Front Garden Design Ideas

Name: Wild By Design
Price range: $$

Front gardens set the tone for your home. They’re the first impression visitors get, and the view you see every time you return. Yet they’re often the most neglected part of a property—reduced to a patch of tired lawn or, worse, paved over entirely for parking.

A well-designed front garden balances aesthetics with practicality. It can include bin storage, bike parking, and a clear path to the door while still making an attractive first impression. As part of our small garden design services, we help homeowners across Surrey create front gardens that work.

Creating Kerb Appeal

Kerb appeal isn’t just about looking good for the neighbours. Research consistently shows that an attractive front garden adds measurable value to your property. But what makes a front garden appealing?

Symmetry often helps—matching planting either side of a path creates a sense of order and welcome. A clear, well-defined route to the front door guides visitors naturally. And year-round interest means the garden looks intentional in every season, not just when the summer flowers are out.

Low hedging or railings define the boundary without creating an unwelcoming barrier. Box, lavender, or pittosporum all work well for low formal hedging; for something looser, consider rosemary or hardy geraniums.

Balancing Beauty With Practicality

Front gardens have to work harder than rear gardens. They need to accommodate real-world demands:

Bin storage — Wheelie bins are unavoidable. A simple slatted screen or dedicated bin store keeps them accessible but out of sight. Position near the boundary for easy collection day access.

Bike storage — Secure, covered bike storage saves hallway clutter. A small timber shelter or purpose-built store can be integrated into the planting scheme.

Parking — If you need off-street parking, permeable paving is now a legal requirement for front gardens over 5m². This can still look attractive—resin-bound gravel, permeable block paving, or grass-crete all allow drainage while providing a stable surface.

Deliveries — A clear path and visible house number make life easier for everyone. Consider where delivery drivers will leave parcels if you’re not home.

Planting for Front Gardens

Front gardens face specific challenges. They’re often more exposed than rear gardens—to wind, pollution, salt spray from roads, and foot traffic from passers-by. Plants need to be tough.

Evergreen structure is essential. Without it, the garden looks bare for six months of the year. Box balls, pittosporum, or phormiums provide year-round presence. Underplant with tough perennials like geraniums, euphorbia, or Japanese anemones.

For wildlife value, consider wildflower areas or pollinator-friendly planting even in small front gardens. Lavender, catmint, and sedum all thrive in the drier conditions typical of front gardens.

Small Front Garden Ideas

Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have tiny front gardens—sometimes just a strip between the bay window and the pavement. Even these can be transformed.

A single statement pot with a structural plant (olive, bay, or topiary box) creates a focal point. Climbers on the house wall add greenery without taking ground space. And a simple colour scheme—perhaps just whites and greens—prevents the space feeling busy.

For more ideas on maximising compact spaces, see our guide to terraced house gardens.

Front Gardens for Period Properties

If you have a Victorian, Edwardian, or Georgian property, the front garden design should complement the architecture. This doesn’t mean slavish period recreation, but rather a sympathetic approach that respects the house’s character.

Traditional materials like York stone, brick edging, and cast iron railings suit older properties. Planting can be more relaxed—cottage garden perennials, roses, and clematis all work well with period architecture.

Avoid anything too contemporary if it jars with the house. A sleek minimalist garden in front of a Victorian terrace rarely looks right.

More Small Garden Ideas

Looking for inspiration for other parts of your garden? Explore our guides to courtyard garden design and terraced house garden ideas.

Front Garden Projects

Browse our project portfolio to see examples of front garden transformations.

Filter

All

Contemporary cottage garden heritage property outdoor dining by BALI accredited Wild By Design landscape architecture

Create Your Perfect Front Garden

Ready to transform your front garden? Get in touch to arrange a consultation. We’re a BALI-accredited practice with a focus on wildlife-friendly, sustainable design.

Front Garden Design Ideas

Creating Kerb Appeal

Balancing Beauty With Practicality

Planting for Front Gardens

Small Front Garden Ideas

Front Gardens for Period Properties

More Small Garden Ideas

Front Garden Projects

Filter

Contemporary Cottage Garden

Mediterranean Garden

Traditional & Wild

Sunken seating

Flowing Cottage Garden

Kingfisher Pond

Areas We Serve

Create Your Perfect Front Garden

What Our Clients Say

Quick Menu