The great thing about your home. Yes, “YOUR” home is that I can almost guarantee there’s a handful of ways you can boost your curb appeal.
If you’re planning on selling or just want a home that’s prettier to look at while being more functional, this article is for you.
Because the truth is that how your home looks from the front sets the tone for how people will view the rest of your home.
In this article, you’ll discover more than a few ways you can upgrade your curb appeal yourself or hire a contractor to give you exactly what you’re looking for.
Add A Fence
A new fence can do a good job of keeping others out, pets and kids inside, and your business private.
It can also increase the value of your property.
Whether you opt for a short white-vinyl picket fence or a taller wood cedar fence to ensure privacy, it will surely increase your curb appeal.
Decorative accents add style and something a bit different like a “je ne sais quoi” that many fences lack.
Replace Old Hardware: New Door, Mailbox, Lockset
The hardware on your front door (and really every door in your house) really tend to blend in. We use it every day and we’re usually in a rush with better things to do than admire our front door while on our way in or out.
Next time, take a good look at the handles, knobs, and kickplates on your door. With a quick trip to Home Depot, Lowes, or your local hardware store, you can seize a good opportunity to add some aesthetic value to your front door without having to replace it outright.
You can also add technology like an electronic lock and a touchpad for extra security.
Here are two more ideas:
- New House Number: A new house number is an easy way to increase your curb appeal while displaying your address clearly. Make sure it is visible from the street either on your house or mailbox and matches the architectural style of your home. If you plan on doing a few curb appeal upgrades, you may want to save this one for last. Why? Because you want your house number to fit in with the theme of your home, not clash with it
- Front Door Lighting: Some lighting around your door can improve the look of your home and maybe even save you money if you already have lighting that can be replaced with LED bulbs.
Install Window/Flower Boxes
If your home is missing a variety of colors, then add a flower box. There’s just something about being surrounded by flowers that calms the mind and soul. I took a visit to the Oakland California Temple, a church with an outdoor visiting area full of flowers. It inspired me to add as many flowers as I tastefully could to my landscape.
Window boxes can be purchased for less than $100 and can be DIYed in a day.
The only downside (for some people) is you’ll actually have to maintain the flowers inside of the box.
An alternative is to of course buy some container gardens in pots and place them around your front porch.
Repaint Your Front Door
There’s a reason why the entry door is called “The portal to the soul of your house.”
That may sound a bit overdramatic to some, but we can all agree that you don’t want to greet a home buyer or guest into a home with a cheap stock door, fading paint, or faulty hardware.
If a repaint is on the menu for your door, paint is between $25-40 a gallon depending on the quality and color.
Painting your front door can instantly add a sunny disposition to your home. This is why it’s one of our favorite ways to finish off an exterior painting project and add an extra oomph to the exterior of a home.
Install Outdoor Lighting
When we think about curb appeal, we often think about how our home looks in the daytime.
But what about at night?
Replace Or Add A Paver Walkway
Unfortunately, the walkway is another part of the home that gets neglected. Many home buyers just accept it as is and try to spruce up the area around it.
This is fine, but why not both?
Your options are plenty with concrete, pavers, brick, and stone.
Not only will a new walkway welcome visitors as it guides them to your entrance, but it’s also safer as old walkways are almost always uneven and a safety hazard (especially in the winter).
Mixed with some nice outdoor lighting along the sides of the walkway (tip #5), you can create a magnificent entrance fit for a Disney movie.
Pressure Wash Your Roof
Roofs are designed to last about 15-20 years. In that process, your roof can attract dirt, mold, bacteria, and other harmful stuff that not only makes it look a lot older than it is but possibly leads to damage.
Add Outdoor Furniture
Social time doesn’t have to be designated to your backyard.
Some cozy front door seating is a great way to welcome guests into your home and start a relaxing visit.
Add enough furniture to comfortably fit in your outdoor seating area and consider getting a deck, porch, or patio built to accommodate the seating.
Social areas don’t have to be relegated to the backyard. Make your home inviting with these tips for curb-appeal-boosting living spaces for the front.
Repaint Your Exterior
You already know we had to save the best for last!
The exterior paint job of your home should last between 15-20 years. If that time has come, an old exterior can make your home look abandoned and uninviting.
Maybe it’s been 15+ years and your paint job is still standing the test of time, but it’s still been 15+ years.
Meaning styles change with the times.
In that case, hire a professional painting contractor who can walk you through all of the steps of repainting the exterior of your home starting from the color coordination to the prep work and actually painting of your exterior.
