During the warmer months, our yards can become a big overgrown. Sprawling bushes creep out of their shapes, grass slithers into concrete crevices and weeds spring up in the middle of the front lawn. Amidst the business of the summer, we forget to sweep the porch, clean the windows and touch up the paint on the shutters. One day it dawns on us—my house needs a makeover.
Good news is a boost in curb appeal doesn’t have to cost a fortune. There are simple things you can do yourself to transform the front of your home. From retouching your landscaping to spritzing up panel siding, you can have your home looking brand new with these simple steps.
Declutter Your Yard
Step one is getting rid of all the over grown plants around your lawn. Even if you like a rich, garden look, knowing when to trim your plants is healthy for them and will give your yard a fresh start.
This also might be a good time to evaluate the plants you really want around your house. If you’re looking for a dramatic transformation, the easiest way to do it is with a change in landscaping. Maybe the bushes by your porch are looking a little old, or your flower beds haven’t changed for years. It’s time to rip out the old, and make way for the new.
If small trees are cluttering up the view of your front door, consider cutting them down. Keep only your most mature or beloved plants, and give yourself permission to tear the rest away.
A Pop of Color
There’s nothing like a good color scheme to transform the front of a house. When’s the last time your shutters were painted? Have you considered putting a wreath on your door? What about a whole new door, altogether?
If you have the money and your front door is getting a bit old, you might consider hopping on the colored front door trend. Sanding down your preexisting door and doing a paint job yourself is a lot cheaper than buying a new door, and the new splash of color will transform the look of your house.
There’s more you can do than just paint, though. Consider replanting your flower beds with blooms that match your paint or compliment the color. Evaluate the color scheme of your house—is it warm, with pale oranges and yellows, or cool, with faded blues and greys? Coordinate the hues of your plants with your home’s color and design. The result will be a house that looks expertly put together and perfectly cohesive.
Touch-Up Jobs
Your transformation must include a few touches up jobs. If you have a brick wall, it’s entirely possible you’ve got a few vines creeping up the sides. Your side panels probably have a lot of dirt embedded in them, and the window panels are shedding paint flakes.
There are several reasons the power sprayer should be your new best friend, and the biggest one is how easy it makes cleaning concrete, paneling, and windows. Intense, pressurized water can strip away dirt that has seeped into the concrete of your front porch or drive way, and clean out the grooves in your paneling. Suddenly your walkway is sparkling white again and your house looks like a whole new color, it’s so clean! Transformation central, over here.
Replace the Old and Damaged
If you have the money, one of the easiest ways to make your house look newer is replacing your windows. Consider updating your window panes to a more modern style, and replace the glass with energy-efficient panes.
If your porch lights are filled with bugs and need new bulbs, consider replacing those as well. If you’re looking to make your house look more current, replacing old style lights with newer ones creates the appearance of an up-to-date house. You may not think to do it, but replacing your garage door can not only reinvent the look of your home, but can also increase the value of your property.
Outdoor Furniture
What good is a beautiful house that you can’t enjoy? Besides providing a fun place to visit with friends or enjoy the evening with your spouse, front porch furniture can really improve the look of your house. Consider brightly colored chairs and coffee tables that complement the color scheme you’ve got going on, or incorporate a new color into the mix!
Outdoor decor, such as bird houses and wind chimes can also add a bit flare to your yard—but you don’t want to overdo it. Cluttering up the view of your front door and windows would be moving backwards, if you remember how we decluttered at the beginning of the article.
That being said, your home should be yours. Get creative and personalize the character of your house, while transforming its look. Home improvement has never been so fun!
Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.
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