Simple Ways To Improve Your Curb Appeal
Improving your home's curb appeal can have a number of benefits for homeowners. Your house will look nicer from the street, and if you're trying to sell or rent out the house, you'll attract more interested lookers who want to see the inside. However, many people don't really know where to begin with making exterior improvements, and big items like siding and windows might not be in the budget. Here are some things to consider that will make an impact.
Repair or Replace Garage Door
Many people don't give much thought to garage design. As long as the door is there and working, what else could you ask for? However, if your garage door is a prominent part of how your home looks from the street, you might want to consider replacement garage doors that will elevate your exterior.
For example, if you have a basic white door with no design, it might show more dirt and scuff marks, and it might look dated. Instead, you might look at the age and features of your home and choose something with more character. For example, if you have a brick home with a beautiful wooden front door and wood porch pillars, you might also get a wood garage door to tie in the look. The grain from the door will look beautiful next the brick, and suddenly the garage is one of the nicest aspects of your curb appeal.
If replacement is not possible, you might paint your door or add some hardware, like faux handles, to bring a little dimension to the door.
Add More to the Landscape
A flat lawn of grass, even if well cared for, is like a blank canvas. It doesn't draw people in, and most passers-by will not even notice it. Your landscape should help draw people's eyes to your entryway. Add some potted flowers to your porch, or even some planters below the front window. If you can, you might even add pathway lighting. Other improvements that can make a difference include:
- a small tree in the front yard. A flowering tree adds color and beauty in the spring.
- a brick pathway instead of a basic concrete one. The bricks add color and texture.
- a small rock bubbler or stream. Rocks bring color to a landscape, and the water brings movement and sound.
The best part about landscaping is that you can always keep it within your budget. There are more costly projects and more affordable ones. Adding some mulch and flowers is inexpensive. Putting in brick or water is more expensive, but something is always better than nothing when it comes to curb appeal.
Improve Your Entrance
With gorgeous landscaping and a beautiful garage door, you now need to focus on the entry itself. If your door is old and plain, you might consider painting it to stand out from your siding and trim. Of course, it's also important to make sure your "stand out" color isn't too bright or trendy. A fuchsia door will stand out, but won't add to curb appeal. Robin's egg blue, light grey, olive or hunter green, harvest yellow, black, or red (if you're bold) are some colors to consider. If you can, try and match your door with your garage door for optimal consistency.
You can also improve your entrance by adding a nice railing to your front steps. If you have a flat-fronted home, you might even consider adding a porch to give some variety to the front of the house.
For more information on garage door repair or replacement, contact a local garage door company.
