Depends. Do you live nearer Miami or London? Vancouver or Tuscaloosa? Honolulu or Boise?

We need to know the name of your nearest big city to give intelligent advice. No use recommending sago palms if you live in Anchorage.

I wish you'd stand across the street and take a panoramic photo showing the entire front of your home. This little vignette by the porch needs to fit into the rest of your landscaping cohesively. Thanks!

Also, where does the door on the right of the area lead and how often is it used?

@cecily 7A I wondered about that door too. Here’s my guess - it’s a door into garage. The before picture has the pavers the OP mentions that had cut the bed into two sections & which OP removed. @jrw9 - as cecily and littlebug ask, please post another pic from a greater distance away & tell us where you live. You’ll get useable suggestions with more info.

I live North of Edmonton, Alberta Canada. We do not use the door in the photos. Zone 3 and 4

@jrw9 Thanks for the extra picture - makes your question & the situation much more clear! If you’re adding paving, are you planning to add from driveway to landing at bottom of stairs & for the width, from the paved off driveway parking space to the foundation of garage? Then the planting bed left is the width from porch to end of garage? If I have that right, I’d skip the planters as they will be in the way of car doors & clutter up the space. For bright colored annuals I’d hang big baskets between each of the porch posts - as it looks like you do already. That makes a very welcoming entry & porch. For the small planting bed I’d install really hard perennials - the same on both sides. I can’t suggest a plant for your very cold winter area but I know they exist! I grew up in MT - mile high & long, cold winters! A suggestion you haven’t asked for - that garage side door - I would not emphasize the door as it is with the door trim painted as the rest of the house trim is. I’d paint the trim same color as house & door to make it disappear.