When it comes to creating your dream home one of the biggest elements that affects how your home will look and feel is, of course, its exterior. From choosing specific exterior materials and cladding options to adopting a welcoming colour palette, the next step is to consider your front garden.
Planting a lush entry garden can add a dramatic and eye-catching feature to your home’s exterior, and there’s plenty of options to choose from! Depending on the style of your home and its location, you’ll want to consider which garden design style will suit your house best as well as which plants will thrive best.
Do you, for instance, prefer the neutrality of silver leaf plants or the dramatic silhouettes of succulents? Is cloud pruning a look you’re fond of? Or do you prefer the hardy nature of native Australian plants? The possibilities are endless.
To help inspire your home’s front garden, we’ve pulled together 23 of the best ideas to inspire you.
The sustainably-clad exterior of this contemporary Booker Bay home is surrounded by olive, yucca and rosemary, which come together to create a silvery garden border to the dark facade.
Landscaping: Pangkarra Gardens | Photography: Brigid Arnott
This Californian-style modernist home in Byron Bay is a mid-century lover’s dream, with its elevated aspect and white facade. In keeping with the home’s Palm-Springs-style aeshetic, the front ‘desert garden’ is minimal, featuring a Livistona palm, golden barrel cactus and a number of agaves.
Styling: Sarah Ellison | Photography: Jessie Prince
The garden of this very Australian mid-century era home in Adelaide Hills plays to its strengths; tiered planting, native shrubbery and a towering gum make up the centrepieces of this home’s quintessential exterior.
Landscaping: Catnik Design Studio | Photography: Jacqui Way
The classic exterior of this quintessential WWII Queenslander home was retained during the reimagining of its interiors. Here, a large tree shades the facade and perfectly kept grass below it. The garden is partially elevated, with the carport below.
Architect: Matt Kennedy | Photography: Mindi Cooke
The front entrance garden of this renovated 1930s home is much like the interiors that follow it; understated and minimalist. The planting lets the curves and linear details of the exterior speak for themselves, highlighting architectural details and features.
Landscaping: Formed Gardens | Photography: Simon Whitbread
InsideOut-19846
Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ spills over the wall, under the canopy of four crepe myrtle trees in the front garden of this home. A shallow bed of succulents on a reinforced and waterproofed garage roof is a clever solution to the sun glare that used to reflect into the house.
Design: Peter Fudge Gardens | Photography: Jason Busch.
InsideOut-19849
A pathway of steppers is a relaxed treatment where a solid path isn’t necessary. These steppers are mini pieces of the main paved area, formed in situ repeating the stone paving.
Design: Michael Cooke Garden Design and Nature’s Vision Landscapes | Photography: Jason Busch.
In keeping with the Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic of this Casuarina home the front garden features sculptural cactii and succulents whose low profile allows the facade of the home to stand as the hero.
Design: Create Architecture | Build: Sanctuary 28 | Styling: Sarah Ellison | Photography: Andy Macpherson.
InsideOut-18329
Creeping kidney weed (dichondra repens) is an effective groundcover in this front garden, preventing the growth of weed and adding a stunning visual alternative to grass. A mature tree such as this frangipani, adds instant age and character to this garden.
Design: Spirit Level Designs | Photographer: Michael Wee.
Trimmed hedges and young trees create a traditional and formal look in the front garden of this renovated Edwardian house. The rich greenery creates a striking contrast against the home’s red brick facade.
Design: Sarah Harris Design | Styling: Heather Nette King | Photography: Armelle Habib.
InsideOut-35965
An inviting and easy to maintain garden is achieved using sculptural plants and white pebbles that also provide texture in this Moroccan-style home in Melbourne.
Design: Giovanni Mangano | Styling: Glen Proebstel | Photography: Mark Roper.
InsideOut-18298
If you live near the sea, choose plants that will survive salty winds. Aussie natives, such as banksia and lomandra are great choices. The trio of banksia trees in this front garden are designed to provide privacy between homes.
Design: William Dangar + Associates | Photography: Prue Ruscoe.
InsideOut-16761
An array of lush plants set against a white weatherboard backdrop create a relaxed tropical entry.
Styling: LeeAnn Yare | Photography: Larnie Nicolson.
InsideOut-18299
While this lush front garden may not boast too many flowering plants, a rich mix of foliage in a range of different shades and silhouettes create a visually stunining effect.
