I would incorporate the existing tree into the bed but avoid a straight line.

I was also thinking about taking it all the way around the oak tree, kinda like this:

Somewhat like this. Just make sure the lines are easy to mow.

As to plants, I am too new to be of any help. :-(

Those Ligustrums will get very large with maturity and you will have a lot of work to keep them small and controlled. IMO they need to be a free standing hedge or just one as a focal point.

Your bed idea looks great to me but I would keep most anything planted there much farther away from the house wall.

I hate to say it but I would get rid of the ligustrums. Too close to the house, too large at maturity, etc. Do you have some place else you could put them, like along the back edge of your property?

Tell us a little more about what you want from this area.
Easy care?
Pretty from the street?
Nice scents?
Color?
Tropical look or formal? "Wow!" or more conservative and calm?

How do you feel about wall art, like a wrought iron piece, a colorful sun image or an outdoor mirror on that wall?

Do you want all perennials or would you be OK with a changeable border of annuals?

How about a birdbath, water garden container or small fountain? Would you like that or would that feel like "too much" here? Speaking of containers, do you like the look of clustered containers or are you more drawn to a cleaner, more tailored look?

You said the area gets a small amount of full sun in the morning. So it's mostly shade, all the time. Is that right?

Kate

Consider these plants: ferns (many kinds), caladiums, coleus, mona lavender.
I agree-remove the ligustrums and don't plant anything that close to the house afterwards.

I like your idea of incorporating the tree but remember to allow for a walkway to get around your house, maybe a stepping stone walkway.

I hate to admit it, but I knew the Ligustrums were planted way too close from the beginning. We can thank the landscape contractor for that one. I advised my sis to move them further away, but was met with resistance. That hedge is ten years old and suffered from a lack of care, as has all the yard. There's no where else to move them, the back yard cannot have a big hedge along the back because of the lake, we're not allowed to block the "view".

I like the idea of some art on that wall. The picture kinda (and DO mean KINDA LOL) draws your eye right to that blank spot. Also note that by the container plants there's an area that the rain comes off of the roof HARD when it rains, I was thinking of a rain barrel there.

I definitely want the unformal, semi-tropical look. I like tropicals mixed with your every day perennials, accented with colorful annauls.

Yes, it gets a lot of shade, but I'd say it's dappled sunlight and not heavy shade. It does get periods of full sun.

Thanks for all the comments, more are welcome and my thinking cap is on and my pencil is drawn!