The front entryway is the first image that your visitors will see when they arrive at your home and while it may seem like your landscaping budget should prioritize outdoor living, presenting a beautiful entrance to the home can enhance the home’s curb appeal. Even if you never plan on selling, there’s something to be said for an entryway that puts a smile on your face when you come home. Wondering what you can do to make your entryway more beautiful? Here are six masonry ideas to enhance your front entryway in Amherst, NH.
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A Gorgeous Walkway
Every home deserves a beautiful walkway leading up to the front door. The standard poured concrete walkway doesn’t do a home any justice and both have a short lifespan. Your home deserves a sturdy walkway that complements its design. Choose from any combination of natural stone slabs, cut natural stone, clay bricks, or modern pavers. Consider a curved walkway, which is not only visually more interesting than a straight walkway, but also sets the tone: this is a place to relax and enjoy, and let go of the need to hurry.
Beautiful Stone Veneer
You can enhance the home’s appearance by adding a stone veneer to the area immediately surrounding your front entryway. Stone veneer is a relatively inexpensive solution. This decorative layer of natural or manufactured stone can be applied along the foundation to make a bold statement and completely change the look of your home.
A Retaining Wall or Seat Wall
One of the best ways to enhance any landscape is with a retaining wall. The primary function of this masonry feature is to prevent erosion and create additional usable space.
Even without a slope to alter, a seat wall can give personality to a landscape through stunning masonry. The front yard doesn’t need to just be space for looking. It can be a place for relaxation as well. Build a seat wall that looks towards any pretty view and you’ll create a fantastic opportunity for you and your family to enjoy the front yard space as well. For example, a seat wall placed between a walkway and the front yard gives an immediate welcoming vibe and it’s an opportunity to integrate subtle landscape lighting along the walkway.
A Grand Landing
If your front entry landing consists of a concrete slab, again this doesn’t do anything for the home’s appearance. Pavers, brick, or natural stone are much more interesting. This transitional space can be a gem that’s often overlooked in design.
A Paver Driveway
If your driveway isn’t aligned with the home’s design, consider an upgrade to driveway pavers or brick. A stronger and more elegant driveway will pull the landscape aesthetics together nicely.
You may be wondering whether snow plows will damage a paver surface: they can, but you can eliminate the need for plowing by installing a snowmelt system at the same time as the new driveway.
Raised Planters
The environmental aesthetics of your front yard landscape should always be bolstered by beautiful plant life. A series of raised masonry planters will bring some wonderful plant specimens closer to the eye, making them much more prominent in the visual field. Masonry planters are also an opportunity to show off beautiful masonry. An additional benefit is that these structures will make gardening easier, helping to prevent sore knees and an aching back from ground-level gardening.
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