What did you think of the previous suggestions?

Previous post:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6457949/suggestions-to-improve-curb-appeal

Back up and give us a view from the curb. We can’t see the yard or anything around the house to be able to give good suggestions. For all we know, there is a row of 12’ tall and wide evergreens right in front of the house!

Just one thing, move the railing to the far left. It's peculiar looking in the middle of the steps. Angling it at the left would be fine and much better than in the middle of the steps.

And the front steps needs a railing for safety. Around here, they wouldn't pass for insurance purposes.

Where's the original thread? What is your exact budget, "inexpensive" is too vague.

Previous thread…. did not think this one got posted . very good suggestions about staining vs no staining, railings ,and landscaping.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6457949/suggestions-to-improve-curb-appeal

Liquid Coating Deck Coating…does it really last 3 years? is it worth the extra cost?

I gave the link to the original thread 7 hours ago.

Consider removing or painting the storm door. With the white windows and all, it’s really busy, whereas it should be a great focal point!

You could also paint the deck floor and stair treads a slightly darker shade and then use white on the risers.

Here are some ideas:

Landscaping. I'd start with a row of small groundcovers, alongside the porch to the left, in the space when the porch is less wide than the stairs. I like creeping phlox as it is native (at least to Maine), pretty much evergreen and low-care. A crisp edge between greenery and gravel always makes things look neater.

I'd put a railing on the steps to the front door.

Without a head-on pic, it's hard to give more suggestions about your landscaping. I would not take landscaping advise, no matter how attractively photoshopped from anyone who hasn't seen the whole front of your house.

But a few pots of annual flowers on the porch is a quick, cheap and temporary fix that will have a big impact.

I think renting a power washer (or borrowing one - more people own them than you'd realize - we bought one + a good paint/stain sprayer last summer in order to do our cedar fence) + adding a nice rich color stain would help make the deck stand out (if you are going to actually put things on it). Painting it (as suggested by Kylie M Interiors above) would look nice - I've just never painted a wood deck - so, I don't know anything about outdoor deck paints and how they hold up during summers/winters.

@Kylie M Interiors - I don't want to look like a stalker - but I am a BIG fan of yours! I've tried several times to reserve a painting consult - but haven't been successful!

Some base plants that grow well in your area (not sure what grow zone this house is) in a landscaping bed (similar to shown above) would make a good base.

I would purchase some furniture when the price drops low shortly (when stores are trying to get rid of any inventory at the store vs. online) - you can find some really good buys at places like World Market/Ace Hardware if you're trying to keep your costs down for now.

As long as you protect any less expensive wood furniture, it should last fine. For example, I purchased some furniture (a few wood chairs + loveseat) from World Market + some wood adirondack chairs from Ace Hardware (for around $40 at the end of a summer) many years ago.

I bought covers for it + I used a spar urethane on the adirondack chairs because they were made out of unfinished wood (water immediately left dark marks on the wood). That furniture was passed down to my daughter and SIL a few years ago when I had my deck replaced with a large paver patio (with a fire pit + covered area) because I wanted new (nicer) furniture. They still are using the furniture - they have purchased new covers for a few of the back pillows that became faded (the bottom cushions are white - easy to take care of and no fading from sun).

However, those adirondack chairs are still being used around the firepit area - and I am prettty sure that they are made out of pine!

I would also suggest purchasing a few nice pots/containers for annual plants/flowers. Again, many stores will have their inventory on sale in August. I only started making my own containers a couple summers ago - they aren't that difficult to do (= have them look nice - they are some work to actually put them together!)

I bought way too many pots/containers last summer - and did around 30+ for the backyard + porch. The "formula" for nice containers is easy: thriller/filler/spiller (one larger nice plant + filler plants/flowers + plants/flowers that spill over the sides of the container).