Top Tips for Curb Appeal

Want to get the front of your house looking like the pictures in my previous post? Yeah, me too. It not only sends a positive message to those living around you, but also ensures your place is somewhere that you are proud of and excited to come home to. And now seems like the perfect time for those all important home improvement tasks. So, I’ve searched far and wide for the best tips to up your curb appeal and have synthesised them into a checklist below…

Keep in mind that the front of your house is “a prelude for the style that lies within” (Ideal Home). With the outside being an extension of the inside, you probably want to keep a consistent message - be it in terms of style, material or colour.

Fencing and Gates

If you have fencing and gates, these are the first things that a guest will see. Ensure you touch these up and fix any damage, ensuring that all-important first impression is good.

Greenery

Lawn – Mow any grass, rake up leaves and pull out weeds. Keep your lawn well watered and lush (I hate that word).

Flowerbeds – Similar to the above, manicure your flowerbeds! House Beautiful suggest that “many flowers will bloom across certain seasons only, so for colour across the whole year, consider also planting evergreen shrubs” – these give structure and interest. What’s more, Better Homes & Gardens suggest tending to the borders of your bed by “cleaning and resetting any pieces that are soiled or dislodged. If your border is old or tired-looking, try upgrading to stone or a decorative cast-concrete edging system for improved curb appeal.”

Potted Plants – Consider adding more colour through plant pots, hangers and window boxes. Create movement and dynamism by using a staggered arrangement. Alternatively, use climber plants like wisteria for a more rustic feel - everyone loves a bit of wisteria. As The Modern House says, “outdoor space [should be seen] as a horticultural world of possibility”!

A key thing to remember is that greenery should complement your house, whilst respecting your neighbour’s.

Pathway

Your pathway should show a clear route to the front door. Refresh tiling by jet-washing away dirt and replenish gravel by using a similar stone to top up the existing. B&Q note that paved paths and driveways are also hotspots for weeds, so “opt for a weeder to remove unwelcome visitors in small areas of paving, or choose a weed killer for larger areas.”

Lighting

Similarly, lighting should be used to direct guests to the front door safely in times of darkness, so consider adding or upgrading your lights. Ideal Home expertly suggest a down light in the porch to illuminate the front door: “it picks out ironmongery and is the best way to light a door. You can then dim decorative wall lights to look beautiful.” What’s more, a lack of light “can also direct you away from areas where you don’t want people to go; so what you don’t light is just as important.”

Door

Your door should be the focal point – everything leads to here!

Door – There are three major considerations when it comes to doors: security, durability and design. Assuming you’ve got the first two down, I focus on the third of these. While replacing your door can be expensive, painting is a cheaper and easier alternative.

Indeed, your “front door is a veritable blank canvas: you can paint it any colour you please (within reason); the main caveat to that is if your building is listed, special permission might be needed” (The Modern House). For colour inspiration, look down your road or around your neighbourhood. Also consider the age and location of your property. Is it period? Contemporary? Urban? Rural? Ideal Home suggest to “tone your front door with the walls of your house” - “use stronger colours with brick and stone and lighter colours with painted masonry”. Before painting, also think about the position of your house - “avoid blacks or dark grey paints on south facing front doors as the colour retains the heat causing the wood to literally boil and crack” (Ideal Home).

And, if you can’t paint, then grab a sponge, because cleaning is the next best alternative!

Accessories – There are lots of other things to do around the door to improve the look of your house. For example, revamp your welcome mat and clean up or replace hardware like knockers, door knobs, letter plates and numbering.

Windows

Again, replacing windows is a big, expensive outlay. Consider repainting the frames, cleaning the panes and adding faux shutters to cut costs - although, keep these consistent with the style of your house.

Walls

According to Real Homes, whether walls are brick, stone or covered in cladding, touching them up can bring your home back to life. Indeed, a fresh coat of paint can instantly make your house look smarter and can even protect against weather damage.

Other

While you’re at it, painting other areas, like the garage door, makes a big difference. Camouflage practical elements like electricity boxes, bike stands and mailboxes so that they blend in. In a similar vein, consider bin shelters too – anything to tidy up the clutter. Fix up any small things, like broken gutters.

A final thing to remember when implementing the above is the concept of symmetry. Read more about symmetrical compositions here. Happy renovating!