Have you visited your friend and been somewhat jealous of their home before you even get inside? Curb appeal is an essential part of home design because it is the first impression of your house. Spring is a few months away, which means it is the perfect time to start planning ways to boost your home’s exterior design. Here are a few ways that you can improve your curb appeal:

1. Clean Up

It’s time to do that power wash that you have been postponing. A deep clean can automatically give your house’s exterior the sparkle that you desire. Clean the inside and outsides of your windows, as well as the exterior walls, driveway, and sidewalk. In short, everything that needs cleaning. A good power washer will help get the work done efficiently. You don’t have to own a power washer since you can rent one out from professional cleaners around you or see if your friends who own one are willing to lend it to you.

2. Create A Usable Outdoor Space

The spring season is generally warm. Therefore, it might be a good idea to create an outdoor area where your friends or family can hang out whenever they want to enjoy that outdoor environment. It also adds architectural interest to your home. Consider the style, space, and the best location to set up one without making your yard look overcrowded. Also, consider furniture designs that complement your yard and use materials that can withstand weather conditions. 

Wood naturally works for most outdoor setups, and it also gives you many design options to choose from. You can make more elaborate additions like adding a fireplace, TV, skylights, etc. If you start the building plans early enough, You should be finished before spring. If you desire a complex setup, be sure to get an approved building permit to advise you on how far you can go with that. However, if you already have a space, do the necessary renovations like painting the outdoor seating or replacing the furniture. 

3. Add Inviting Décor

Decor is a great way to show off your interests and personality, but you do not have to limit it to your home’s interior only. Your exterior could also use some accents to give that finishing that you need. You can make simple additions like:

• Rolling out an attractive and durable welcome mat at the front door

• Brightening up the exterior social space using colorful cushions 

• Dressing up your yard with modern planters that suit your style

• Adding outdoor wall art to your porch

All these options are continuous works in progress, so you don’t have to do all of them at once. 

4, Add New Light Fixtures

There are many lighting fixtures that you can consider based on your style. These range from; landscape lighting, floodlighting, decorative porch lighting, and pathway lighting. Each of these has its functions. 

Besides using light to enhance your home’s outdoors, they also add security to your home. For example, floodlights are best suited for security, and they cover a large space area, while the landscape lighting will mainly highlight your yard’s greenery section at night. Therefore, you need to know what type of lighting you need, but more importantly, choose lighting that takes care of your security and offers the visibility you need during dark hours. 

5. Refresh The Exterior Hardware

You may do everything necessary to give your curb a new look, but if you’re still stuck with rusty gutters and worn-out doorknobs, then you won’t have changed much. Go to a hardware store and swap those old doorknobs, handles, and even your mailbox for new ones. These adjustments may look tiny, but they also add to the powerful visual statement that you need for your home.

6. Add A Water Feature

Water features can be a lot of work, but they certainly bring any homeowner's style to their yard. If you have space in your front yard, they are that exceptional addition you need. However, adding a water feature to your yard requires planning, various considerations, and it’s also crucial that it survives across all seasons. 

A birdbath is the best bargain if you need simple and low maintenance but attractive style. It’s budget-friendly, doesn’t need filters, pumps, installation fees, and attracts wildlife to your yard. That would be a worthy investment; don’t you think so?

7. Do an Exterior Repaint 

Have you noticed some cracked or peeling paint on your exterior? A touch of paint can give a whole new look to your front door, garage door, walls, window shutters, outdoor furniture, etc. 

Most homeowners would prefer to take on projects by themselves; however, sometimes, it is easier to hire a professional painter to do it professionally and efficiently. Depending on your location and the color to use, they will be most suited to advise you on the best type of paint to use without crashing. 

8. Attend To Dead Spots In Your Yard

Besides having the responsibility to maintain our homes, everyone is busy trying to make a good livelihood, giving a time-limiting factor. It’s not a bad thing, and you don’t need to feel discouraged if you can no longer take care of your favorite flowers like you would want to, as other more manageable low-maintenance potted plant options can brighten the front of your home like you want. 

You can consult a professional gardener about the best options that suit your environment. Purchase new plants, get rid of the weeds and other plants that are in bad shape and replace them with your preferred plants.  If you wish to maintain your garden beds as they are, replace the plants that need to be replaced and add a fresh layer of mulch in a variety of colors if you wish to, to make each plant stand out. Consider adding decorative pots to your flower beds too. Also, don’t forget to trim your lawn and restore your grass. 

There's a lot involved in boosting your curb beside your landscape. Invest your time in fixing everything and making those tiny additions that you need, and within no time, your curb will achieve that spring refresh that you need.

Author’s Bio: Jenn Walker is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.

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