Help please - ideas for pots in shaded area

[fryscream]

We have recently bought a house and having previously lived in flats, gardening is rather new to me!

Anyway at the front of the house is large paved area, which is rather stark and horrible looking. I want to soften it with some pots, but the area is in total shade, so I am not sure what would be best. I am thinking some greenery rather than flowers. Any advice appreciated.

TIA

Hostas and/or ferns?

as Rhinestone said hostas are great but only if you are prepared to put the work in to ridding the area of slugs and snails - IMHO even the hosta varieties that are supposed to be slug resistant such as 'sum and substance' aren't (or is that just me?). Ferns are great and virtually maintenance free. Dicksonia antarctica is a great statement plant but expensive if that's too expensive try a big pot of bamboo maybe Phyllostachys Aurea as mine seems fine in shade. flower wise you have to think of woodland plants as these grow happily under the shady woodland canapy, maybe snow drops, lilly of the valley, bluebells, Helleborus, and Aquilegia.
I have found some of my favourite plants are good in shade you really do have more choice than you may at first think.
I have found this nursery has some great ideas:

www.plantsforshade.co.uk/

sorry nearly forgot my favourite flower Tricyrtis formosana (think that is how its spelt) gosh I am getting excited for you so many options .........

You could also use some annual plants in your pots to give a splash of colour Busy Lizzies are good for this.