How to Boost Your Curb Appeal for the New Year
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You’ve got a spotless living room, your pantry is organized and you’ve successfully perfected the modern farmhouse dining room table décor. But from the outside, your home lacks charm. Here are some small ways to increase the curb appeal and make your home seem more inviting from the outside.
Clean your house!
You scrub the inside but often we forget to deep clean the outside of our homes. To keep it looking like new, clean it up with a power washer periodically. You can purchase one yourself or, in some areas, you can hire someone else to do it for you. Wash the windows (inside and out) and clean the gutters, downspouts and all doors, including garage doors.
Paint
Paint is a sure-fire way to boost the curb appeal of your home. Apply a coat or two of the same color or choose a new shade. If you’d like to paint it the same color, scrape a small swatch and bring it to the paint store to match it. Also paint the door, trim and shutters in a shade that complements the rest of your home.
Pay attention to the details
These details include door hardware and handles, light fixtures and house numbers. Polish the hardware or replace it with a style that complements the home, such as oiled bronze for traditional styles and brushed nickel for contemporary styles. Purchase new numbers with the same finish as your hardware or purchase an address plaque to affix to your home or place in your yard.
Update the style of your exterior lighting.
If you’re replacing lights, look for ones that have the same mounting system as your current ones. Add more lighting to increase the safety of your entryway by installing an overhead fixture or wall sconces.
Nurture your landscape
A well-maintained landscape and lawn add to your home’s appeal. Mow your lawn regularly, mulch and weed the garden beds and prune overgrown shrubs. Also, clear away any overgrown vines or invasive weeds that have crept into your landscape. In addition to mowing the lawn, add seed or sod to any spots you see during the wetter seasons of the year so that in the Summer, you’ll have a green and full yard. You can add color to your landscape with a few potted plants and flowers.
Tasks such as replacing missing mortar between bricks, resealing cracked asphalt and touching up faded or cracked paint may seem insignificant; however, these small things can make a world of difference in how your home appears to visitors!
