The entry to your property sets the mood to your landscape and your house. It is the first impression guests will have of your home. With a larger piece of property the entry way will also be expected to provide security for your home space. For smaller pieces of property you will want a welcoming feel to your front yard or to your front door design. Here are some ideas on building an inviting entryway.

With a small piece of property you will want to keep things simple but effective. Your entryway will be seen as part of the front of your house so make sure it enhances the style of your home rather than competing with it. You can define you space by setting off your front yard with a fence or a hedge and create an entrance with an interesting gate or archway. Or if you leave the area open you could herald the entry to the front door with big pots, sculptures or rocks on either side. Add a splash of contrast by painting your front door a bold color.

For a larger piece of property you can set the mood with your entry gate. Try announcing a themed garden with the entry. You can then follow the theme through in the rest of the landscape. A Southwestern theme could be established with stepped stucco walls: a rustic garden might be introduced with a gate made of rough-cut tree branches: a cottage garden would look cozy with a white picket entryway.

Take a hint from the style of your house. A formal styled home will look best with an entry that picks up the design. Clean-cut, organized shrubs, balanced designs and controlled shapes will match well. Whereas a log cabin will look better with more random plantings and a natural approach. Older buildings will be complemented by using aged materials like old brick. Contemporary structures can invite imaginative sculptural plantings or décor. Neutral styled houses can be given more of a character by choosing a theme or adding your own entryway designs.

Have fun designing the entry to your property. There is no limit to the choice in materials for walls, fences, gates, pathways, arbors or other structures that can lead up to your front door. Equally, building an inviting entryway can entail trees, garden planters and borders, individual specimen plants or décor that is limited only by your imagination. Look at photographs in magazines, books and on the internet. See what styles of entryways you like best and blend them with the design of your house. Building an inviting entryway can transform an ordinary house into something extraordinary