10 Exterior Projects That Add Up to Maximum Curb Appeal
Get the front of your house looking its best in time for summer
The front of the house pulls a lot of weight, designwise. This space stretching from the curb to your front door is the view you come home to every day, the first thing visitors see and the only part of your home passersby will catch a glimpse of. If you’re ready to make the most of your home’s exterior, you’re in the right place. These 10 projects run the gamut from small to large, but each one packs a punch.
1. Pressure Wash the Exterior
Pressure washing is a quick and effective way to remove layers of dirt from siding, as well as from the driveway and paths around your home. Getting rid of this built-up dirt and grime on your home’s exterior can be so transformative your neighbors might think you’ve repainted. You can DIY by renting a pressure washer, but hiring a professional exterior cleaner is the safest bet — pressure washing that’s too powerful can cause permanent damage to your siding, break windows and tear through climbing plants.
How to Wash Your House
Pressure washing is a quick and effective way to remove layers of dirt from siding, as well as from the driveway and paths around your home. Getting rid of this built-up dirt and grime on your home’s exterior can be so transformative your neighbors might think you’ve repainted. You can DIY by renting a pressure washer, but hiring a professional exterior cleaner is the safest bet — pressure washing that’s too powerful can cause permanent damage to your siding, break windows and tear through climbing plants.
How to Wash Your House
2. Add Bold House Numbers
Swapping out nondescript house numbers for a creative set in a style that complements your home’s architecture is a small change with a big payoff. Look for individual numbers, order a custom plaque or take a different tack altogether — like the letters on posts shown on this exterior from Su Casa Design.
Find house numbers on Houzz
Swapping out nondescript house numbers for a creative set in a style that complements your home’s architecture is a small change with a big payoff. Look for individual numbers, order a custom plaque or take a different tack altogether — like the letters on posts shown on this exterior from Su Casa Design.
Find house numbers on Houzz
3. Frame the Entrance With Lush Containers
Planting a few pots of seasonal blooms or lush green foliage gently draws the eye toward the front door. On a small stoop, even a single pot will do the trick, but if you have more room, why not use it? In the space shown here from Winsome Construction, rows of pots flank the front door for a warm welcome.
Shop for outdoor pots and planters
Planting a few pots of seasonal blooms or lush green foliage gently draws the eye toward the front door. On a small stoop, even a single pot will do the trick, but if you have more room, why not use it? In the space shown here from Winsome Construction, rows of pots flank the front door for a warm welcome.
Shop for outdoor pots and planters
4. Update the Front Path
A good path is clearly marked and easy to traverse, to be sure, but it also offers the first hint of the style to come. Think of the difference between a curving path of rustic flagstones, a traditional brick walkway and modern poured concrete, as seen here. If you’re thinking of giving your front path a new look, consider working with a landscape designer — these pros can ensure that the design blends seamlessly with the architecture of your home, while putting your own personal stamp on the space.
How to Give Your Driveway and Front Walk More Curb Appeal
A good path is clearly marked and easy to traverse, to be sure, but it also offers the first hint of the style to come. Think of the difference between a curving path of rustic flagstones, a traditional brick walkway and modern poured concrete, as seen here. If you’re thinking of giving your front path a new look, consider working with a landscape designer — these pros can ensure that the design blends seamlessly with the architecture of your home, while putting your own personal stamp on the space.
How to Give Your Driveway and Front Walk More Curb Appeal
5. Paint the Front Door, Porch Ceiling or Shutters
If your home’s exterior has been painted relatively recently but you’re craving a change, you may want to consider going for an in-between measure: Paint just the front door, porch ceiling or shutters (or all three). In the space shown here from Studio McGee, pale gray siding is given definition with shutters a shade darker and a front door and porch ceiling painted a rich, deep blue-gray.
How to Choose a Front Door Color
If your home’s exterior has been painted relatively recently but you’re craving a change, you may want to consider going for an in-between measure: Paint just the front door, porch ceiling or shutters (or all three). In the space shown here from Studio McGee, pale gray siding is given definition with shutters a shade darker and a front door and porch ceiling painted a rich, deep blue-gray.
How to Choose a Front Door Color
6. Add a Pergola, Fence or Trellis
Garden structures like fencing, gates, trellises, arbors and pergolas can be just as welcome at the front of the house as in the backyard. Consider using a low fence or stone wall to provide some visual separation from the street without blocking views, and to give support to climbing flowers. Pergolas and trellises can also be used closer to the front door to frame the entrance.
