The elegant new rules of curb appeal!

From fabulous front steps to this year's 'it' gardening design, these easy ideas help you greet guests in style

- BY KATIE ALBERTS

Pretty up your porch with topiaries

"If I had to choose one accent that makes the most difference on a sheltered porch, it's a faux French-style topiary," says veteran interior designer Lee Anne Culpepper, who teaches at Emory University.

"Whether you choose a spherical or conical shape—or better yet, both—the look is instantly elegant." For extra style, Culpepper nestles the plastic pot the topiary comes in into a real ceramic one. "And to offset the formality just a bit, I tuck a small faux ivy plant at the base so it spills out and voilà—front porch perfection!" Pro tip: Plastic faux topiaries are more durable than fabric and more closely resemble real boxwoods, Culpepper notes.