First impressions are important, not only when you meet a new person, but also when you get a first glance at a house. What is your house and yard telling people? From pruning trees for curb appeal to painting your house a friendlier color for a more welcoming feel, you can instantly improve the appearance of your home by making some simple changes.
Prune Your Trees
If you’re not careful, trees can grow out of control and while the shade from those overgrown trees can be nice, an unruly tree can negatively impact your home’s appearance. You don’t necessarily have to chop off a bunch of branches, either. Making a few simple cuts can elegantly frame your house or open up the sightline from your yard to a distant landscape. Balance is important in tree appearance, so if your trees are overgrown, prune a few branches and you’ll see instant results.
Update Outdoor Lighting
Many older houses only have a porch light, which can make the house look a little creepy, especially at dusk and in the dark. Adding motion-activated lighting around your garage door, along any walking paths, and in bushes or trees will give your yard a classy look and will increase the security as well. Hardwired lights are the most reliable, but solar-powered lights can be just as effective in illuminating your beautiful home.
Add a Seating Area
Nothing looks more inviting on a front porch than a couple of comfortable chairs and a small table. There’s something about this simple addition that conjures up neighborly visits complete with refreshing iced tea or comforting hot coffee. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate seating area like you might see in a backyard. It just needs to be welcoming and warm, so add some cushions to your chairs to let people know you’re open to visitors.
Install Window Boxes
An inexpensive way to spruce up your home’s curb appeal is to add window boxes to your front windows. There are all types of window boxes, from wooden crate-type containers to wrought iron baskets, to copper pots, and more. Choose the style that fits your theme and add colorful flowers and plants according to how much sun your front porch receives. If you really want to go all out, try matching the color of the flowers to your home’s color scheme.
Paint Your House… or At Least Your Front Door
Painting your house can be a daunting task, but a fresh coat of paint is one of the quickest ways to instantly upgrade your home’s curb appeal. If you’re not ready for that type of chore, consider just painting your front door instead. The front door of your house is the focal point, so painting it a contrasting color will really make it stand out in a good way.
Conclusion
It doesn’t take a lot of effort to increase your house’s curb appeal and most of these tips can be implemented in an afternoon or weekend. You’ll be amazed at how much better your home looks with just a few simple changes.
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