Your front yard is your home’s first impression. It’s the first thing you see when you return from a long day and the first thing guests notice. But for many Washington homeowners, the front yard can feel like a challenge. Between our wet winters and surprisingly dry summers, how do you create a space that’s both beautiful and manageable?
Creating “curb appeal” doesn’t have to mean a complete overhaul. Often, a few thoughtful changes can dramatically transform your home’s entire look.
At Natural Scenery Landscaping, we specialize in helping PNW homeowners fall in love with their yards. Here are 15 of our favorite front yard landscaping ideas to give you that instant “wow” factor.
Planting & Garden Bed Ideas
The right plants create color, texture, and structure.
- Embrace Four-Season Interest: Don’t just plant for summer. Here in Washington, it’s crucial to design for all four seasons. Use a backbone of strong evergreens (like Dwarf Hinoki Cypress) mixed with plants that pop in other seasons, like the stunning fall color of a Japanese Maple or the bright winter stems of a Red-Twig Dogwood.
- Layer Your Planting Beds: This is a core design principle for a professional look. Create depth by planting in layers: low groundcover in the front, medium-sized perennials in the middle, and taller shrubs or trees in the back.
- Go Native (and Low-Maintenance): Use beautiful, hardy Washington native plants. An Evergreen Huckleberry, Sword Ferns, and Red-Flowering Currant look incredible, support local wildlife, and require far less water and care once established.
- Create a Focal Point Tree: Plant one, perfectly chosen ornamental tree—like a Paperbark Maple or a Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar—to anchor your landscape and draw the eye.
- Use Modern Mass Planting: Instead of “one of everything,” try planting a large group (a “mass”) of a single, hardy plant, like a row of ornamental grasses or a drift of colorful Heuchera (Coral Bells). It’s modern, clean, and low-maintenance.
Hardscaping & Structure (The “Bones”)
Hardscaping adds function, defines space, and grounds your design.
- Upgrade Your Walkway: Ditch the boring, straight concrete strip. A new walkway made from natural flagstone or modern pavers instantly elevates your entrance. A gentle curve feels more natural and welcoming.
- Add a Welcoming Patio: Even a small front porch patio or seating area, tucked away with a couple of chairs, creates a charming, neighbor-friendly vibe.
- Define Beds with Clean Edging: This simple upgrade makes a huge difference. Crisp, clean edging (whether steel, stone, or composite) separates your lawn from your garden beds, making everything look tidy and intentional.
- Build a Low Retaining Wall: Our Washington topography is full of slopes. A low, stylish retaining wall (made of stacked stone or modern blocks) can tame a slope, create level planting tiers, and add major architectural interest.
- Incorporate Natural Boulders: A few artfully placed, moss-covered boulders (common in our local landscape) add a rustic, natural PNW feel and provide structure.
Lighting & Finishing Touches
These are the details that take your yard from “good” to “stunning.”
- Install Professional Landscape Lighting: Don’t let your beautiful yard disappear after dark—especially during our long winters. Professional lighting makes your home glow, highlights your new walkway for safety, and showcases your trees.
- Use Stylish, Cohesive Planters: A pair of large, elegant containers flanking your doorway (updated seasonally) provides an instant pop of color and symmetry.
- Add a Water Feature: The sound of a small, recirculating bubbler fountain or urn adds a sense of peace and tranquility, masking neighborhood noise.
- Update Your Mulch: Never underestimate the power of a fresh layer of mulch! Dark, rich mulch (like aged hemlock) suppresses weeds, retains moisture, and makes your plant colors pop.
- Create a “Green” Property Line: Instead of a hard fence, consider a “living fence” of dense shrubs like Arborvitae or Portuguese Laurel to create a soft, natural border of privacy.
Feeling Inspired? Let’s Bring Your Vision to Life.
Seeing the potential in your front yard is the first step. Making it a reality is the next.
At Natural Scenery Landscaping, our passion is designing and building beautiful, functional front yards that thrive right here in Washington. We’re not just a “mow and blow” crew; we are your partners in landscape design, plant installation, paver pathways, retaining walls, and landscape lighting.
If you’re ready to have the best-looking front yard on the block, let’s talk.
Ready to boost your curb appeal?
Contact us today for a consultation!