Source: www.apartmenttherapy.com | By: ZAKIYA KASSAM
If you haven’t already tapped into your front yard’s full potential, now is the time. Spring is in full force, the homebuying season is upon us, and a thoughtfully designed front yard can do wonders for your curb appeal while supplementing the livable space your home has to offer. But where should you invest if you want to enjoy your front yard now and appeal to buyers down the line?
According to Kerry Evdokimoff, a Real Estate Agent at SagePoint in the Bay Area, the best way to up the ante on your front yard is to make it an extension of your living space.
“Indoor-outdoor living spaces have a huge appeal for buyers, especially in this market where homes tend to be smaller,” says Evdokimoff. “Fences, patios, porches, and decks for outdoor seating and entertaining increase the value of a home, offering usable space beyond the confines of the home itself.”
Exterior structures also add curb appeal to the home and lend themselves well to customization. Think outdoor seating, creative landscaping, fire and water features, and ornamental lighting, which will not only improve the look of your front yard, but enhance the functionality. This is something that’s resonating with today’s homeowners.
According to a new report on outdoor living trends by Yardzen, requests for functional front yard design features have increased by 150 percent in the last year. "Of course, the definition of a functional front yard can differ from one homeowner to the next. If you have young children or pets, a functional setup might include a fenced play area or fencing off your yard altogether", says Evdokimoff. "If you’re not a fan of the fenced look, there are many options.”
Kevin Lenhart, a landscape architect and design director at Yardzen, suggests using low-profile landscaping (no taller than thigh height) to create a border along your yard as an alternative to tall hedges and opaque fencing. “I’m a big advocate of social front yards. They foster neighborly interaction and help you get more function from your property,” says Lenhart.
If you’re going the living fence route, some pre-planning can help to achieve cohesive curb appeal. “It can be tough to limit yourself, but narrowing down to a short list of plant species and hardscape materials will give your yard an intentional, unified look,” says Lenhart. “Stick to a limited color range when selecting plants, and lean more heavily on foliage than flowers when designing your planted areas."
