block those low windows and anything you plant there would have to be low AND I think that would make those lower window look more squished. I'd clear out about 2' and cover with rock, like the side of the house.

Bush on the right corner and then a bed coming out from the bush toward the street, maybe. Hard to tell without a street view.

Can we see a picture of the complete front of house including the garage? It definitely needs some color and landscaping.

That's called 'a story and a half' is it not.
I agree with Metwo, attach shutters to the windows. I think you could pretty well pick any color you wish but for the amount of white, I'd go black. Red would be too bold for the shutter size but green might be thought of.
Shutters come in plastic or natural wood--so choose what you think your budget can handle.

The front entrance door should invite those that come to it. Red tones, black, Navy are common entrancedoor colors.
This brings up the large garage door as well.
White is dominant on the roof so it sets off the whole color scheme and to continue on the garage door is bland---if I can use that word; it doesn't say anything.
Again, red for such a large expanse might be too much...but black; that says something.
Matching the entrance door and the garage door is very common; it just continues the color theme.

For the foundation, I suggest you go slow; put an evergreen shrub in front at the corner and try to fill in from that. I think there is a room, probably a 'living' room behind the windows so you shouldn't block light entering.
You still have major amounts of wall that plants can enhance the property. I suggest staying with evergreens; yews, cedars, junipers---there's endless varieties and forms to fit their space.
Adding one plant at a time; see how it fits; if it doesn't you haven't gone too far--it can be replaced easier than if you buy to finish the front.
The tree looks to be major size and can affect how much light the rooms obtain. The exposure to the sun can also have a major impact on how much ight the house receives.
Heavy shade can bear on the intensity of color on the house. That's another reason to 'go slow'.

here is the picture from the street...

I spoke with a co-worker, and she recommends that I plant grasses, and also recommends window shutters. I'm not sure about black, I mean I see the contrast playing here very well, but wouldn't it be too sharp?

Here were some more ideas:
*paint brick into some other color

*plant thuja arborvitae at the house and garage corners, and possibly along side the garage, and side of the house.

*replace rock around house with mulch

*plant rose bushes at the garage side

*paint driveway into another color

*replace entry door with a half glass door, and storm door.

I was also recommended to hire a designer to do the design, and then I could do the work myself, but the designer will charge around $400, and for that money, I could buy lots of plants/shrubs, etc. reason for my being here. I'm trying to re-finance the house for a better interest rate, and so I have about one month to do the landscaping. My budget is around $800, and so I want to do this once, and do it right.

I would never, ever paint a driveway; shoveling snow, oil/grease spots, etc. It would be a yearly chore to repaint it.

Your front door is hidden. You need red, bright blue, terra cotta or something there. Do NOT paint the garage door. You want people to see your housse, not your garage. For shutters I would use whatever color you like. Maybe brown, light blue, med. gray.

The front door also needs something on that big blank wall you see, something big. You cannot plant anything really big because it will block your front door.

An evergreen to the left of the garage and another to the right of the house for winter interest.

Then a curved bed from that left hand tree over to the drive and down to the curg. It would be very welcoming. A couple of spiria bushes, maybe daylilies and a few annuals for color would look good there and be low work, particularly if you mulch. Move those big rocks by the house down here. (they look lonely up there )

Just some ideas. Don't rush things. Maybe take the last px, print several and draw in some shapes to see what you like.

I would NOT paint the garage door a dark color. If you do it becomes a giant hole in the front of your house at night. Certainly paint the front door another color. The front door can be the only thing that color on the house.

Adding a wall hanging on the wall near your front door might help draw your eye to the door, it is kind of lost there stuck between the house and the garage door.

There are concrete treatments you can do besides paint that would dress up your driveway. I'd certainly add some beds around the house and you can plant some shrubs between the windows, I'd stick to annual or perennial flowers below the windows.

Landscaping doesn't seem to be big in your neighborhood judging by your neighbors houses.

I would make a scale drawing of your yard and house on graph paper. Take this to your local garden center and ask them for some help. Many will do a design for you at little or no cost if you buy the plants from them. If you have the budget go for the big bang and do a design that can be implemented in one massive project, otherwise ask them to give you some ideas that could be implemented in stages over a couple of years.

Remember plants and bushes grow so give them space so you won't be tearing out what you put in again in 5 years.

I don't like shutters so I would never put any up. I also wouldn't go with a half glass door unless you are in an extremely safe neighborhood...those are MUCH easier to break into & your front door is sort of hidden back in that recess.
I would totally get rid of the rocks as they are a major pain when grass or weeds get in them...and they will...even with weed fabric under them...which is a mess to pull out when it rots.
Yes, mulch! I would also make a small inviting bed in that front entry area...low growing plants and something on that wall like Sparky suggested. Also agree about NOT painting the garage door! I have always had storm doors on every house I've ever lived in since I moved off the farm as a kid. Just another level of safety both against weather & intruders.

