When arriving home from a long day at work, are you first hit with how much work your house needs? An inviting space that makes you feel relaxed and happy can transform the experience of coming home. Perking up your home’s exterior doesn’t have to be a big investment. Some simple updates can really make the architecture stand out and give your home a completely different feel. Here are some of the best and simplest ways to make the most of your home’s exterior today: |
- Pressure washing – Before you start, see if the siding on your home looks dingy. Stucco, composite sidings, and other materials show dust, pollen, and more during the year. Invest in a pressure washing treatment to see the true potential of your underlying structure. You may be surprised at how different the outside of your home looks after a thorough cleaning. It will also improve the look of your porch, walkways, and driveway.
- Lighting – Look at your home’s exterior lighting at night. Does the lighting highlight your home in an inviting way? Consider changing out dated fixtures and adding accent lighting in the yard to showcase your home and add extra safety at night.
- Exterior doors – A new door can add personality and help your home feel like a different place. If your interiors are dark, try adding a storm door that is both inviting to your visitors and allows natural light into the home. Choose a contrasting door color that complements your home’s design and makes walking through the threshold a better experience. Even changing out your locks and door handles can make a difference in the overall feel of your front stoop.
- Get rid of dated features – Some homes have wrought iron railings or brick columns that don’t match the personality of the home. Change or refinish your current, dated accents so that they better reflect you and your home. Try adding a bronze finish to match iron railings to your light fixtures, or paint brick columns to give some added dimensionality to a largely brick house. If you can’t afford to change the front entirely, simply changing the color in strategic places can help.
- Landscaping – The landscaping is as much a part of your home’s exterior as the siding and doors. Keep your plants simple and well-tended to add the look of polished professionalism. One way to make any combination of plants stand out is to really define your beds with mulch or pine straw and a striking border. Clean edges are timeless and can make any home look great.
- Shutters – Maybe your home doesn’t have shutters or the shutters are so boxy and boring that the whole house looks dated. If you’re tired of the look, get rid of your shutters completely and add a new border to your windows. Since shutters today are largely decorative, you can easily choose a shuttered or shutter-less window design to update your house.
Whether you choose a small DIY project or call in the professionals for a renovation project, remember that small changes can be very affordable and change the way your entire house looks and feels.