Interior design and shopping for furniture and homewares is a popular pastime for many people, but when it comes to the exterior of a property, people often push its appearance to the bottom of the list. This is a real shame because the first impression visitors will get of your home is the way it looks from the outside. In some cases, an uninviting exterior can make it harder to sell your home, even if the interior is stunning. If you want to your home some long-overdue TLC, here are six ways to improve your home’s kerb appeal and make it welcoming to your guests.
1. Create an inviting path
The most effective way to communicate to visitors that they are welcome in your home is to have a well-kept footpath to the front porch or door. You could keep it simple with a charming flagstone or stone tile path, or you could go for a more ornate finish such as antique tiles, colored patterns, or a monochrome effect. To finish the path, you could also plant flowers, shrubs, or hedges along the sides.
2. Add a welcome sign
Adding an attractive welcome porch sign or a pretty plaque with your house name or number on it can make a surprisingly big difference to the look of your home. When people arrive at your door, they will see that you are someone who is proud of their home and that you have taken the time to create a bespoke sign to show it. You could also add an ornate front door knocker or mailbox.
3. Refresh or replace your front door
A quick but effective way to give your home’s exterior a lift is to paint or repaint your front door. You can do this yourself or hire someone to do it for you if you are not able to. A brightly coloured door will make a big visual statement, while a more classic grey or black will look more contemporary. Think about the aesthetic style of your home before selecting a colour. Of course, if your door is rather old, it may be time to consider a complete replacement.
4. Repaint exterior walls and fences
While it may not be as straightforward to do yourself, refreshing the exterior walls as well as the doorframes and window frames of your home, with a new lick of paint can transform the look of your property. Visit the spruce.com for tips on choosing paint colours for your exterior walls.
5. Plant some flowers and greenery
Planting brightly coloured flowers and lush green plants around the entrance to your home will make it much more inviting. Whether you choose to hang hanging baskets, plant flowerbeds, display potted plants, have climbing plants up the walls or around the door or add a window box, you will breathe new life into your home.
6. Use lighting well
Lighting the exterior of your home is a great idea for practical and safety reasons, but it can also add an extra dimension of interest and style. Solar-powered lights on your pathway or amongst your flowerbeds can look magical at night, and decorative garden lamps will look great at any time of day.