You have probably seen houses with overgrown lawns, overgrown shrubs and plants, peeling paint, messy yards, or filthy lighting fixtures. These things can be evidence of carelessness, and if you see them on someone’s property, you might think the house isn’t as attractive or valuable as it could be. Even if the property is clean and beautiful on the inside, a neglected façade or unsightly appearance can turn off potential buyers. Here are some lawn and house curb appeal ideas.
Curb appeal refers to how appealing your home and yard are when seeing in from the curb. It relates to the first sight of the people when they come to your house, such as the front door, flower beds, driveway, trim, garage door, lights, and lawn. If one of these things you missed, it might cause bad impact to your house appearance. So, make some improvement to your house. You can get some home ideas through websites like homeguidelines.com or ohanahomeimprovement.com.
If you want to sell your house, curb appeal is necessary since it can affect the price and length of time it stays on the market. According to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) 2018 Remodeling Impact Report, 94 percent of real estate professionals say they’ve recommended to their sellers that they improve the curb appeal of their homes before offering them for sale.
Take Care of Your Lawn
It’s time to step up your lawn care game if your grass is not lush and green or weeds have taken over. Load up any bare spots in your lawn with grass seed or, if necessary lay new sod. Use fertilizer to give your lawn the nutrition it needs to grow healthy and beautiful, and pesticide to keep pest away. Make sure your yard is getting enough water. Most lawns require 1” to 1.5” inches of water per week, although this varies depending on the kind of grass and how much rain or sun it receives.
Get Rid of Clutter
Removing clutter is a simple and easy approach to improve the curb appeal of your house. Remove any visible children’s toys or gardening tools, and repair or dispose of any damaged or worn outdoor furniture, broken planters, or old yard ornaments that don’t improve the appearance of your property.
Deep Clean
It’s essential to keep your driveway, siding, outside walls, and windows clean. Give them all a good cleaning, and if your driveway and sidewalks aren’t looking their best, consider pressure washing them.
Clean up Your Landscaping
Improve the looks of your home’s landscaping by pruning your shrubs and other plants to make them bloom, and trimming your trees to remove dead branch. If you ever want to add texture and color to your landscape, weed your flowerbeds. Mulch them and plant new plants and flowers.
Upgrade Landscaping
To boost curb appeal, you don’t have to completely redesign your yard. A new layer of mulch and a row of bushes that match will mean a change. To achieve faster results, choose species that grow quickly or purchase larger plants.
Add Potted Plants
Plants can provide life to a space and make it appear more lived-in and well-maintained. According to Thee, “variable heights of annuals or perennials arranged together on either side of the sidewalk may create a huge statement for your curb appeal.” So choose some easy to take care plants for your potted plants like Nigella, Aquilegia and many other plants.
Balance the Garden Beds
Layers abound in the most beautiful gardens. Find all sorts of heights and textures of both evergreen and deciduous plants. The tallest should be at the back, while the shortest should be in front. According to Missy Henriksen of the National Association of Landscape Professionals, “consider plants with a strong impact, long-lasting blooms, or fascinating foliage.”
Bring in New Bark
Mulch not only adds color and contrast to beds, but it also keeps the soil moist and prevents weeds from spreading. Avoid dyed mulches since they may contain contaminants, and instead go for natural materials native to your area, such as tree bark or wood chips in the Northeast or crushed shells in Florida. “Lay about two inches of fresh mulch on your beds each spring; it will decompose throughout the year and give important organic fertilizer for your plants.
Trim Trees and Bushes
Cut overgrown bushes and trees, cutting branches that block pathways, windows, the driveway, and views of the home from the street, to give your home curb appeal. It’s important for people to see the front of the house.
Except for very giant tree branches, you can probably get away with a piece of hedge or pruning shears. To keep costs down, borrow a pair of shears from a friend or neighbor if you don’t have your own.
Make the Windows Sparkle
To make your home glow, clean the windows both inside and out. Washing outside windows is simple if your home’s windows tilt out. Otherwise, you may seek the assistance of a friend or family member to keep a ladder steady while you work. To remove dirt and cobwebs from outdoor windows, spray them with a garden hose. Then, using a tiny amount of vinegar or detergent dissolved in warm water, sponge them down and rinse. If your windows do not tilt out and you need to wash them from the outside, consider using a long-handled brush.
Enhance the Look of Your Front Entrance
Anyone that enters your property will see your front entrance, therefore it should be well-maintained. Repair any broken portions and repaint your front door. During the procedure, don’t forget to repaint the trim. Freshly painted trim may certainly improve your home’s exterior.
Update Your Light Fixtures
Lighting that is out of date, faulty, or dirty can ruin a lovely façade. As long as you like your existing porch and landscape lights, you should clean them, but if they are old or broken, it’s time to replace them with something new. Choosing a piece that suits your home’s style and architecture is important.
Repair or Replace What’s Broken
Disrepair can make a home look unkempt and reduce its curb appeal. Inspect your siding, eaves, and fences, and if necessary, repair or replace them. The curb appeal of your home can be considerably enhanced by these repairs.
Update your Mailbox
It’s probably time to update or replace your mailbox if it is dented or bent over, or if it appears dirty, worn, or outdated. A fresh coat of paint and some new address numbers can improve the looks of your mailbox.
Update Hardware
Christina Salway of 11211 Interior Design advises, “Replace your street numbers.” “Do not overlook the importance of small things such as replacing shabby old street numbers with something new and modern. It can be life-changing and only takes 15 minutes and $15!” It’s the same with door hardware (doorknobs and door knockers).
Conclusion
Whether you decide to sell your home or stay in it for a long time, you should make improvements to its curb appeal. You’ve put a lot of effort into your home, and you should enjoy spending time there, both inside and out. The front of your house may appear just as good as the rest of it with a little effort, money, and elbow grease.
