What's there and why is it not nice? It looks to me liike you have a mixed border, probxbly fairly nice when planned. Is it weedy? Are some plants not performing? Figure out what you have snd edit.

I’m not sure how to edit on mobile, so I’m adding here:
The front is azaleas with some small clumps of decorative grass. To the right is a big clump of irises, a golden euonymus(?) bush, and two very very sad and dying rose bushes that are only like a couple twigs each. To the left are a huge clump of canna lillies and a golden euonymus bush? I’m not 100% sure but it looks like one from photos online.

The rose bushes are doing horribly as they clearly do not receive enough sun. The azaleas in front are doing fine but there are remains of old box woods that keep trying to grow up through them as they were only cut to the ground and not removed. It’s quite an exhausting battle.

Where I live in Albany NY, there is a Cornell Cooperative Extension. See if they have one where you live. They are a "...resource for information on soils, site improvement, plant selection, proper plant care, eco-friendly practices, integrated pest management, composting and so much more! We offer free or low-cost gardening classes and tours all year long, and opportunities to share your love of gardening as a volunteer!" http://albany.cce.cornell.edu/gardening 

A local nursery may help as well.

Another option for you (if it's in the budget) is to hire a landscaping company.

It’s hard to tell from the photo how much of a precipitous drop off it is from the porch to the ground but that railing, in particular, says stay away/keep out. It’s very baby gate or small dog fence looking and I can’t decide if it was just a regular wooden porch railing would it give off the same look.

Sounds like a lot of those plants might be transplanted to other areas of your property. Then you'll be able to work with a local nursery to get a more balanced installation in front. I agree that the porch railing is holding you back as far as curb appeal goes. Removing the vestigial shutters would help too. Reshaping the beds to flank the walk to the street will look great!

Do not "flank" the walk with plants. It is already too narrow and plants will increase that, even if only visually.

You can expand the walk with brick trim to match what is on the house.

I agree with removing the railing - at least the sections across the front - and widen the sidewalk then address landscape design

Do you want a formal design with low shrubs or a mixed cottage look with lots of flowers? Do you need low maintenance or do you relax by puttering in the garden?

If you're looking for specific plant ideas, more information is needed: what zone are you in and general location, better sun exposure info (i.e. a North arrow), soil characteristics, and an idea of what you're interested in - including maintenance expectations. The more dimensions you can provide, the better (widths of each section, depths of planting beds and how much deeper you can go, height of exposed foundation on both sides, height to window sills, width of windows where plants might go). You really need some distance shots to see how the rest of the yard flows with the front. Do you have access to a large nursery or do you need common plants? What's your style - riot of color or serene and green? How important is winter structure to you?

Of course budget is a big factor. Are you entertaining a change in hardscape, like the walk or the railing enclosed area? Is this DIY, or can you hire some help?

If you were to remove all plants below the front railings, what does the face of that foundation look like, and how high is it?

I would need to know what styles you like and BTW those shutters are all wrong for those windows . I agree the railing is not quite right it makes the porch look like aplay pen. I need more info .Your idea book is full of modern homes so is that the look you are going for ? I like MCM landscaping so the one you show is one of my faves but I need to know if some plan is in place to alter the exterior too

Hi folks! I’m currently working but I do work from home so I will try to get some specific photos and measurements later today, but I can provide some information now.

We are in zone 7b I believe - in Chattanooga, TN which is SE TN. The front is East facing and gets a lot of great sun but there is a large tree in front of the right window. I will include more photos later.

I know the sidewalk looks like it leads to the road but it does not. It comes out to steps up a small incline to the road. Again, I will include more photos later.

We are not planning on changing the porch or sidewalk at this time although we may eventually cover the porch if possible, but we are undecided.

The porch is not far off the ground at all. Certainly not even a foot. I do know we don’t require them per code as it’s so low. We’re not opposed to removing them. Honestly with the narrow opening it’s more of a headache than not when moving items in and out. We are also intending to remove the shutters.

As far as style, we love MCM, however of course our house is just a 50s ranch style and so does not look MCM. We would like semi low maintenance. I don’t want to be out every day but certainly don’t mind regular upkeep as I do enjoy gardening. I don’t want something we must replant every year for sure.

Alrighty folks here are some additional photos. The foundation on the sides is ~1 ft above ground. The windows on each side are ~58 inches above the ground. The porch is ~9 inches off the ground in the front. About a foot on the left side.
The left side of the house is directly East, so the front is slightly to the right of East, but gets full sun until about 2pm-ish. The right side is getting some sun currently but when the tree is not dormant it will be shady. Eventually the tree does have to come down as it is dying.

Here you can also see the hill in front and the stairs going up. I hope this helps a bit.

Thank you all for your contributions thus far!

Tennessee does have a Cooperative Extension Service. You can find ideas and info for your landscape; just contact them. Another source is your local garden or landscaping service. Before you remove your "dying" tree have it looked at by a professional to asses the situation. A tree like yours, in good health, adds value to your property, providing relief from the sun in summer and cheerful sunlight in winter.

Thank you threers, we will look into that. And unfortunately the tree is in fact dying as it’s rotting from the inside out. We’ve had 4 separate professionals look at it as we are sad to lose it.

I agree with the poster who recommended moving things around the property. maybe try the roses in the sunny spot. You may want to pull up and get rid of the boxwood, and that's a pain but will be worth it. A long-term landscaping plan with an eye to saving/relocating all that is good is what you need. I'm in my new home, a downsize, for three years now and I have moved many things around. Most have done well.

Autumn, Sorry to hear about the dying tree. Please incorporate a replacement tree as you address your landscaping issues. It is a golden rule of landscaping to plant everything you choose based on the mature size of your plantings....because faster than you can imagine they will be. Good luck.

As you can see from Patricia Colwell’s post, MCM landscape is not the usual mixed border foundation planting. It’s generally minimalist and architectural with structured looking plants, and devoid of lots of floral color.

If this is the look you want, I’d remove all material and choose a single shade tolerant tailored-looking plant that grows not more than 4’ high, to be placed along the left and right sides along the front of the house (depending on width, maybe 3 on each side). A row of small ornamental grass, perhaps with foliage that’s not straight green can line the front railed area (if you don’t like grasses maybe some strappy liriope-not sure about your zone and sun). To the left of that ‘porch’, in front of the innermost 4’ shrub, consider one unusual accent plant, perhaps slimmer than the shrubs, and with different texture than fine grasses (think bold leaves, or variegated, or sculpted, or just distinctly different from the leaves of the shrubs and grasses/liriope). A low groundcover in front of the remaining 4’ shrubs is all you need. Whether evergreen, woody or perennial, it, too, needs to contrast with the other foliage texture but create a pleasant coordination. A flowering groundcover would be nice but fleeting, as are most flowering plants.

I repeatedly state on landscape posts that less is more. If you don’t need to hide your foundation or scale a tall facade, don’t swallow your house up with too many plantings. So, finally, use a large gorgeous planter on the porch, to the left of the door, with flowers and tall material to bring floral color to the space. Have fun changing it up in different seasons.

If this is too austere for you, then you need to redefine the look you’re going for. Adding in perennials is another exercise in timing and color, and comes with more maintenance. Non-rhizomatic irises are tidy and architectural enough to blend with MCM but fluffy perennials conjure up a whole other feel.

I’m not familiar with your growing area, so hopefully others can recommend specific plant material. If you go to a nursery be sure to tell them that you get only partial sun. Shade plants that get your morning sun would probably do better than sun plants that tolerate shade. Know your soil, also.