Need design ideas to make front home entry more attractive? door problems

Question

I've just bought a new home that I absolutely LOVE. One thing I'm having problem with though.. is the front entry. It doesn't exactly look welcoming. Also.. I need something to help my guest's to know where the door actually IS ! The front door is located on the side of the house near the back (in the picture its at the end of the pathway, just before the open gate)

What could I do to make the front entry more welcoming / add curb appeal ? I really need some ideas !

home:

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t17/lilyi04hw/homefront.jpg

Answer 1

I would add a white wood arched arbor type entry at the end of the path near the drive. I would mount the home numbers (of your address) in a decorative plague at the top center of the arch. This will catch the eye of any visitors and the address plaque will let them know that the path leads to the main entry. If you don't have an ornamental formal entry door, I would consider getting one. If your budget doesn't allow for that, you could at least paint the door you have in an eye-catching color like forest green or deep blue-gray.

Then I would plant some low growing small shrubs that can be kept neatly trimmed along the outside of the sidewalk path with enough room to plant colorful annual flowers in between the shrubs.

Answer 2

Wow - what an odd place for a front door!  If I were you, I would re-do that walkway in a wider, curvier style all the way down to the sidewalk.  The problem with where it is now is that if anyone is parked in the driveway, people coming in from the street are a little perplexed (do we walk on the grass?? do we walk next to the cars???)  Make the walkway appealing - bricks, pavers, flagstone, etc. -something more "parklike" & finished looking.  Plant flower beds along the sides of the walkway, & between the house & around the curves. You have a wonderful opportunity to cut out some of that water-hogging grass & plant more efficient plants with a drip system to keep them gorgeous without wasting water. A wide arbor at the sidewalk entrance to the walkway (maybe a picket fence along the front??) with vines, etc. would look wonderful. It wouldnt all have to be done at once - take your time and do it in stages and have fun with it!  

Answer 3

beginning from the side of the garage door I really think that you could create a pathway such is this one http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/garde... sided by flowers and shrubs that are well kept ,http://www.lancashireandcheshiredriveway...

http://www.dutchgreen.ca/images/pathways...

your entry way will be more welcoming. I really don't like the white garage door it takes away from the window , try to paint the door the colour of the bricks, http://www.idcdoors.com/images/GARAGE-DO...

and have a couple lights put up on each side of the door

Answer 4

Ideas for home entrance