7 tips to boost your home’s curb appeal

While this is a logical approach as you probably do not spend as much time outside observing your home as living inside it, it can lead to a problem. The way a property looks from the outside or its curb appeal can have a significant impact on not only the impression others get of your style and the effort you put into maintaining it, but also its value. Whether you are expecting guests, trying to sell your property, or simply want to give your property a facelift, here are 7 tips to help you boost your home’s curb appeal.

The easiest and quickest way to give your front door a new lease of life is to give it a fresh lick of paint. You can choose just about any colour, whether you opt for a classic or subtle shade or a bright statement. You could also add panes of glass on either side of the door or frame it with a wooden porch. Remember to finish your front door with some attractive hardware such as a new letterbox, door knocker, sign, or number. There are some stunning examples of antique door decorations in antique stores in a variety of metal finishes.

Giving yourself a fancy new door is great, but what if this is next to your old garage door? It might not look as good as it could. The good news is that garage doors come in plenty of great styles. You could take inspiration from these doors and add a lick of paint or paneling to replicate them. However, reaching out to professionals who have already done this for you may be a better move. A garage can be a real selling point for potential buyers, but if it looks like an eyesore, it could reduce the appeal of the entire property.

The exterior walls of your property can make a huge difference to the overall aesthetic of your home. A common choice is to paint the wall light and to use a darker colour for doors and window frames, but you might want to make your property stand out by painting the walls in a dark colour and choosing lighter features. 

Click here for more on painting exterior walls.

To improve the curb appeal of your home, you need to make your home as inviting as possible. A great way to invite people to your front door is to have an attractive path leading from the pavement. You could choose coloured or monochrome tiles for a period look or just about any colour if you want to make more of a statement. The path could be straight, winding, or staggered, and there are plenty of types of paving stones to choose from. If you have a driveway, the same principles apply, so it may be worth investing in new surfacing and tidying up the edges with some gardening or possibly some fencing.

A lush green front garden is a wonderful addition to any property and makes your entrance even more inviting. A well-placed tree, some bright and colourful flowers, and some green bushes will attract birds, bees, and other wildlife that will literally bring your front garden to life. It will also show that you are a property owner who takes pride in your home.

Of course, not every property has the space for a garden, and many homeowners struggle to find the time to maintain anything other than a simple lawn. In these situations, it might be more practical to plant some flowers or shrubs in pots, hanging baskets, window boxes, or even climbing plants on a trellis.

Installing some exterior lighting is a great idea from a practical point of view, but it can also add additional points of interest. Solar lights will charge with natural energy from the sun during the day, meaning they will run for free at night, providing an atmospheric glow. The fittings themselves can also be a wonderful visual addition during the day, depending on the style that you choose.

It might sound surprising, but research has found that giving a property a name can give it not only a sense of character but also increase its value. Of course, that only applies if the house name is one that has positive connotations. If your house has a number, it will need to remain visible alongside the name, and if your house has a name already, but you want to change it, you may need to register the change officially. IdealHome has some more on how to change the name of your property.

Banner credit: House (fotoman-kharkov)