Entryway And Access Area Landscaping Ideas

Your home entrances should be designed to provide easy access through your yard and landscaping. First impressions count for a lot, so aesthetic appeal surrounding your landscaping and entryways is important. It’s best to begin with the highest traffic access areas such as from your house to your driveway. Next, assess the paths and walkways to and from all access areas of your home. The plants that surround these spots should guide a visitors eye towards your entryways or exits. If you use a side entrance as often, or more often, than your front door, focus attention here as well. Colorful blooms, walkways, foundation beds, and outdoor lighting may be used.

If you’re planting areas for height, start by building up towards your house. Start lower and slowly increase the height of your plants as they get closer to the house. This will help direct attention to the entrance. Use caution here as any garden beds bordering a walk or path can distract from your entrance. Try to think of the beginning of your path or sidewalk as a starting point leading as an opening directing you towards your door.

Safety and invitation should both be considered for your entry. Some moderately good lighting and visibility can help ensure safety at night when walking from your parking area into your home. If you have a foyer, mudroom, laundry room, summer kitchen, or utility room that abuts your front or rear entry, plan for ease on the eyes as well as functional traffic flow.  

So how do you guide and lead visitors to your entry and through your access areas? Most professional landscaping contractors basically follow a common pattern here. Walks, hedges, borders, edging, fences, trellises, screens, and railings are all good ideas. Add a planter box to frame and accent entryways to certain areas. Screens, hedges, raised beds, and fencing can also be used to mask areas that are more utility-based from view.

When planting to define access and entry areas, consider the mature size and spread of the plants when spacing. This is often an overlooked consideration in landscaping plans. As your walkways will usually lead to or near your house, plants should be placed far enough from your foundation so that you can maintain both the plants and the house. Space any plants far enough from your house so that you can work all the way around them to maintain them once they are fully grown. Over time, hedges and larger shrubs can create a natural screen while fences create an immediate boundary.