Are you looking for ways to keep the outside of your home looking as fresh as the inside? Do you want to add a bit more curb appeal to your house and have your neighbors dropping their jaws? If so, then you need to read up on a few home exterior tips to do the job right.
You might be surprised at how big a difference a small renovation can make. Not all exterior improvements have to break the bank.
See below for several tips and tricks that you can use as you think through different exterior home improvement projects to do with your home.
1. Touch Up Your Front Door
Let’s start with the front door of your home. Typically, whenever you look at the front of the house, the door is the first thing that your eyes gravitate to.
Assuming your home faces the street, the front door is the first thing that you’ll want to prioritize as you aim to enhance your curb appeal. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to replace your door to improve the aesthetic (unless you want to, of course).
You can simply touch up the door by covering it with a fresh coat of paint. Try to paint it a color that provides a friendly contrast to your home’s siding color. So, for example, if your home’s siding is a light color, paint the door a darker shade to provide an eye-pleasing balance.
After you’ve laid down a fresh coat, you can also switch out the hardware by replacing the door handle with something more modern.
For those of you that are interested in replacing the door completely, consider adding one with a few more windows on it. It can provide your home with some beautiful natural lighting to enhance the beauty inside and outside.
2. Replace Your Siding
Perhaps you’re getting sick of looking at the current vinyl siding on your home. Maybe you want to replace it with a different material in order to improve the exterior.
First things first, you’ll want to inspect the vinyl siding to see if it was incorrectly installed. If so, then your siding might be susceptible to things like mold growth, water damage, holes, pests, and many other threats.
For those of you that are considering replacing your vinyl siding, there are a few telltale signs that it’s time to do so. The first sign is when you notice the siding is starting to warp. It might be due to excessive access to sunlight or enduring an immense amount of heat, such as being located near a grill.
You should also replace the siding if there are signs of mold or the color of the vinyl is starting to fade in certain areas. Discoloration makes your entire home appear much older than it actually is.
If you notice any signs that you need replacement, be sure to read this article by Factory Direct Siding on how to replace the siding and get your new siding installed right away.
3. New Mailbox
For all of you that have mailboxes up at the very front of your property, consider this: that’s the first element of your house that people get exposed to.
Often times, homeowners just opt for the standard black metal mailbox or the green plastic mailbox without giving it much of a second thought. But if you’re standing directly out in front of your home, does the mailbox gel with the rest of your property’s aesthetic?
If not, then you’ll want to fix that right away. Why not ditch the old mailbox and aim for one with a more modern design? While you’re at it, consider installing a mailbox up against your front door rather than up against the street.
The best part is that the front door mailboxes are so much cheaper. You can get a high-quality mailbox for between $40 to $50 apiece.
4. Add Window Shutters
Have you always thought that something was missing from your windows? Maybe it feels as if they’re missing a bit of definition? If so, then you should consider adding shutters to your windows to make them pop a bit more.
Doing so can help you make your curb appeal more exciting and comfy. You can paint the shutters to match the accent colors of your door frame, window frame, roof trim, and so on.
Much like painting your front door, you’ll want to go with a color that offers a contrast to the color of your siding. That way, the shutters are definitive when people drive past your property.
5. Hide Utilities
While you might not have much say in whether your neighborhood utility boxes are around your property or not, you can choose to do something about them.
What better way to disguise them than by hiding them with a few luscious green bushes and bushy plans. Utility workers can still access them easily, but they won’t stick out like a sore thumb in the front of your home.
They have easy access to the utilities and you have a way to hide them from plain sight. Everyone’s happy!
Use These Home Exterior Tips to Your Advantage
Now that you have seen several home exterior tips that you can use to upgrade the curb appeal of your home, be sure to use it to your advantage.
Start by walking around your property and writing down a list of the things that you think need to be improved. Once the list is completed, list them in order of priority and create a budget to go along with it.
Be sure to browse our website for more articles on home renovations, as well as many other article topics that you will enjoy.
