Landscaping: The Key to Great Curb Appeal

Curb appeal refers to how attractive your home and property look from the sidewalk. Creating a beautiful curb appeal makes your property look good and boosts your home's value. A 2020 study from The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics reported that having strong curb appeal can increase the value of your home by up to seven percent. It sounds like a wise investment! You can enhance your home's curb appeal by focusing on these critical aspects of landscaping.

A Four-Season Garden

To make your home look great year-round, plant trees, bushes, and flowers that will bloom at different times. For example, daffodils, azaleas, and dogwood trees bloom in the spring, while sunflowers, hydrangeas, and roses bloom in the summer. Trees with colorful foliage, like Japanese maples and burning bush plants, can light up your yard in the fall. Some plants, like crocuses, witch hazel, and winterberry bushes, bloom in the winter. Intentionally choosing your plants will always give your yard a beautiful display of color.

Hardscaping

Hardscapes include all non-living elements of a landscape, like patios, water features, stone walls, and more. Hardscapes can consist of small sitting areas, retaining walls to hold plants, and walkways in the front of the house. Large rocks, pergolas, and gazebos can also be installed as focal points to transform your front yard.

Proportions

One of the most overlooked areas when creating excellent curb appeal is the proportion of your landscaping. A large house and property require more extensive landscaping than a smaller one. Using different heights of trees, bushes, and flowers (in proportion to your home) is also recommended to give your yard depth and character.

Pathways

Excellent curb appeal encourages people to want to come inside the house, so it's essential to have a clear pathway to the front door. Pathways can be made of pavers, natural stone, or gravel, among other materials, and should be an appropriate width to direct people to your home. You can also get creative with pathways and have them curve, be laid in a pattern, or be flanked by plants.

If you're ready to improve the curb appeal of your house, Dreamscape Designers can help! Our professionals have decades of experience planning and installing beautiful landscapes throughout the Hampton Roads area. To learn more, call (757) 412-1265.