The focal point of your front yard should be your entrance into your home. The walkway to the door should be inviting. Is your sidewalk nice to walk on or is walking on the lawn safer?
One way is to use paving stones and bricks instead of concrete with a sand sub-base. There are many designs you can try. You can use gravel in between stepping stones. Gravel comes in many colors and sizes from pea gravel to larger rock. They even have smooth glass mulch in a variety of colors. If you are adventurous try growing low thyme or clover between the stepping stones.
Even concrete can be colored and textured in different ways. It is no longer the drab cement of the past.
Finally, you can use a bark mulch. It is budget-friendly for a natural look that ties all the planting beds together.
