How is it to be used? Hedged? Specimen? Staggered?

Of those you mentioned, I have taken a liking to Emerald Green Arborvitae.

It makes the ideal formal hedge, screening plant, or windbreak. Specimen plants are great for softening the corner of a building or home. It is the ideal screening evergreen for homes in residential areas because it stays only 3-4’ wide and won’t use up your whole yard. Trimmed into a more formal hedge of most any size up to 12 or 15’, or plant them and just allow them to take their natural form. I like their multiple staggered tips, but they can also be cropped to form a formal hedge.

The only negative is that deer seem to like it and will eat the bases of them bare, given the chance.

Sun or shade?

Full sun

chezron

Juniperus virginiana = Eastern Red Cedar

dig these free in Fall from a land owner friend. Pinch out a bit of the leader to stimulate the heck out of it. Fluff planting hole and red clay with handful each of fine bark mulch, lime or wood ashes, Epsom salts, and shovel of soil from wooded area for microscopic wildlife. Keep it moist. Trainable to shrub form. Much better choice than Leyland Cypress---no diseases. And better looking IMHO.

Myric cerifera = Wax Myrtle.

Wonderful plant. Fall berries feed a few species of birds. Crunch the leaves in your hand then smell.

Camelia Sasanqua (emphasis on the "sasanqua")

slower growing, may want to buy it larger. Beautiful flowers in fall and winter, some fragrant.

Hollies = 'Nellie Stevens' 'Emilie Bruner'.

Small spring flowers feed honeybees.

Magnolia, evergreen cultivars.

Osmanthus x fortunei = Fortunes Osmanthus.

Show it a picture of dirt....it starts growing.....Tolerates/grows toughest soils.

Osmanthus fragrans

Do above planting tips now, put plants in later at cool season....it takes time for lime to become active in the soil.

If you have the real estate why not mix them all together. Variety! Increased interest! Monotony free! Then accent the front with some real heart breakers!!!

I hope this helps.