Tips on How to Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal
But even if you’re not thinking about putting your home on the market, it’s always a great ego boost to hear your friends, family, and neighbors talk about how easy your house is on the eyes. If that sounds like something you’re up for, then let us help you get started. Here are a few effective ways to improve your home’s curb appeal.
1. Install a water feature on your front yard
When it comes to giving your home the show-stopping first impression you want it to have, nothing does it better than a water fountain installed right in the middle of your front yard. Not only is a water feature on your front yard visually impressive, it also draws the eye immediately due to the flowing water’s constant movement. Combine it with a tasteful arrangement of greens around your fountain along with a perfectly manicured lawn, maybe some flowers for a splash of color here and there, and what you get is a picture-perfect version of your home that’s sure to bowl any guest or visitor over.
2. Dress up your front door
If there’s a clear line of sight between your front door and the curb—i.e. there are no tall fences or other structures that cover your house from sight—then you should definitely look into giving this particular focal point a redecoration, if not an outright restoration. Toss out that dust-choked screen door and spring for a solid, custom wooden door. Then, have it painted in a striking color that fits with the rest of your home’s décor.
Red, for instance, is always a great and welcoming choice. De-rust and clean the hinges, the doorknob, and any other visible accouterments made of metal. Finally, if there’s anything around your front door that could use a fresh coat of paint, remedy that immediately. Nothing ruins a great first impression more than approaching something attractive and seeing that it’s not all that hot up close.
3. Indulge in symmetry
Sometimes, all it takes to give your home some extra curb appeal points is to create symmetry with your decorations. Symmetry, which means making sure that whatever’s happening on one side of the house is mirrored on the other side, is immediately pleasing to the eyes.
It also makes the viewer focus on the bigger picture rather than specific details, so if you have some old furniture or fixtures that you haven’t quite gotten to fixing or replacing just yet, symmetry can help gloss over them and make them seem to ‘fit’ more with your home’s façade. Elements to think about when trying to achieve symmetry for your home are light fixtures, door decorations, and potted plants.
4. Invest in proper window treatments
One particular element that can make or ruin a home’s curb appeal is how its windows look. If they’re well-maintained and cleaned, all the better. However, if they’re dirty, rusting, or in a visible state of disrepair, it’s just going to bring the entire look of your home down.
Replace them immediately, or at the very least, give them a fresh coat of paint if you think they’re still fine on their own. Have the glass replaced or deep-cleaned by a professional. Finally, get some blinds or curtains to complete their look. Not only will these improve the appearance of your windows, they will also allow you to control how much light is getting into your home, in addition to providing you privacy.
5. Add greenery where possible
Whether or not you have a lush green lawn leading up to your front door, you could never have enough plants decorating the outside of your home. Don’t just resort to placing a potted plant here or there, be creative! Integrate small boxed plots into your décor, or even have a hanging garden set up to frame your front door.
Don’t just go for boring ferns either; experiment with herbs, flowering plants, cacti and other succulents, bamboo and other grasses, and trees to really make things exciting. If you’re still stumped as to what to do, you can always get a professional landscaper’s services and see what can be done.
There you have it, five ways in which you can dramatically increase your home’s curb appeal while also giving it the sprucing-up it needs. No matter which one you pick, though, make sure that it’s within your budget and that it doesn’t clash with aesthetics that you’re trying to achieve. Other than that, have fun, and don’t be afraid to experiment!
Image Credit: Design Unity