What does your front garden gate say about you?
Because we pass through the gate with our eyes to the front door or to where we’re heading out we tend not to notice it. Especially when it’s at waist height and outside our direct line of vision. I’ve seen many pristine front doors that are part of the same property as a tatty front gate – and, almost worse, a well tended garden.
We may not notice our it, but passers by do – they see gate, fence, garden, front door, windows as a whole. Like it or not, this is our public face.
Garden gates may be important for security, or they may be purely decorative. But either way, they need to function in a practical manner and, I feel, should be pleasant to the eye as well – even when they’re not as impressive as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show entrance!
Front Garden Gate Styles
Some front gardens have gates for vehicular access as well as for pedestrians. Matching the two up in style is the usual way to go, but sometimes a clever design tweak can make them similar yet different. It all depends on what suits the overall design and the client.
The right gate for your front garden may be a standard design, a standard design tweaked a little or a totally bespoke affair.
Whichever it is, your gate forms an important part of your front garden design. Indeed they can change the whole feel of a garden, turning an ‘ordinary’ small suburban front garden into something original. A front garden gate should reflect the personality of the family who live there, or at least the image they wish to show to the world passing by.
Do you Need a Front Garden Gate?
Of course not everyone has a gate to separate their front garden from the sidewalk. From cottages in country villages to urban terraces there are many houses where the front door opens directly onto a pavement.
For others with a tiny to small front garden, one of the design questions needs to be “Is the gate necessary?” If you have small children or a dog then it is probably an essential safety measure. A secure gate, with self closing hinges may be the order of the day. But if this isn’t an issue, then consider the space gained if there is no front garden gate. Perhaps an arch with scented climbers could mark the change from public to private in a manner that is more pleasing to you?
If you want or need a gate, should it be a metal gate or a wooden gate? There are pros and cons for both, and they will both require annual maintenance. Is there an existing fence that you would like to copy in the gate style? Or is this your opportunity to show your vibrant personality to the world?
Gates for Vehicles
These have different need to pedestrian gates. Points to note: –
- The gates need to open inwards, not out across the pathway or road. This may make it difficult to park the required number of cars on the drive, or restrict the turning circle.
- Have a generous gateway. In older properties you may need to consider widening it as cars have got bigger over the years. And even if your car is a small hatchback, do delivery men need to regularly drive in?
- A sliding gate, manual or electric might be a solution. Remember that a basic fence or wall is easiest for the space the gate slides onto. This way you reduce the likelihood of leaves getting caught in the runners, or foliage caught up in the gate.
- Do you need to easily pull off the road and still have a closed gate? Perhaps because it is a busy thoroughfare? An option might be to inset the gates into the drive so you can pull off the road, and then open the gate. Whilst electronic gates can automatically open as you drive up to them, if there are small children or dogs who could run out, you probably want to check they won’t before opening the gate!
Kerb Appeal
What about your front garden is important to you? Are your priorities somewhere to park a car, hide the rubbish and recycling bins? An interesting use of gates is as ‘doors’ on a recycling storage area. For ideas on kerb appeal when putting your house on the market, see the blog link below.
Below is a short gallery of some of the front garden gates we’ve designed and /or installed over the years. Plus gates which have been an inspiration directly or indirectly.
Perhaps you might find a garden gate to inspire you among this selection. And perhaps you might like to get in touch with Plews so we can help you achieve not just the right front garden gate, but the right front garden for you. There are more front garden ideas in the blog links below.
Related Gardening articles you may enjoy from our Award Winning Blog
What makes a Good Boundary Plant? Front Garden Planting Ideas
How to get Front Garden Kerb Appeal
5 Ideas for Stunning Front Gardens
Garden Fence Styles and Ideas
Different Types of Garden Fence Materials
Should I Plant a Garden Hedge?
