The front entry, whether you call it stoop, porch or courtyard, is the gateway to your home. It’s the first impression visitors see when they come to your house and it’s where they pause when they say goodbye. What does your front entry look like? Is it warm and welcoming or is it cramped and stark with nothing to catch your eye? Adding landscaping to your front entry is easy and makes a big impact. It might as small a thing as adding some hanging baskets to your porch. But if you need a front entry landscaping makeover here are some things to keep in mind:

When you compose your landscape, make your front door the primary focal point. Most traditional style homes have the front door as the dominant feature. On many newer homes the garage is the biggest feature on the front façade and you will need visual cues to guide visitors to your front door. Well designed, well lit walkways-at least four feet wide-will show your guests the way. Consider a specimen plant at a bend in the walkway or a special container filled with seasonal flowers.

Let the architectural style of your home be your guide when designing your front entry. A symmetrical house calls for a symmetrical arrangement of plants or objects on either side of the entry. For example, you may have identical plantings or the same number of window boxes on either side of the door. On the other hand, an asymmetrical plan, one in which the door is not centered on the façade, calls for a different approach. In this case, what you place on either side of the door should be balanced but doesn’t have to be identical. Think in terms of size and form and color when you choose your plantings. You could have a small deciduous tree on one side, balanced by a group of medium sized shrubs on the other.

Now we come to the entry itself. Do you have a covered porch or do you try to dodge the raindrops as you hunt for your keys? Is your landing wide enough for two guests to wait until you open the door? Is your lighting warm and welcoming? If not, consider updating your entry to make it the focal point your home deserves. A front entry makeover is a very cost-effective remodeling project that will give your home a distinctive touch.