Tips for a welcoming front path

Entry level

We all know the value of putting your best face forward, and the view of your home from the street, aka its kerb appeal, leaves an indelible first impression. Continue the warm welcome for visitors with an engaging stroll from footpath to front door that will leave your guests surprised and delighted, and make coming home a joy for you and your family, too. Here’s how to create a welcoming entryway for your property.

Start at the beginning

The first step is to clearly mark where the journey to your house begins, says landscape architect Brayden Murrihy of Ian Barker Gardens (landscape.net.au). “Having a clear transition from the footpath to an entry path is essential,” he says. “This is usually achieved through the transition of materials and by using structural elements, like letterboxes, gates and hedges.”

There are so many options here to make a feature of your front yard: a pair of pillars, a striking freestanding letterbox, a recessed front gate or a matching pair of topiary shrubs. Larger features, such as an archway, can look beautiful in the right setting, as long as they don’t detract from the style of the house itself.

Clever planting can go a long way, too. Horticulturist Tammy Huynh (leafanimpression.com.au) suggests softening the effect of an archway with a lush climber. “Look for something evergreen so the arch is always covered with some form of greenery,” she says.

“Hardenbergia, honeysuckle, wonga wonga vine, star jasmine, clematis (evergreen forms) and orange trumpet vines are ideal candidates, or passionfruit if you’d like an edible choice. If you’re willing to have bare branches over winter, then wisteria and climbing roses are well worth it.”

Picking the perfect garden path

Do you want to take guests on a scenic route to the front door or a direct line from A to B? The question of straight versus curved garden paths largely comes down to the style of your home, says Brayden. “With a classic freestanding home, particularly one that’s symmetrical, we would prefer a straight path that runs directly towards the front door, whereas in a more asymmetrical house you may have more of a curved or staggered path that can lead differently through the front garden,” he says.

When deciding on materials, draw inspiration from your house – its style and era, and the colours and materials. “For example, bluestone paving traditionally pairs well with a redbrick home, whereas lighter granite can be more suitable for a lighter home, such as a light grey weatherboard,” says Brayden.

Gravel looks lovely and gives a satisfying crunch underfoot, but be aware that it will get tracked into the house. If you do choose this cost-effective solution, contain the gravel with metal, brick or timber edging – as with all path materials, neat edges make all the difference.

A solid path is the most common choice, but stepping stones or pavers with plants between them can make a path look like a more organic addition to the garden, says Tammy. “Using different hardscaping materials can also help navigate the journey through to the front door; such as stepping stones to a solid tiled landing to help give a sense of arrival,” she says.

Front garden planting

As with any part of the garden, hardscaping is only half the story. You can soften path edges with greenery, choosing plants that match your home and the mood you’re trying to create, explains Tammy. “A traditional home lends itself beautifully to tightly clipped box hedges, but the formality can also be softened by mass-planting ornamental grasses, which provide movement and a sense of dynamism to the garden,” she says. Strategically chosen border plants along path edges can add a new dimension to the garden experience – grasses rustle in the breeze, while brushing against a row of lavender or rosemary releases an inviting fragrance.

Consider what can be seen from the path as well to maintain and improve kerb appeal. The front garden is a fantastic place to create a welcoming entryway scene, whether it’s a blowsy bed of flowers, a tall sculpture or a statement tree. Tammy recommends “cloud-pruned juniper, Japanese maple or Chinese redbud to provide guests with a visual delight”.

Outside lighting for a winning pathway

Safety is paramount, so good outdoor lighting should be high on the list of must-haves for your home’s approach, both for visitors and household members. But this doesn’t mean the place has to be floodlit. “We like to use low-level path lights along an entry path and on key travel areas, such as steps leading to the house’s entrance,” says Brayden. Evenly spaced bollards clearly light the way. Or use plantings to soften the effect – lights set amid border plantings or a spotlight set high in a tree will cast a becoming mix of diffuse light and shadow across a path.

If stronger lighting is needed to illuminate and navigate a tricky path, consider sensor lights, but make sure they won’t be triggered by anyone walking past on the footpath outside your gate. Solar lights are an easy D.I.Y. option, but bear in mind any hardwired lighting must be installed by a licensed electrician.

Sensory additions for a welcoming entryway

To make the stroll to the front door a truly immersive experience, think outside the garden design box. Outdoor speakers are an off-beat inclusion that you can use to pipe relaxing tunes or even birdsong. Or, for the real deal, consider adding bird-attracting plants to your garden scheme. “I’d recommend nectar-rich natives like bottle brush, callistemon or banksia – you can find one in virtually any size to suit your space,” says Tammy. “A flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia) is perfect too, and makes a stunning statement tree.”

Working in a water feature or fountain to your front yard is another way to add aesthetic and auditory delight. “Water helps create a visual feature as you walk in and when you’re waiting at the door,” says Brayden. “If you have moving water, the sound can help diffuse traffic or other surrounding neighbourhood noise, too.”

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Photo Credit: Natalie Hunfalvay, Gap Photos