There’s nothing like a beautiful home and neatly trimmed front yard to make a lasting impression. Enhance your home’s curb appeal with these helpful tips.

Create a welcoming vignette

It doesn’t matter how big or small – potted plants of any kind will lend a beautiful and natural facelift to your front yard. Use your front porch or walkway as a central point from which to start your landscaping. First, select containers that complement your home’s style and color palette. Pots can be glazed for an extra spark of color or opt for metallic finishes for a more modern look; just make sure they are large enough to make an impact from the street. Then it’s time for planting. Use the region of the country that you live in as inspiration; desert flowers provide beautiful blossoms in Arizona while lush lilies and ferns blend into the Florida landscape perfectly. For a traditional look, try topiaries. Remember to water as needed and clean out spent blooms to always keep container plantings looking their best.

Make the most of your landscaping

The unique features of your yard are a blank canvas for an attractive and well-executed landscape. A good balance of greenery and hardscape materials can truly enhance the appearance of your home.

A good foundation almost always begins with a selection of trees and shrubs, which can provide structure in the garden. Consider using both deciduous trees (ones that lose their leaves during the growing season) and evergreens for both beauty and interest. Regular pruning and trimming will keep the plants healthy and your yard in tip-top shape.

Add instant color by planting annuals in a variety of shades. Or for a more monochromatic scheme, fill in the planting beds with perennials that come back year after year and can provide blooms throughout the growing season. Spring-blooming bulbs, such as tulips and daffodils, can be planted in the fall in colder climates and jumpstart the garden with a shot of early-season color.

If you have a lawn, make sure it is mowed regularly and keep the edges trimmed.

Spring clean up and beyond

As soon as the weather warms, it’s time to get outside and clear the gutters of any fallen debris, rake leftover leaves and make sure the sprinkler system is in perfect working order. But the maintenance doesn’t stop there; make sure your planting beds and container gardens are always clean and that eyesores, such as children’s toys, sports equipment and garbage cans, are put away so as not to distract from the beauty of your home.

Don’t forget the welcome mat

And the quickest way to increase your curb appeal? Ensure that every visitor feels at home with a welcome mat that reflects your style. Have a custom mat made with your family’s last name or have your children paint their own welcome message on an unadorned one. There’s nothing more attractive than a home that says, “Come in, make yourself at home”.