Whenever guests arrive, you want them to experience a wonderful approach to your home. To achieve the best for the introduction to your home, look no further than the expert help of a landscape designer. As you plan out your renovations this year, check out how a landscape designer can bring your vision for an elegant front entranceway to life in Allentown, PA.
Related: 4 Ways Landscapers Can Create an Inviting Feel With Your Front Yard Landscaping in Wescosville, PA
Upgrade to Pavers
The most successful home landscapes are always anchored by outstanding masonry. In fact, there are so many homes across America whose front entry walkways are blighted by ugly poured concrete.
Patio pavers are long-lasting and feature a number of excellent choices that will enhance the appeal of your entryway, from traditional brick (in modern concrete versions with expanded color choices) to pavers inspired by natural stone to pavers that are uniquely fresh and modern.
Carefully-Trimmed Plantings
Few landscape situations can put visitors in an uncomfortable state of mind than greenery that’s gotten out of control. Shrubs that have overgrown the walkway, bare patches of dirt, and dense foundation plantings make a front entry less than appealing. Let a landscape designer build your front yard landscaping from scratch with some carefully-selected native plants that require minimal maintenance, and opt for a wider, more encompassing foundation planting theme that creates a visually pleasing transition from the home to the landscape. The end result will be a landscape that’s modern and elegant while remaining connected to nature.
A Gorgeous Retaining Wall
Apart from its main purpose of supporting a landscape, a retaining wall can also act as an elegant barrier reminiscent of old European homes. For example, a retaining wall placed on the outer edge of a walkway effectively “embraces” visitors, making them feel that they’re already being welcomed the moment they step onto the walkway. Whether your front entranceway and surrounding landscape follow a more rustic or a contemporary theme, a retaining wall will be an excellent contribution to the home. Make sure to include accents and capstones in the design, as well as places for light fixtures to create an elegant yet welcoming approach to the front door.
Subtle and Effective Lighting
Regardless of what you put in the rest of your front yard and entranceway, it won’t be successful without the right lighting. Today’s lighting designs are a far cry from a single post-mounted or garage-mounted light. They are placed lower to the ground to avoid glare and shadows while doing an excellent job at illuminating the walking surfaces. They are also designed to create less of a stark contrast between well-lit walkways and entry areas and the landscape beyond.
Your landscaping designer will use a combination of lighting techniques, including walkway lights, sconces on either side of the front door, and strategically placed lights within the landscape itself to provide safety and visual interest.
Focusing on the Front Door
The threshold between the outside world and the comfort of your home always deserves special attention. While the front door can shine on its own, it’s important to create a welcoming ambience around the door. Whether you have a large and expansive front porch or just a simple landing, the front entranceway should feel bright and welcoming. Your landscape designer could Include some stone accents, tasteful lighting, symmetrical plantings, and even some permanent masonry seating in this area to let your guests know that they’re welcome.