Get ready to roll out the welcome mat this summer! Boosting your home's curb appeal doesn't have to be a daunting (or expensive) task. We’ve got 8 low-lift ways to level up the look of your home, just in time for long summer days.
1. Freshen Up the Front Door: Start with the project with the biggest impact: your front door. A front door refresh is the simplest way to up your home’s wow-factor. First, give the door a thorough cleaning with soap and water to wash away dirt and grime and replace ripped or torn weatherstripping that makes your entry look messy. Check the threshold too, and if it’s cracked or worn add a new one—this video explains how to choose the right threshold for your entryway. Next, it’s time to tackle the step that will really get your home noticed: a new coat of paint on your front door. Choose a color that complements and enhances your home’s exterior (read this article if you need some help picking a new color) and use a good-quality exterior paint that can stand up to the elements. Start with a primer base coat to help your paint job last longer; for a typical single door, you’ll need about one quart of primer and one quart of paint.
2. Make a Statement: Why stop with a fresh coat of paint? Upgrade your entryway with a stylish doormat, a welcoming porch light, and a seasonal wreath or some fun and festive decorations. If you have the space, arrange a bench or rocking chair near the front door to make the space more inviting.
3. Take a Hard Look at Hardware: Is your front doorway still sporting a brass doorknob from the 80s? Swap outdated doorknobs, house numbers, mailboxes, and other hardware for more stylish, on-trend options that complement your home’s overall aesthetic.
4. Add Blooms and Greenery: Want to really transform the look of your home? Plants and flowers are the quickest way give your exterior a gorgeous makeover. Choose shrubs and perennials that thrive in your climate and require minimal maintenance to keep them looking their best; use the USDA plant hardiness zone map to find plants that are well suited to your region. As you’re choosing plantings, opt for a variety of foliage colors, textures, and heights to create depth and dimension in your landscaping. Add a vivid pop of color with vibrant annuals in pots, hanging baskets, or window boxes around your home.
5. Maintain Your Lawn: A well-manicured lawn makes your home look neat, polished, and well cared for. Keep grass trimmed to an appropriate height—usually between 2-1/2” to 3-1/2”, depending on the type of grass—and edge along walkways, flower beds and borders to keep it tidy. Fertilize your lawn several times a year to promote healthy growth, and weed regularly to prevent crabgrass, dandelions, and other weeds from taking over your lawn. You may also want to aerate the soil at the start or end of the season to improve drainage and promote healthy root growth.
6. Light the Night: Landscape lighting adds depth and drama to your home—and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Solar-powered lights have come a long way in recent years, making them a cost-effective and eco-friendly way to illuminate pathways and entryways and give your home a welcoming ambiance when the sun goes down.
7. Shower Your Siding with Love: If the long, cold winter left your siding caked with dirt, grime, and mildew, power washing can instantly revive a dull and dingy exterior. Once it’s clean, check for flaking paint, which can make siding and shingles vulnerable to rotting or water leaks; sand and re-paint problem areas, then check for loose siding and repair as needed.
8. Upgrade Your Garage Door: Your front door isn’t the only entryway that needs attention. Sprucing up the garage door and keeping it in good repair can give your home's curb appeal a serious boost. Use a soft cloth or sponge to wash the door and surrounding trim with warm, soapy water, then carefully inspect the weatherseal that runs along the top and sides of the door as well as the bottom seal—if it’s torn and flapping when the door is opened, it can make your home look shabby and unkempt. Watch this video to learn how to replace garage door weatherstripping:
Once you’ve got the door looking good, spend a little time on maintenance to keep it in good working order. This guide explains how to check the balance and safety features and keep your door operational.
