Entryways

Because first impressions stick so vividly and permanently in our minds, it is quite important to take special care in landscaping the entry way of your home so that is elegant, welcoming and indeed impressive.

To begin planning the entryway to your home, draw a design of the existing layout and include the path from the driveway, steps and surrounding plants. Photographs help to get a sort of third person perspective. You ideally want to end up with a clear, direct route to the door, and an uncluttered area that introduces your home with class and simplicity. If your current layout displeases you, draw a new sketch of your driveway and house and add in a line that represents the neatest path to your entryway. Plotting a completely new path is possible, but it will take a bit of work. A pathway should be between 4 and 6 feet wide so that two people can walk together comfortably. The landing area by the door should accommodate two people as well and provide some shade and protection from the elements when guests are waiting by the door. The wait by the door is important to consider because guests will look around and get an initial impression of your home. A great design tip for this landing area is to match flowers and garden elements to the color of your front door. Any clashing will turn off a guest's sense of the house.

Once you have dealt with the pathways and garden shapes for the entryway of your home, it is time to consider plant choice. As mentioned above, try to coordinate color patterns of your home and your garden. Next, choose small trees or shrubs for various focal points near the door and plant them first. Evergreens make great anchor plants and maintain their color through the year. Not the maturity of plants you choose--will they eventually grow so large as to block windows or doors? Now you should add smaller, softer shrubs with a variety of texture and shape. Ground covers or flowering perennials provide further color and softness. It is okay (and advisable) to add annuals for bursts of spring and summer color, but not that you will have to change and care for them yearly.

Last but certainly not least is the element of lighting. Ample lighting of pathways and landings will welcome your guests and let them take in all the splendor of your entryway. Your curb appeal with be greatly increased with good entryway lighting, particularly on dark winter nights. You entryway must look great and conveniently usher in guests during any time of day or season of the year!