Need to improve curb appeal on orange brick house

6 years ago

Hi, I am trying to sell an orange brick house that has white trim, white garage doors, white siding. I feel like it looks blah and dated. I have already purchased some modern black lights to replace the ugly white ones next to the garage door. The front door is also white. I am thinking of adding some modern house numbers too. I don't really mind the white trim next to the orange, I just feel like there is too much white going on. The front door is at an angle, and toward the back, so this makes the garage the main feature of this house, including that ugly trim on top of it. I feel like it turns the garage door into one huge tall one. How do I magnify the entrance and draw less attention to the garage?

The landscaping needs a lot of work as well. The previous owners had a jungle of mixed plants with no uniformity. I don't want to spend too much on this house, just figured since I already need to paint the dingy siding, I might be able to change the look with a new color.

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Huiz Home Design

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

roby_tijerina,

I think there is a lot of potential in your home! Yes the garage is the prominent element but there are a few creative ways you can counter that. There are couple things that I noticed right away that can have a dramatic impact to your home's appearance. And I would probably change these things before I added any elements or changed any color because they could change the way you see your home.

1. Carry your entrance walkway to the sidewalk. When contractors turn the walk to the driveway they save money but this is a physical and visual disconnect for your home's entry. Also, it's subtle, but the design of your current walkway is drawing more attention to your garage/driveway as the more important feature. Carrying the walkway to the sidewalk would help defer some of that attention from your driveway/garage and tell the passerby that they have a safe, comfortable way to approach your home.

2. Much of your landscaping is all one level, Tall. I love trees but too much of a good thing can sometimes be a bad thing. I would recommend creating some visual interest in your landscaping by including some low and medium sized plants. Colorful plants help tremendously! Landscaping can also be used to draw or defer attention. Right now your garage is "peering" through your landscaping and it immediately jumps out at you. In this instance, landscaping should be used in a way that takes you on a journey and draws more attention to your front door.

Hope these help! If you have an questions, please let me know. You might also find some inspiration on our website. We've helped many homeowners just like you tackle their design problems.

EDIT: roby_tijerina, I must apologize, I overlooked the major piece of information that you are trying to sell your home. I thought I would mention that we offer a digital design service that can show off the potential in your home to prospective buyers. It might be just the thing you need to draw attention to your home without putting a bunch of money into it. Just a thought. Good luck!

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Comments (7)

apple_pie_order
6 years ago
The color scheme is fine. New lights and new numbers will be good. However, it's the landscaping, not the house, that makes the property look neglected. Hire some pros to clean up the shrubs and trees, then over-stuff gallon-size blooming flowers in a bushel-size pot the front walkway and currently hidden porch. You should be able to walk under each front tree, so have the pros raise the canopy to seven or eight feet from the ground. I can't see much of the palm planted near the house- does it belong there as part of the landscape design or is it a feral volunteer that sprang up one day and could be removed? The lawn should be mowed and edged weekly while the house is for sale.

If you post some close ups showing the porch area and front door, you may get more comments about a new coat of trim paint you're considering.
Rebekah L
6 years ago
I agree that the landscape is the main issue. But instead of ignoring the garage, why don’t you add something like this? You can even do faux windows on the garage doors if you want to get that look! I love how the after garage door looks in the pic, I am more drawn to houses that have some sort of accent on the garage. Just my two cents!
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roby_tijerina
Original Author
6 years ago
thank you, I like the idea of adding hardware to the garage door. I also agree that the landscaping needs a big overhaul. I will try to get a better picture of the white front door. I'm curious how it would look in a Gunmetal gray or Urbane Bronze.
chloebud
6 years ago
I agree with some work on the landscaping. As for paint, I'd leave that to the buyers. You can never guess what they'd like, and most of them change what you choose. The white you have now is okay and doesn't clash with the brick (or roof). Also agree windows on garage doors are almost always nicer. Again, I'd probably let the buyer(s) decide. If I loved a house, I wouldn't let it go because of the garage door...or paint color.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
There's nothing wrong with your paint or brick color. Get a landscaping company there pronto.

In the first picture you posted, head-on with the front door, I'd completely remove the two (three? I can't tell) trees between the photographer and the front door. And the shrub-blob immediately to the left of those two (three?) trees. Limb up all other trees so you can walk under them without ducking.

Get a BIG - no, 12" is not big - pot of colorful flowers to set near the front door.

Powerwash the driveway.
emmarene9
6 years ago
I would remove some of the current plants. Leave the lawn and the primary tree. Speaking of that tree it needs to be limbed up so nothing hangs lower than eight feet above the ground.

What is hurting the view at a glance is the fact that only the garage is easily seen.

I cannot suggest any change to the front door because, again, I can't see it.
roby_tijerina thanked emmarene9