7 Easy and Inexpensive Ways to Great Curb Appeal

7  Easy and Inexpensive Ways to Great Curb Appeal

Curb appeal isn’t just about impressing the neighbors or snagging a buyer. It’s also about the feeling of calm and satisfaction you get every time you come home. With a bit of effort and little to no cost, you can enhance the exterior of your home, boosting its value and making it more welcoming for visitors, potential buyers, and—most important—for you.

Declutter the Yard

Rule number one for curb appeal: Keep the driveway, walkways, and lawn free of clutter. This includes (but is not limited to) kids’ toys, yard tools, forgotten newspapers, excessive garden ornaments, and sloppy, uncoiled hoses. Simplify, simplify, simplify so your home’s architecture and landscaping can really shine.

Front Porch Foliage

By adding decorative elements to your front entrance, you’ll increase your curb appeal while making your home seem welcoming. A horse trough planter or decorative pots are perfect for flaunting seasonal blooms. Place it over your front porch railing, underneath your window sill or beside your front door to give a countryside look to your porch.

Paint the Door

If you ask pretty much any expert about the best ways to raise your curb appeal, the front door will inevitably come up. If you have the budget for it, an entirely new door can be a great investment, but an easier way to elevate your entryway is by painting your existing door. A bold, colorful front door makes for a stunning focal point, especially when the color contrasts nicely with the hue of the home’s exterior. With paint cost less than $40 a gallon, this is a great way to get big impact for little money.

Repaint Trim or Fascia

If the exterior of your house is looking drab but you lack the time or money for a complete paint job, focus on strategic touch-ups. Even a small project like painting window and door trim can increase a home’s value by 2 to 5 percent—and if you have leftover trim paint sitting in the garage, the project’s essentially free. While you’re at it, don’t forget to paint the fascia, the horizontal board that runs along the roof edge. 

Wash the Windows

Windows are the eyes of the home, and when they’re dirty and streaked, the whole house looks tired and sad. Make your house look bright and cheerful instead by giving the windows a thorough cleaning. While this isn’t the most glamorous chore, it’s certainly budget-friendly. It just takes time and elbow grease. You don’t even need any fancy cleansers—just mix one part water and one part white vinegar in a large bucket, and then get to work with a large, soft sponge. Wipe dry with a dry cloth or squeegee. Fighting grime? Add a dash of liquid soap. For windows on the second floor and above, if you don’t have tilt-in windows, you’ll need to haul out the ladder. Just be sure you have a work buddy to hold it steady and hand you supplies as needed. A long-handled brush can also be helpful to clean hard-to-reach corners.

An Updated Address

Address numbers do more than identify your house. They give the house personality, style, and, sometimes, a facelift. Classic, modern, country—no matter the style, there’s a set of numbers out there that fit. Beyond style, remember to think about size, color, and mounting options. And, of course, the street address should fit in an attractive spot and should be visible from the road. In the end, these little numbers add the final touch of character to the home’s facade.

Illuminate

Outdoor activity doesn’t necessarily stop when night falls, so it’s important to illuminate the driveways and footpaths utilized most often. With no wires to worry about, simply stake several solor lights anywhere around the yard in the morning. They’ll harness the sun’s power during daylight hours (as well as a boost from rechargeable batteries) to produce up to 8 hours of glow beginning at dusk. 

Mess Free Mulch

Although mulching a tree bed helps keep out weeds and grass, the shredded bark can also tempt neighborhood animals to dig in your landscaping, and leave a trail of wood chips strewn over the lawn. For an ever-orderly yard, consider a permanent mulch ring for small landscaping trees. The recycled-rubber mat keeps out weeds, lets in water and air, dissuades meddlesome squirrels, and looks fresh all year round

Adapted from Bob Villa