What comes to mind when you think of the curb appeal of your home? The curb appeal is the allure and visual appeal of your home from the outside, and this idea or opinion can be formed way before people know who lives on your property or even set foot within your property lines. Curb appeal comprises all the visual aesthetics of your property and determines what is worthwhile based on this first impression. With first impressions being formed in seven seconds and people’s minds being notoriously hard to change once this impression is formed, it is little wonder why people are turning their attention to how their home looks to others from the curb.
But the curb appeal isn’t just for catching people’s attention; it can also boost your own enjoyment of your home and even increase the property’s value, making it more likely to sell and less likely to languish on the market should you list it. The personal satisfaction that comes from enhancing your home’s curb appeal is a reward in itself, a testament to your efforts, and a source of pride.
There is no hard and fast way that you need to follow or adhere to, i.e.; you need x,y, or z in place to meet a checklist to declare your home’s curb appeal perfect. Your home’s curb appeal serves as a canvas for your personal expression, reflecting who you are and what you love. It should blend seamlessly with the style and theme of your home, helping it look its best and appeal to anyone rather than becoming a talking point in the neighborhood for all the wrong reasons.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at some different ways you can boost the curb appeal of your home so that whatever the season, whatever your mood, you can elicit a smile each time you approach your loving abode.
Clean and Repair
Cleaning up the exterior of your property isn’t always as easy as cleaning the interiors, but it’s not impossible. In many cases, the use of a good jet or power washer can work wonders. Target hard landscaping and walls, clean your siding, fences (if applicable), gates, and structures, as well as porch areas and the roof. Power washing of roofing requires careful attention to avoid damage and is best performed by professionals.
Clean windows and doors by hand, rather than using power washing, to avoid damage. Also, clean up furniture, fittings, and ornaments outside. Never underestimate the impact that cleaning can have; washing away dirt and grime buildup from the air can instantly revive and refresh your home’s look and feel.
Additionally, address damage or repair issues that may occur in external areas, such as window frames, holes in fences, damaged gates that don’t close properly, or ineffective siding that no longer serves its intended purpose. Whatever needs fixing or addressing, write a checklist and work your way through it to improve aesthetics.
Lawn Care
If you have a lawn around your property, especially the front, as this is where your curb appeal will be formed, it needs to be taken care of and kept neat and tidy as well as lush and green all year round. And if this evokes images of suburban families mowing the lawn every Sunday and performing extensive lawn care duties to maintain the thriving green oasis around their home, embrace it and go with it. Not only does a lush lawn look good, but it can boost the appeal of your property and even improve your mental health. Whether you “touch grass,” to quote a pop culture reference or not, being in the presence of nature and thriving greenery can improve mental health and help you feel better.
Security and Safety
Integrating security features and safety aspects can be a great way to enhance how people access your property, especially if you are planning to sell. From adding handrails to steps or integrated slopes to entranceways, there are plenty of accessible features you can integrate into your property outside to help people access the home more easily. And they don’t need to be ugly amendments to the property. For instance, you can choose handrails and slopes that match the color scheme of your home or opt for stylish security lights that enhance the look of your home while providing safety.
When it comes to security options, this is more about practical solutions than aesthetic ones. Not only can strategically placed security features offer you peace of mind, but they can also be a determining factor for someone interested in buying your home. They will know you have the security features in place, so they can add their own or benefit from your choices if you opt to leave them in place.
Plants
Plants are extremely versatile for any home, and they can be incorporated in multiple ways to enhance the property. The studies into the benefits of plants and flowers can’t be underestimated, as they all point to the fact that flowers and plants improve mental health and emotional well-being. Adding this joy and calm to your home through plants can be a great choice, as it brings a sense of tranquility and happiness to your living space.
Firstly, they don’t even need to be real if you can’t physically undertake gardening duties or you don’t want to care for plants and keep them alive and thriving all year round. You can add artificial varieties instead of real options. These can provide the same aesthetic benefits without the need for watering or pruning. But regardless of your choice, you can add plants to raised flower beds alongside pathways or walkways, for example, or around lawns, you can create borders around your lawn to add plants and hedges to replace fencing around the boundary line, and you can add hanging baskets, potted plants or oversized planters wherever you see fit, and you can even add in structures, i.e., an archway over your path to grow trailing plants.
Paint
Paint can be the perfect remedy for giving your external features a new lease of life. You can paint your siding, and you can paint fences, gates, garage doors, and front doors. You can also paint or stain decking, furniture, and even paving slabs; it’s entirely up to you. But a fresh coat of paint can be eye-catching and give you a completely new look fast.
