After researching so many shrubs, I'm starting to wonder if it's a better idea to plant smaller things. Maybe some ferns at the back and annuals in front.

If the soil is compacted, then I would add some compost or leaves or some organic matter to it before planting. There are dwarf varieties of shrubs that should stay small. You can also prune them to keep them whatever size you want them to be.

Dwarf Walter's Viburnum is ok for shade. It would be my top suggestion for what you want. It gets 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. The leaves also turn red in the winter and has white flowers in early spring.

Boxwoods do fine in shade, and grow slowly and are easy to keep whatever size you want.

Glossy Abelia does fine in shade and doesn't get too high. You will have to prune for width though.

What is shading this bed? If trees, can you trim some branches to let in a little more light?

Here is a link that might be useful: Dwart Walter's Viburnum

Thanks for the input. I was planning to till in organic matter, but keep going back and forth on it after reading in a lot of places that tilling isn't the best idea after all. I think I'm going to do it though.

Thanks for the viburnum info. There are so many varieties, and most of the ones I've looked at get huge. I can of course prune, but it seems kind of silly to buy something that naturally wants to get 15' tall and keep it at 3-4'. That one you sent looks good. I like it better than boxwood, just because I think boxwood is overused.

It's 7 oak trees and a mature Texas Mountain Laurel that shade the bed. We'd have to actually cut down ours and the neighbors' beautiful trees, which I'd never do. And that wouldn't solve the problem entirely. The house faces northeast and wouldn't get lots of sun on the front anyway. There is a lot of ambient light - it's not dense shade - but no direct sunlight. I've already made the mistake in the past of putting stuff there that needs sun, which is why there's now nothing there and I'm redoing it. haha.

Carissa holly would do well there. Mine stayed at about 3 feet tall and wide for many years until the tree died that was shading it. It is now at about 4 feet in about 1/2 day sun. Never had to prune it. Jade Tiara Cleyera will also work. I just prune it for shape every couple of years. It will stay narrower than the Carissa holly. Gulfstream nandina is a good selection also. Aucuba would probably do ok to. They can get tall, but I think it takes a really long time, so you might just have to trim them up every few years.

sounds like adding organic material would be the first step - always helps loosen up the soil. Acuba sounds like a good idea for height. You can put in cast iron plants, colunbine, persian shield and impatients for the summer.