Front garden wall ideas – 10 designs to elevate your space

Defining the boundaries of your home, front garden wall ideas can create the perfect introduction to your front yard. Offering security and privacy, front garden walls can also deter passersby from encroaching onto your property.

Front garden wall ideas should form part of your front yard landscaping ideas, providing a solid frame around your plot. However, they can be seamlessly reverse engineered into your space. 

'The wall should feel integral to the design. You want to lose the idea of it being a placed object, and instead aim for it to feel stitched into the fabric of the design', says Kevin Lenhart, design director at Yardzen. 'Following this metaphor, think of the wall as a new color of thread, not an iron-on patch. By introducing clean lines into planting areas, walls also offer great foils to accentuate the wild, naturalistic form of plants.'

Front garden wall ideas

There are lots of options for front garden wall ideas that can breathe new life into your space. Choosing the best material is important: always start by looking at the materials used in the fabric of your home – your front garden wall needs to work in harmony with your home’s exterior. 

Secondly, survey your neighbors’ front garden walls and factor in the character of your area. For example, if you live in a neighborhood where the houses are predominately built from a golden colored stone, a red brick wall will negatively stand out. 

'Front walls are a source of elegance that will add curb appeal to homes. The good thing is that it doesn't take much effort for homeowners to design their front walls in a way that will take their outdoor spaces to another level,' says Allan Jeffrey, managing director at Ultra Decking.

1. Add a low-level garden wall to demarcate a driveway 

Stone is a popular material that can be used to create a wide range of looks. These vary from traditional straight edged stone bricks laid in a rectangular pattern, to more rustic stones that have been laid to create a dry-stone look. However, it's worth noting that stone walls are an expensive option but will last for decades.

With any front garden wall ideas, it's important to ensure that they are kept in good condition. 

'It's a good idea to inspect garden and boundary walls regularly, especially after the winter, to check for any damage or deterioration that may have occurred,' says  Toby Marlow, building and construction director at Haddonstone.'Hairline cracks are not usually serious, but large horizontal cracks in a wall, can be concerning and should be inspected immediately by a professional.'

2. Integrate your mailbox into your front garden wall ideas

When installing front garden wall ideas, consider integrating mailbox landscaping ideas into the design. As well as providing a practical addition to the entrance to your home, embedding your mailbox will also offer it a greater level of security. 

Once you've built your front garden wall, be sure not to overlook the planting. In this design, pretty purple shrubs climb over the wall, softening the harder elements of the landscaping. 

'Plants, for their part, help walls feel more firmly situated within a landscape when they climb high enough to partially or fully obscure the face of the wall. There’s something very compelling about seeing plants assert themselves against a built element – it’s like nature reminding us that we aren’t the boss,' explains Kevin Lenhart.

3. Consider front garden wall ideas for a townhouse

Front garden wall ideas are not just for rural properties. A curved brick wall creates a statement in front of this 1910 townhouse, disguising the stairs up to the front door.

'Everything on the exterior of this San Francisco home is original to its 1910 construction, with the exception of the front door and garage door. A fresh coat of paint was all it needed! Since many of the homes in the area are painted in lighter colors, we wanted to choose a hue that would provide more contrast. Practically, the darker color also tends to be more forgiving in a downtown urban environment,' explains Mindy Gayer, designer and founder of Mindy Gayer Designs. 

4. Consider composite material for a sustainable option

There has been a recent rise in the use of composite materials for front garden wall ideas. 'With contemporary stylish appearance, composite boards and bricks come in a variety of colors. They are also low-maintenance, easy-to-clean and time-saving. Homeowners wouldn’t have to worry about adverse weather conditions because composites are weather resistant. They are also favored for their eco-friendliness and durability,’ says Allan Jeffrey.

5. Render your front garden wall for a modern look

Brick walls can be rendered for a sleek look, though rendering is best carried out by a professional. Rendered walls have an elegant white appearance against which your front yard flower bed ideas can really sing.

In this garden designed by Mindy Gayer, this rendered front wall provides the perfect entrance to this Spanish-style home. 'We wanted to preserve as much of the bones and architectural style as possible. A fresh coat of white paint, a new oak entry gate, and lush landscaping fit the bill perfectly,' says Mindy.

When assessing the wellbeing of your rendered walls, it is important to look for bulges, cracks and leaning. 

‘Render sometimes deteriorates due to water ingress, be sure to identify the cause of the failed render before repairing,’ says Roger Hunt, author of The Old House Handbook. ‘Wherever possible original rendering should be retained and any damaged areas patched by carefully building up thin coats that match the traditional materials used. Re-rendering should be undertaken using lime with no added cement.’ 

6. Channel cottage garden vibes with a brick wall and wooden gate

Brick is the most common choice for front garden walls. Offering timeless style, brick walls are available in a range of colors from deep reds through to paler tones or darker greys. They are also durable and affordable and can be installed to any height and depth. Pair with a rustic wooden gate to bring added charm to your front yard cottage garden ideas.

7. Soften front garden walls with climbing plants

There is undoubtedly an aesthetic benefit to growing the best climbing plants over your wall. They bring with them a softer edge to the look while also adding valuable habitat and pollen for wildlife.  If you're looking for a plant that will provide year-round interest and coverage to your wall, then be sure to opt for the best evergreen climbers.

8.  Install a gabion wall to offer privacy

Gabion walls are rectangular metal cages which are filled with materials, typically rocks or rubble. Highly flexible and offering good drainage, gabion walls don’t require concrete foundations making them a great choice for DIY installation. A relatively economic way to create a garden wall, if correctly installed they will last for over 60 years. Due to their flexibility, gabion walls are a particularly worthwhile consideration if you live in an area that is prone to earthquakes as they are more likely to retain upright following seismic activity.

9. Add architectural interest with a water feature

Front garden wall ideas can also provide divisions between your property and your neighbors'. However, opting for a design that's broken up by planting or even water feature ideas can create a ton of curb appeal.

'I like it when walls are not the tallest feature in the scene – not only
does it cut your wall budget, but it usually means redirecting emphasis to
natural elements like trees, tall planting, or boulders. When you do this,
the wall becomes a supporting actor, and that tends to generate simpler,
more elegant wall designs that integrate more harmoniously into the overall
landscape,' says Kevin Lenhart.

10. Mix and match front garden wall materials

Your front garden wall ideas will be informed by the look of your home. While some homes may suit a rustic stone wall or a more modern painted brick wall, some homes will suit a combination of materials, which will create added interest. Here, render is paired with natural stone walling to add texture and color to the front yard.

How do you disguise an unsightly garden wall? 

There are lots of ways to disguise an unsightly wall. If your wall is brick, you can render it, which will provide a clean, modern look. Alternatively, on a stone or brick wall you can replace or add coping stones to the top of your wall. If your unsightly wall is cracked or seriously damaged, it is worth considering replacing your front garden wall. 

How do you make a small front garden look nice?

You can make a small front garden wall look by adding a front garden wall. This will frame your garden and provide an ordered space which you can fill with planting. ‘Decorating your wall with luscious greenery is a surefire way to add life and character to your front garden. Vines give a mystical feel whilst roses add a touch of romance. Whatever botanic you go for, you will get a chance to express your personality through unique flora and foliage,’ explains Volodymyr Barabakh, co-founder of Structural Beam.