Pergolas Pump Up Curb Appeal
Garden structures like fencing, gates, trellises, arbors and pergolas can be just as welcome at the front of the house as in the backyard. Consider using a low fence or stone wall to provide some visual separation from the street without blocking views, and to give support to climbing flowers. Pergolas and trellises can also be used closer to the front door to frame the entrance.
Pergolas Pump Up Curb Appeal
7. Complement Architecture With Just-Right Details
The right finishing touches — including the mailbox, door hardware and lighting — work together to underline the architectural style of your home. When every piece is working in harmony, as in the Craftsman-style home shown here, the effect is most satisfying. And this goes for some of the elements already covered, as well, so keep your home’s style in mind when shopping for house numbers, planters and other outdoor accessories.
Browse outdoor decor
The right finishing touches — including the mailbox, door hardware and lighting — work together to underline the architectural style of your home. When every piece is working in harmony, as in the Craftsman-style home shown here, the effect is most satisfying. And this goes for some of the elements already covered, as well, so keep your home’s style in mind when shopping for house numbers, planters and other outdoor accessories.
Browse outdoor decor
8. Revamp or Replace the Porch
This spot is one of the first things visitors see, and (even more important) it’s where you’ll probably want to spend a good bit of time. The porch gets a lot of foot traffic, so it’s common for older homes to need more care than the basic refinishing. It may seem small, but having your porch repaired or replaced is a pretty big project — the front porch is an integral part of your home’s design (technically it’s considered an addition) so it’s important to hire a licensed contractor to build one or make alterations to one.
What to Know About Adding a Porch
This spot is one of the first things visitors see, and (even more important) it’s where you’ll probably want to spend a good bit of time. The porch gets a lot of foot traffic, so it’s common for older homes to need more care than the basic refinishing. It may seem small, but having your porch repaired or replaced is a pretty big project — the front porch is an integral part of your home’s design (technically it’s considered an addition) so it’s important to hire a licensed contractor to build one or make alterations to one.
What to Know About Adding a Porch
9. Get a Landscaping Plan
Having a carefully planned landscape is about a lot more than running to the nearest nursery and choosing plants. A good landscape designer will also take into account the patterns of light, wind and water runoff, the architectural style of your home and the character of your neighborhood — not to mention your personal preferences and lifestyle. If you don’t feel you’re ready to commit to having a landscape designer complete your entire project, getting a site plan may be what you need. With your designer’s site plan in hand, you can then choose to implement the plan on your own schedule and with as much (or as little) professional assistance as you need.
Find a landscape designer near you
Having a carefully planned landscape is about a lot more than running to the nearest nursery and choosing plants. A good landscape designer will also take into account the patterns of light, wind and water runoff, the architectural style of your home and the character of your neighborhood — not to mention your personal preferences and lifestyle. If you don’t feel you’re ready to commit to having a landscape designer complete your entire project, getting a site plan may be what you need. With your designer’s site plan in hand, you can then choose to implement the plan on your own schedule and with as much (or as little) professional assistance as you need.
Find a landscape designer near you
10. Install New Garage Doors
When the garage is front and center, how it looks can have a huge impact on your home’s overall curb appeal (or lack thereof). Swapping outdated garage doors for a more contemporary style — like the glass doors shown in this space from Nicole Forina Home — is an effective way to give your home a new look. A garage door professional can make sure your new garage door is perfectly fitted and safely installed.
How to Replace or Revamp Your Garage Doors
Your turn: What’s your favorite way to boost curb appeal? Tell or show us in the Comments!
More on Houzz
5 Home Exterior Trends on the Rise in 2019
Curb Appeal Feeling a Little Off? Some Questions to Consider
Hire a pro to get your project started
Shop for outdoor home products
When the garage is front and center, how it looks can have a huge impact on your home’s overall curb appeal (or lack thereof). Swapping outdated garage doors for a more contemporary style — like the glass doors shown in this space from Nicole Forina Home — is an effective way to give your home a new look. A garage door professional can make sure your new garage door is perfectly fitted and safely installed.
How to Replace or Revamp Your Garage Doors
Your turn: What’s your favorite way to boost curb appeal? Tell or show us in the Comments!
More on Houzz
5 Home Exterior Trends on the Rise in 2019
Curb Appeal Feeling a Little Off? Some Questions to Consider
Hire a pro to get your project started
Shop for outdoor home products
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