Design: Eckersley Garden Architecture | Photography: Michael Wee.
This Macmasters beach house looks perfect at home in its bush surrounds. The home’s cedar battens highlight the stunning banksia tree in the entryway.
Architect: David Boyle Architect | Design: Arent & Pyke | Styling: Claire Delmar | Photography: Felix Forest.
InsideOut-49503
Don’t have enough space for a front garden? Create your own with a collection of potted plants of varying heights and textures for an interesting display.
Design: Peter Fudge Gardens | Photography: Jason Busch.
This timber-clad sustainable home features a lush entry garden that boasts hardy plants and shrubs that will grow along the stairs.
Design: Maxa Design | Styling: Ruth Welsby | Photography: Martina Gemmola.
InsideOut-18321
If you’re after a low maintenance sculptured garden, plants such as Westringia ‘Aussie Box’ and ‘Grey Box’, naturally grow into tight, round balls so you don’t have to clip them into shape.
Design: Budwise Garden Design | Photography: Priya Schuback.
Inspired by a childhood spent growing up in the bush, this nature-inspired home in Riverview features a front garden filled with shrubs and plants that wouldn’t seem out of place in the wild.
Architect: David Boyle Architect | Build: Graybuilt | Styling: Claire Delmar | Photography: Chris Warnes.
InsideOut-46197
Striking seasonal plants means the look of this garden is constantly changing. The sculptural pruned hedges to the front complement the rigid form of the entryway, adding height and visual depth.
Design: Outdoor Establishments | Photography: Natalie Hunfalvay.
The crisp white exterior of this minimalist-style home makes a statement with a pair of potted trees standing either side of the door.
Styling: Rachel Vigor | Photography: Derek Swalwell.
InsideOut-16449
Textural foliage serves as a counterbalance to the modern concrete steps. The slope by the steps is planted
with miscanthus ‘Hiawatha’ and chalksticks groundcover.
Design: Michael Cooke Garden Design and Nature’s Vision Landscapes | Photography: Jason Busch.
InsideOut-19053
The hand-like leaves of fatsia japonica at the front door of this coastal home start a semi-tropical theme that carries through to the back garden, in contrast to the stiffer plants that dominate the sloping front yard.
Photography: Michael Cooke Garden Design | Photography: Brigid Arnott.
WriterChristina Rae
WriterLucy Francis
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in landscaping and garden design, I have spent numerous years studying and practicing in the field. My passion for creating beautiful and functional outdoor spaces has allowed me to gain first-hand expertise and a depth of knowledge in this area.
When it comes to creating your dream home, the exterior plays a crucial role in determining its overall look and feel. One of the key elements in enhancing the exterior of your home is the front garden. By carefully choosing the right plants and design style, you can create a dramatic and eye-catching entry that complements your home's aesthetic.
When selecting plants for your front garden, it is essential to consider the style of your home and its location. Different garden design styles, such as silver leaf plants for a neutral look or succulents for a more dramatic silhouette, can be chosen based on personal preferences. Additionally, native Australian plants can provide a hardy and resilient option for your garden.
To inspire your front garden design, I have compiled a list of 23 ideas that showcase various styles and plant choices. For example, the sustainable exterior of a contemporary home in Booker Bay is surrounded by olive, yucca, and rosemary, creating a silvery garden border against the dark facade. In contrast, a mid-century modernist home in Byron Bay features a minimal front garden with a Livistona palm, golden barrel cactus, and agaves, evoking a Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic.
Other examples include a quintessential WWII Queenslander home with a large tree shading the facade, a renovated 1930s home with a minimalist front entrance garden that highlights architectural details, and a Moroccan-style home in Melbourne with lush plants against a white weatherboard backdrop, creating a relaxed tropical entry.
When it comes to maintaining your front garden, there are various options. Groundcovers like creeping kidney weed can prevent weed growth and provide an alternative to grass, while trimmed hedges and young trees can create a traditional and formal look. For those with limited space, potted plants of varying heights and textures can be used to create a front garden display.
Ultimately, the possibilities for front garden design are endless. By considering the style of your home, the location, and your personal preferences, you can create a front garden that enhances the exterior of your dream home. Whether you choose lush foliage, sculptural plants, or a mix of both, a well-designed front garden will add beauty and character to your home's exterior.
