Secrets Of Curb Appeal For A Beautiful Home Exterior

You don’t need a major renovation to refresh your home’s exterior. So why wait until something is broken, chipped, or worn out to make improvements? Enhancing your curb appeal isn’t for selling—it’s about creating a home you love.

Fresh accents can enhance your home. Adding fresh throw pillows to your deck chairs or hanging a few plants can make a big impact. Plus, you’ll enjoy a small excitement every time you arrive home. Like the excitement of discovering new betsoft slots, refreshing your home’s exterior can bring fun and satisfaction. Let the curb appeal sprucing start by trying a few update suggestions.

Paint A Bold Front Door

Painting is affordable and easy to change. For a classic look, choose a historic color common in your area. Deep Charleston green gives a near-black effect, while soft coastal blue feels relaxed. Want something bold? Anne Daigh loves rich gold, mustard, and ocher, which pair well with brick or white homes. Her other favorite? A vibrant raspberry shade on a white house.

Plant Colorful Pots

Use planters and seasonal décor to keep your home looking fresh. Use topiaries or potted plants to frame your entrance. Also, add hardy evergreens like boxwood for greenery all year round. For color, choose blooming annuals, but keep it simple—contrast is key. Avoid pink flowers against red brick, and try purple or blue against white homes. Daigh suggests sticking to one or two colors, like white and green, to make your plants pop.

Build a Great Fence

You can still create that welcoming charm even if your home isn’t a traditional cottage. “A picket fence might be a classic, but it always makes a home feel inviting—like open arms reaching out,” says Daigh. A wooden fence with diagonal cuts adds the right touch for bungalows or Craftsman-style homes. More formal architecture, like Georgian homes, pairs well with a wrought iron fence. Keep it low—no above 32 inches—to maintain a friendly, open feel.

Spray Away Grime

Pressure washing is quick, inexpensive, and satisfying. Think of it like shining your shoes—an easy task with a big impact. “It’s far more affordable than repainting the entire house,” says Chauncey Clark, a Realtor with The Peninsula Co. in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Plus, you can rent a pressure washer from a local home improvement store and tackle it yourself.

Show Off Your Home

Too many plants can hide your home’s beauty. Daigh suggests keeping some of the foundation visible for a polished look. Boxwoods make great anchor plants, and placing them at the corners adds structure. Keep landscaping trimmed. Choose grass or low ground cover under six inches for a neat look.

With Window Boxes

They’re like puppies—adorable but high-maintenance! Daigh says you need to water window boxes often, sometimes even daily. Make sure you can reach them. Planters should be at least 12 inches deep to give plants plenty of space to take root and thrive. Good drainage is key. Daigh prefers dwarf boxwoods and ivy as a base, swapping in pansies for winter and a different annual in the summer for seasonal color.

Design A Pretty Pathway

A curved walkway, like a classic picket fence, adds charm. It makes a home feel more inviting and special. If you can’t reroute the path, pick older materials. For a timeless look, try reclaimed brick pavers or weathered stone. “It creates a sense of intrigue, drawing people toward the front door,” says Daigh. When you mix concrete with limestone chips and pea gravel, pathways can look naturally aged.

Grow The Good Vines

Not all climbing vines are the same. When maintained, they add fairy-tale charm, but if overgrown, they can look spooky. Climbing roses require a lot of care. In contrast, climbing hydrangea is low-maintenance. Its soft, self-clinging stems look great all year. In warm climates, Jackson Vine stays green all year. Star Jasmine brings fragrant blooms, but it only grows well in the Deep South.

Splurge On A Big Swing

The classic porch swing has some competition—the bed swing is taking over. This style isn’t uncommon, but nothing says “friendly and fun” like a vast, comfy, pillow-topped lounger on the front porch. Vintage wrought-iron gliders and classic wooden rockers are also great for a timeless, relaxing setup.

Accessorize The Right Way

Make sure you have an attractive mailbox. Clark says to align your home’s exterior with the neighborhood for a more balanced look. If you’re selling, swap out the college flag for a modestly sized American or state flag. “You never know—potential buyers might be from a rival school, and in the South, that’s no small thing!” he jokes.

 

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