In terms of benefit to the environment:

• Wildflowers, because it attracks so many bugs, which feed birds.

In terms of benefit to you:

• vegetable garden or herb garden

In terms of benefit to you and the environment:

• wildflowers, because they look pretty :)

The options are limitless. Basically just don't do a lawn in your front garden and try to have a few other plants on your back lawn if you need to keep it as a children's play area or similar.

Where i live in the UK, victorian homes are like 55% of housing stock and that means most people have front gardens designed for an enclosed space lined by hedge. This allows you to have a completely hidden spot to sit and get fresh air while you drink coffee. Similar to a porch.

At risk of sounding like a salesman, why not search some landscaping or garden companies to see nice examples? Here's a really modern one I found when trying to get examples of a hedgey garden: https://www.philhirstgardens.co.uk/our-work/contemporary-front-garden