5 Inexpensive Ways To Make The Exterior Of Your Home Pop

Your yard, front door, stoop or walk-way says a lot about what kind of homeowner you are and is usually a good indication of what’s to follow inside. If you’re looking to up your curb appeal to sell, then an investment in the façade and exterior of your home will attract buyers to pop in and take a look inside. However, even if you’re not going anywhere, a well-maintained front garden and a beautiful walkway makes your home welcoming and inviting to guests, friends, family members and loved ones. It also makes the best first impression, telling visitors what to expect from YOU. We’ve put together five ways to give the front of your house new life.

How does your garden grow? 

A lush trimmed and watered lawn, cheerful flower beds and a thriving herb garden or vegetable patch will add a lot of value to your home if you’re selling besides making your home look happy and cared for. Prune overgrown shrubs, weed the garden and fertilize your soil to help your garden bloom. Once that is done, consider adding something a little extra to your lawn like a bird feeder, a water feature or a rock garden.

Dress up an empty stoop with planters

Box planters added to either side of the front door will instantly refresh your stoop and they don’t take up too much space. This is also a way to add more greenery to the outside of your house if you don’t have a yard or a big enough garden. Pick flowers that are colorful but don’t attract bees or ants or choose a sturdy, full shrub.

Paint your front door

A cherry red, sky blue, sage green or sophisticated black front door can make a neutral house pop. It will also make your house stand out in the street. Even if you don’t want a colorful door (many believe it makes a house easy for thieves to identify) you should definitely paint your front door often. A peeling front door looks shabby and makes your home seem uninviting. Painting the door is an inexpensive and easy way to make a cheerful first impression. You can even go a step further. Install a decorative brass knocker and add a simple coir welcome mat made from natural fibers.

Repave the walkway

Updating your walkway to address issues like problematic tree roots or leaky pipes makes it safer and more attractive. Choose the pavement material carefully since this will play into your budget. Cobblestones are more expensive than asphalt. A well paved, swept walkway looks good and is a literal invitation to come on in.

Add dramatic lighting

Be strategic with exterior lighting and spotlight only a few important features. You can add a twinkling string of plain fairy lights along the top of the porch, for a touch of whimsy, while still keeping your functional porch light to see with. Consider adding solar powered stake lamps along your walkway. This is an energy efficient and cost-effective way to use exterior lighting. You can install them yourself since they don’t require professional trenching for electricity. Space them out every six to eight feet along your walkway and you have a well lit path that looks good and is safe too.