Before thinking about planting I'd try to get some visual coherence by removing the egregious patch of brick pavers, the bench, the awkward grass area between the drive and the path and the pointless circular planting area. Come up with a simple sidewalk in a regionally suitable material beside the drive which turns purposefully into the inviting gate. I'd leave the bougainvillea and train it neatly across the top of the garage door. Your drought tolerant plants could go in the beds along the walls or in a new bed beside the new sidewalk. I'm not a colour expert but I'd probably make the garage door white so it doesn't dominate.

Agree, it's too busy with the red brick, etc.

The lawn is in bad shape too, so that should be replaced with appropriate drought tolerant plants.

Agree with floral the two different paving materials is choppy looking and would be better either all concrete or all pavers. The circular planting bed right in the middle of the walkway is odd and the bench seems out of place.

Love the idea of the foxtail agave in the planting bed behind the bench and the torch aloe in front of the white wall to the right of the walkway. Both these are beautiful but big plants, make sure to leave room for them to grow to mature size!

Bad drawing of how you can delete the circular bed and make walkway flow in a more welcoming way.

Agree with the suggestions made by @floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK.

Also consider:

1) Removing the patch of brick pavers to the left of the garage

2) Lightly pruning the tree on the right

3) Removing the shutters on the top level

4) Changing out the arched window panels on the garage door.

Please post after photos!

Mostly just illustrating ideas suggested above:

(Agree with judicious pruning to lift the crown of the tree and thin it a bit, but didn't try to do that for the photo.)

Please, please make sure that any pruning done to the tree is done by someone who really knows what they're doing and not a hacker with bucket truck who will mutilate it.

Agree with all. As is, the curb appeal is a jumble of surfaces and colors and features. Simplify the hardscape first.

When/if the budget allows, consider redoing the aging driveway. It takes up a lot of visual space in front of your house. Incorporate pavers or whatever material you use for the new walkway.

Is the wood fence to the left of the garage yours? A power wash might freshen up the look of the wood.

Agree with simplifying the hardscape. I would remove the bounganvilleas, they

are beautiful but require lots of maintenance ( pruning & cleaning up the debris they shed ). I also would pop out the fan panels on your garage door,& perhaps paint it a lighter color.

California lilac, California Fuscia, Monkey flower. Fire poker. Kangaroo Paw. Bulbs like daylily, alium, amarylis. Rosemary, lavender. Sedum. Poppy and lupine wildflowers in spring. Ornamental grasses give nice motion in a breeze. Jupiter's beard, Pride of Madeira. Dusty Miller.

The oranges and blues are nice together in California.

Here is a budget fix for hardscape. Fill the areas indicated with walkable gravel at grade to the concrete. Paint the wall a terracotta. Big terracotta pots. Paint the gate black.

Here is a rough sketch of to start visualing. I don't have fancy software.

A local nursery will provide free consulation for landscaping if you buy your plants from them.

Oops, I just saw that rendering from simplynatural...nice example of blues and orange. I think you can get blue Agave.

Oh yeah, a drip system on a timer makes a world of difference.