There are some homes that people walking or driving by are in awe of. That’s called curb appeal, and these properties are often the envy of the neighborhood.
It doesn’t matter how big or small your home is, everyone can improve the attractiveness of their property with a few tweaks that are actually doable by the homeowner. You’d be surprised how simple changes can make a gorgeous, first impression.
Understanding Curb Appeal
Every individual has their own concept of what’s nice-looking. To home design experts, curb appeal is the visual beauty of a home as seen from the street. It’s what’s on the outside that draws people in.
Real estate agents understand how curb appeal plays a role in the value of a home. A good place to start is with color, contrast, and symmetry. Paint is the simplest way to transform a home quickly and enhance its appearance.
Step back and take in the big picture. In other words, your exterior palette should work well with four areas, including the landscaping, hardscaping, roof, and fencing.
Painting the Front Door
You may have heard this one plenty of times, but don’t ignore the visual impact of a newly painted front door in a vibrant shade. It’s inexpensive and can instantly refresh the look of your home.
Visit home design websites or Pinterest boards to get ideas of paint colors for homes that resemble your property, and consider this effective makeover idea that can take a drab front door to chic and stylish.
Illuminating the Walkway
Landscape lighting is another bonus for creating elegant curb appeal, and you can do this in a couple of ways. If you’re on a tight budget, you can purchase solar outdoor lights to illuminate your walkway. The light they give off is not as bright as wired lighting, but they can still impact the look of your property.
Wired lighting can also be installed around your home, shrubs, or trees and add lovely accent lighting. A professional can incorporate a variety of fixtures and lighting types for beautiful landscape illumination.
Defining the Property’s Boundaries
Your property begins where your neighbor’s property ends, and when you know your land boundaries, erecting a fence is a good idea for several reasons. For one, having aluminum fencing erected along the inside of your property lines creates definition and also handsomely outlines the perimeter of your property.
Here’s another plus: putting up a fence offers protection for your children playing and your pets. Fencing your yard can also deter unwanted animals whether they are pets in the neighborhood on the loose or potential wildlife invaders.
A fence complements your landscaping and also offers protection for your shrubs, trees, and plants. Also, fencing allows you to feel safer. It’s an obstacle that can deter intruders who are thinking about entering your property.
Renewing the Planter Beds
Maybe you already have a decent landscape going, but your greenery could use a bit of sprucing up. Shaggy-looking plants, trees, and overgrown weeds can be an eyesore and ruin curb appeal.
If you have a green thumb, you can tackle the problems yourself. If not, call in a landscaper who can tidy everything up and introduce some new, colorful flowers to your property. Mulching will also add a nice contrast to your flower beds and help prevent the spread of weeds and maintain moist soil.
Consider adding stone or a brick border around your planter beds for decorative appeal.
Tidying Up the Mailbox
Even something as basic as your mailbox can make or break your home’s curb appeal. If it’s rusty and falling apart, then, it’s time to buy a new one Otherwise, if you can install a new post and refresh the mailbox with a fresh coat of paint, you’ll be good to go.
If your mailbox sits closer to the road, then, a flowering, mini-garden surrounding your mailbox will make your property look extra-inviting.
Conclusion
Curb appeal can be approved with any budget as long as you have a well-thought-out plan. Look at the entire property, and jot down some ideas. Then, get ready for your house to be the envy of the neighborhood.
