By Oftentimes, the first impression of a home is made when you pull into the driveway or walk up the pathway towards the house. The view of a home from the street is often called curb appeal and it’s often a pretty good indicator of what you’ll find inside. Whether you are looking to hook prospective buyers or renters, or you just want to freshen up your own living space, sprucing up your front lawn and patio can really turn a home around and reinvent the space, and you don’t have to seek out an HGTV personality to make it happen! There are plenty of ways to achieve curb appeal that won’t take up your weekend or break the bank.
Give Your Front Door a Makeover
Your front door is symbolic of what lies on the other side. You can display your and your home’s personality in a variety of ways. Painting your door is a great and affordable DIY solution and you’d be surprised at the difference it can make! A bright yellow or robin’s egg blue is eye-catching and your guests can’t miss it if they’re visiting your home for the first time. If you’re looking for a more drastic change, swap out the door altogether for one with a long vertical window for a sleek modern look, or a rich mahogany door with iron gate embellishments for a romantic, old-world feel. ETO Doors has a variety of door styles that will surely reflect your own personal style and reinvent the space.
Upgrade Your House Numbers
Upgrading your house numbers may seem like a small tweak but they make a big difference. Remove the old ones and give them a little oomph by replacing them with bright tiles or a different font that embodies the aesthetic of the house. Raise them off the side of your home so that you can install LEDs beneath each number, or maybe apply the numbers to big colorful planters or pots. The options are endless and will help catch the eye.
Create an Outdoor Living Space
Introducing stylish but comfortable outdoor furniture on your lawn or front porch creates a cozy living space for entertaining and relaxing. Just as the front door and the house numbers frame the personality of your home, patio furniture can do the same, so try not to go overboard and cause clutter, but try to arrange it so that it compliments the home and the theme you have going. Pro Decorator Tip: add a small outdoor rug for a welcoming homey feel.
Keeping Up with Lawn Care
You don’t need intricately sculpted topiaries for your lawn to have curb appeal. Simply keeping up with lawn maintenance like cutting the grass, raking leaves, pulling weeds, and trimming back bushes or trees will do the trick. Keeping up with lawn care regularly prevents it from getting out of hand and makes a huge difference in the presentation of your home. If you live in a drier climate where lush green grass is not exactly realistic, consider artificial turps or xeriscaping which can also reduce the need for irrigation. A fresh and vibrant landscape is oftentimes indicative of the state of the home inside. Pete Evering at Utopia Management says that they can command 10% higher rents and attract a higher quality of clientele with a fresh landscaping update.
Light Up Your Lawn
Don’t let your home’s charm fade once the sun goes down. Strategically installing lights can create the perfect mood lighting and embellish select areas of the house you wish to pull attention to. A hanging light fixture above the front door is inviting, while solar lanterns along a path up towards the house guide you toward the entrance. Uplight trees in your yard with a soft glow create ambiance beyond just the front porch and liven up an otherwise dark lawn.
Work on that Green Thumb
Your home will reflect an immediate improvement with the addition of fresh greenery and flowers. Planting shrubs and trees can make a front lawn look much lusher and provide a little bit of privacy to the front of the house if you live off of a busy street. Flowers also add a nice splash of color and can be displayed in a variety of fun ways like blower boxes in the windows, flower beds along the edge of the pathway, or standing and hanging planters on the front porch. Bushes and flowers can also accentuate and frame key visual points like pathways, windows, entryways, and mailboxes. Even the simple addition of door decor can spruce up the front of your home. Wreaths aren’t just a Christmas decoration, you can find seasonal decor made up of floral arrangements, dried citrus, and eucalyptus to add a touch of elegance to your door.
Keep Up with Maintenance and Repairs
Making small repairs like replacing a screen, or changing out light bulbs, make a difference in the overall picture. Tasks like cleaning out the gutters on your roof of twigs and leaves, or pressure washing walkways or stylish window shutters will also improve the overall look of your home. Many small projects like these can be accomplished in a few hours and helo you to achieve a clean and well-cared exterior.
A little bit of time and effort goes a long way and you’d be surprised at how quickly you’ll notice the difference it makes. Oftentimes these improvements and tweaks are what elevate your house to a home.
