Genius Tricks To Make A Small Front Yard Look Way Bigger

Having a small front yard can be a good thing — for one, there's a lot less to mow, rake, and maintain. However, just because your yard is small, doesn't mean you can't do anything with it. In fact, there are a lot of things you can do with your landscaping to help make your smaller space look a bit more expansive. Plus, adding some beautiful landscaping, even to a small front yard, is one of those outdoor updates that can quickly add value to your home. So, to find out more about how to make your small front yard look a little bigger, we spoke to Bryan Clayton, the CEO at GreenPal. His number one tip? "In my experience, with really tight spaces, less is more — the trick is keeping it simple and purposeful."

To do this, Clayton has a simple suggestion. "Avoid overcrowding the yard with too many types of plants — it'll make the space feel busy and smaller than it is." He further advises, "Stick to low-growing plants with a strong anchor on each side, like a small ornamental tree or a sculpted shrub. Keeping the middle open with turf grass or low-growing ground covers like liriope (aka monkey grass), ivy, or winter creeper helps create a sense of depth." Luckily, nowadays there are many no-mow ground cover options to choose from, making your job easier.

For the strong anchor plants, Clayton notes, "If you want to go vertical, try dwarf varieties like compact hollies or slender junipers. These are easy to maintain and won't overwhelm the space. Even climbing plants on a trellis, like star jasmine or clematis, can add height without taking up too much ground space."

If you want to add a few more features to your yard, you have many options. "Adding a birdbath, a small bench, or even a simple planter box can give the yard a centerpiece without spending a fortune," notes Clayton, adding, "These small features draw the eye and make the space feel more intentional and inviting." You can also play around with different textures. "Mixing ground covers, mulch, and small pebbles or river rock can add texture and dimension without crowding the space. Using different shades of green and layering plants (like pairing low ground covers with slightly taller ornamental grasses) helps create a lush, layered look that feels bigger," he explains. One ground cover, that acts as a great weed deterrent, is the pretty blue mistflower, which also thrives in a variety of soil conditions.

Another option is to add a footpath through your yard to divide up the space in a creative way. "When it comes to hardscaping, less is more," Clayton advises. "A narrow footpath works best, but don't feel like you have to go straight down the center. Breaking up symmetry by curving the path slightly or offsetting it can create an optical illusion of more space." He also mentions that choosing light-colored pavers or stones can help to make the area pop even more. If all this sounds like a bit much to try and figure out on your own, then you can always leave the creative choices up to the experts by getting a free quote from GreenPal, who can help do the work for you.