When you buy a new construction home, you may find yourself with an empty dirt front yard that you can plant in nearly any way that appeals to you. But if you've never designed a yard before, it can be hard to know what to do and how to do it. If you're in this position, here's a handy 4 step guide to designing your front lawn and yard.

Choose a Shape. Even if your yard is roughly square or rectangular in shape, you're not limited to this design for your lawn. As the centerpiece of the front yard, the lawn will go a long way towards setting the tone and theme of the overall space. So, if you want a formal style, you may want to opt for a strict geometric shape and symmetrical features. A more casual tone is set with curves, a kidney shape, or even seeming randomness.

Plan a Border. Once the shape has been decided upon, you will probably want to decide what you'd like to use as a border. If you have a large space and prefer clean lines, you may opt for no border with simple and well-trimmed edges instead. However, most lawns appear more lush and even larger when combined with colorful border beds. Once again, you can experiment with shapes and sizes -- from straight and trim to curving and wide -- to find a bed style that works for you. You can plan to use flowers, small shrubs, ornamental grasses, yard art, or even small trees to build on your chosen style.

Add Focal Points. Whether or not you use a garden bed border, consider adding a single focal point to the lawn to give it some visual interest and draw guests' eyes. A simple focal point for a large lawn may be a tree planted in a small round flower bed. Or you could choose a water feature, statue, sundial, or bird bath. A beautiful topiary can be a fun, modern focal point, or an arch with vines can be a more classic touch. 

Make It Accessible. Before you finish your yard design, take a look at it for accessibility and practicality. Can you reach the back and sides of all your flower beds for weeding and care? Have you included walkways to reach the front door, parking areas, and necessities like the garbage cans? Are the pathway materials going to be easy to use and maintain in winter? Consider all the angles from your home, the street, and the driveway to see if you will have good views. 

By following these 4 steps, you can decide how your front yard will look with confidence and less stress. Once you've learned what you want, work with a landscaping company like Foothills Landscaping to determine if any adjustments need made. And then, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the yard of your dreams.