Meant to add...some grasses are nice but others can be a total royal pain if you ever want to remove them (pampas grass)...so choose carefully. Go look at a nursery, get suggestions & then go home & google...get info and pay attention to their mature size like Sparky said! Don't just jump in and plant any old thing...plan it out a bit. If you don't like the results...most of the time you can move stuff! I do!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ga.karen,

You have wall space between the two lower windows to place a trellis for vertical interest.

Is that brick portion shaded most of the day? I do see some sun for part of the day.
So, I'm thinking check a nursery for plants that do well in shadier conditons.
I like the non-invasive liriope (sun/shade)--a couple of those for that brick area.
I also like boxwood for those ends and maybe a pyramid boxwood for bet. those windows. You'll have to come out from that overhang before planting anything there.
Those grasses along the side toward the front door have to go.
And--whatever everyone else has said.
Take your time; do one side at a time; get professional opinions. Take your photos to a nursery in your area. Buy there, too, if someone gives you "the idea that will work." There are many unique pines and bushes and weeping trees (good idea for bet. those brick windows) available now.

My first decision will have to be made on getting rid of that rock. If I go with mulch, should it be the red dye, or natural?

Also, over the weekend I was able to get a steal price on Emerald greens. I bought qty:22, 5-6ft trees for $22 a piece. I have them placed where I want them, and will update with a picture. Have to still figure out what to place in between the windows. I will place one emerald green on each corner of the house, and not sure if something between the windows should be tall, or small. I like the trellis idea, and maybe decorate it with a vine? And then have the boxwood, between the emeralds and trellis. Keeping it in a low, square shape, and have it curve around, and continuing to the right side of the house

I stopped by some of the nurseries around my area, and most were already sold out on a lot of things, and whatever is left is in bad shape. I'll have to search a larger radius for more nurseries.

Let me get a picture with emeralds in place, and we can continue from there. So far I really like the ideas coming from this forum. Thank you all very much!

I don't have a lot to add except, I wouldn't hang any shutters on that house. It's too contemporary in style for those. I'd rather see a trellis between or window boxes on those upper front windows for vertical interest.
I'd never paint the brick, either. It's a pretty color now, and once painted will become a maintenance headache.

I'd trim those front trees, removing the bottom branches to raise the canopy. They're hiding too much of the house from the street.

Ask the nurseries if they would help you develop a design plan at no cost if you agree to buy your plants from them. The downside to that is ... they tend to only include in the plan what they have in stock or is available from their wholesalers. You'd need to do your homework in order to know if they're plants you'd like and that would grow well in your landscape.

Don't think you want to hide the brickwork with shrubs so what about an island of shrubs, flowers or some focal point? I read that even a small tree or tall shrub planted on the corners of your home extend the look & make the home look even larger...perhaps an ornamental? Pick a color you like for the front as far as flowering trees & shrubs & stick to it..you can always add annuals for color later?

Often, a garden center will help you with design if you purchase the shrubs or flowers from them. I am not referring to a big box store but a local nursery that can help. In my area, some of them have people on staff who can do it for a very minimal cost and save you a lot of time and frustration trying to do it on your own. Of course, keep in mind if they don't have a lot in stock they might steer you to what they have but it might be good to check around and see what's available in your area.

I can't believe I'm suggesting this (being a major tree lover) but I would completely remove the tree closest to the driveway.
Not only does it interfere with taller vehicles pulling into the drive, but it hides the entrance to your front door.
I would then encircle the remaining tree with a lazy oval bed containing evergreens and a few favorite perennials. Repeat the variety of low growing evergreens under the windows and a taller variety of flowering shrub on either end of the new bed, perhaps a flowering almond or weigela.
I think you would be surprised at how much more architectural interest the front of your home presents when it's not sandwiched between two large globed trees. I would then consider planting another tree to the left of the garage door to balance out the remaining tree in the front yard.
Once you open the front view of your home, you may see more opportunities for sun loving flowers near the door.

I second 3DLady's suggestion to remove the tree next to the driveway and put another in on the opposite side.

I'm surprised no one suggested removing the grasses in front of the entrance and extending that out at least as far as the front of the house with pavers or flagstone. Combined with painting the front door, you would gain a real entrance rather than walking up the driveway all the way to the front garage wall. I concur with a tree for the front corner away from the garage but I'm thinking more like a red maple, possibly weeping. The grasses you pull out from the front door area could be divided and put at the brick ends with something between the windows, possiby a dwarf Alberta Spruce, with something low and colorful under the windows.

Another vote to pull out the grasses by the front walk-way. Extend the entry way with pavers so the area is more prominent.

Have you planted the trees yet? A sitting court-yard in front of the lower windows might balance that area better.

Good luck with your project.