14 small ways to add big curb appeal to your home

What is the value of a first impression? According to research from the University of Texas at Arlington, first impressions on your home can be worth 7 percent of its value. For a person looking to sell a home, that can be a significant incentive to beef up your home’s curb appeal. But even if you aren’t selling your home, tidiness is good for your mental health, too.

Whether you’re looking to sell a home or just want to spruce it up, focusing on the exterior beauty of your home is a great way to make it feel more inviting to anyone who may be walking or driving by — including yourself. If your home needs a little TLC, you don’t have to go overboard on time or cash to make a big impact on your home’s curb appeal. Here are 14 simple ways to make your home more inviting.

If you’ve neglecting your shrubs, garden beds, and other areas of your yard, it may be time to take care of the overgrowth that’s happened in outdoors. Overgrown shrubs, invasive plants, and weeds can make your yard look incredibly unattractive. But some simple maintenance can quickly fix the problem. Take the time to clean up your overgrown yard by working in stages and planning out what you want to keep, remove, and replace. A little lawn care can go a long way in boosting the appearance of your home.

A simple, yet effective, way to keep your yard looking its best is to make sure your yard is well kept. If you have any patches of dead grass, seed and fertilize your yard in the fall and early spring to make sure the grass roots properly. Then, be sure to mow and edge your lawn to keep overgrowth at bay and to make your borders look their best.

If you’ve removed overgrowth, planting new shrubs and flowers can add color and help your home feel more welcoming. Consider installing window boxes and planting seasonal flowers that have a variety of colors and height. You could add a small flower garden around a mailbox. And you can enhance your porch and steps with potted plants that do well in the shade and interesting containers that lend visual appeal to your home.

According to Angi, the average price of a gallon of paint in 2024 is $25. And for that $25, you’ll have enough paint to give your front door a fresh coat of paint that makes an incredible first impression. From bold blues to mild but earthy hues to today’s hot blacks and the soothing Pantone peaches, a bit of paint can breathe new life into your home and make it a stunning way to invite people inside.

If you’ve been in your home for a time, it’s likely you already are thinking about small repairs that need to be made. Whether it’s a crack in a sidewalk, peeling paint, wood that’s rotted or damaged, or something bigger, repairing these issues can make a big difference in your home’s curb appeal. Some of these repairs may even help your home become safer for anyone who may be visiting while also

One of the simplest ways to bring new life to your home is to clean up the exterior by pressure washing it. Pressure washing is good for removing dirt, mold and mildew, and any other natural elements that could cause issues with siding or roofing down the road. You can rent a pressure washer or hire professionals. Be sure to wash all areas of your exterior, including your patio, deck, concrete surfaces, outdoor furniture, as well as your siding.

If your windows are dirty with streaks and grime, it can make your home look like it’s been neglected. Keep your windows and doors looking their best by taking time to dust, wipe, and wash them carefully. If your windows have a lot of grime, start with soap and warm water, or even begin with pressure washing, before you clean the glass. Divide the chore into different days so you aren’t giving to tackle a tough job all in one day.

While there are some things you should know about replacing your mailbox, such as what the United States Postal Service requires, you don’t have to ask permission from the USPS to update your mailbox. And this simple swap can go a long way toward modernizing or updating the look of your home. To add some new style to your yard, look for a new mailbox that matches your exterior and is durable and easy to clean.

If the numbers on your house feel old and outdated, you may not even notice them outside of your home. A simple way to modernize your home and give it a bit of character is to install new numbers on the exterior. Whether you want a simple swap of house numbers or a complete personalization of your address, this new hardware can boost your curb appeal immensely and make your address stand out in new ways.

If there are any spots on your home that need a touch up, add it to your task list to make your home feel more polished and cared for. If possible, you’ll want to try to stick to using the same method that was used to paint your original home. And if you don’t have a bucket of paint sitting around in storage, you can use color matching technology on your phone or from a hardware store to create a match. You can always hire a handyman or painting company to give your entire home a new look, too.

One of the simple ways to boost curb appeal is to add landscape lighting to your yard and gardens. Not only is landscape lighting a great way to beautify your home’s exterior, but it can also add a level of safety to your home as well. In addition, Better Homes and Gardens says outdoor lighting can boost your property value by around 20 percent.

Wreaths are welcoming ways to invite people into your home. Fortunately, there are wreaths that are readily available for all seasons, so whether it’s a holiday or you want a summertime design that will brighten the door if you’re trying to sell your home, this décor is a great addition to your home.

If your home has outdated lighting and hardware on the outside, all it takes is a bit of planning to make it fresh. New outdoor lamps are a great way to freshen up the exterior, as well as swapping out hardware on your doors. You can also think about adding or updating things like shutters and railings to give it a new look and feel that invites people in.

Whether you have a small porch or large one, there’s a possibility to add massive curb appeal by adding a seating area. Think about adding rocking chairs or cozy furniture. Adding plants, outdoor cushions, and pillows can add a massive amount of beauty to a front porch and make people want to linger just a little longer — yourself included.

What are you doing to liven up your outside and boost your curb appeal? Share your story in the comments below to let us know.

The Jim Allen Group provides access to information on this blog/website as a public service for educational purposes only. Although reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all of the information made available is current, accurate, and complete…[read more]