The term ʽluxuriousʼ is usually associated with the term ʽexpensiveʼ, but when it comes to sprucing up your exterior it doesn’t have to be. It is all about paying attention to details and coming up with ideas on how to make them shine. That’s why we’ve put together a list of feasible makeover ideas that won’t break your bank while they’ll certainly add a touch of luxury to your curb appeal.

Borrow from Nature

It’s enough to step into a park full of lush plants to realize Nature has a luxury of its own. So all you need to do is to invite it into your front yard. The easiest way to achieve this is with potted flowers - vine plants, window boxes, pot planted trees, and hanging pots are all incredibly simple to plant and water. You can boost this luxury further by getting creative with different kinds of pots or baskets. This is the easiest, quickest, and cheapest way to spruce up your porch, stoop, and entryway. 

If you have a garden area, planting bushes and trees are the best way to evade the need for constant watering and weeding. A green entryway will boost your curb appeal mostly during summertime but planting perennials will make it stay green throughout the year and there are even edible plants that will produce crops in the cooler months. Blooming is Nature’s jewelry, so keeping it going throughout the year will certainly leave any passersby breathless. 

Invite Them In

The front door is not only the focal point of the front of your home, but it also ties together the aesthetics of the whole house. It practically serves as an invitation, so it mustn’t look outdated or cheap. The first thing you need to pay attention to is hardware - the peephole, handles, and knockers. If it’s outdated it will make even the nicest door look cheap. After that, you should consider updating the existing molding and eventually a new paint job. Color is the crucial element, so stay away from dull and drab beige doors and go for a bright color that’s welcoming, friendly, and energizing. And don’t forget the details - a new doormat might not seem to make a difference, but it will serve as a nice addition to your entryway. 

People need to feel comfortable and invited at the door, so if you have a porch - weather it’s enclosed, covered, or open - don’t use it as a storage or ignore it. It could be a perfect place for a relaxing sitting area and all you need is some second-hand but comfy furniture.

Love at First Sight

They say eyes are windows to the soul, and when we look at windows we get the impression that houses are really looking at us. So, when choosing windows, you should consider which ones are going well with the overall style of the house. The same way women apply makeup to their eyes, a touch of color on the shutters makes the whole house appear more complete and sophisticated. Even if it’s purely decorative, it adds a contrast to the rest of a facade, so it’s important to make sure they work with your color scheme. If your windows don’t have shutters, adding them will certainly break up the monotony of the exterior. You can go for premade ones or go the extra mile and build new ones with a contractor. 

Safety & Aesthetics

We surround our properties with fences primarily for safety reasons, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also add a touch of luxury. If you ask people about their dream houses, they usually imagine them surrounded by a white wooden picket fence. There is a good reason why that’s so aesthetically pleasing and why it instantly adds value to your home - while it’s a boundary it also makes a home looking beautiful and welcoming, complementing its other features. If you keep your garbage cans outside or people can see your big ugly AC unit from the street, it’s certainly better to provide them with a decorative fence on which they can feast their eyes. Moreover, should you decide that your front requires a more personal touch, you can even tackle this project yourself. 

Railings go hand in hand with fences - if they’re old they’ll make your home look unkempt, but if they’re stable and aesthetically pleasing - such as those made from iron - they’ll clearly show that your home is well taken care of. 

Throughout the Night

Just as your improvements will make your house stand out during the daytime, it is equally important that it maintains this appearance even as the Sun goes down. Improving the lighting is the final logical step - the right lighting fixtures can dramatically change the feel and look of your entryway, even during the day and the impact during dusk and evening will simply be magical. You can attach them to the exterior and use them to line up the sidewalk. You can also have a few strategically placed lights hidden in the garden to highlight different parts of the house. With so many options and designs to choose from you can accentuate all the unique features of your home.

As you can see, adding a touch of luxury to your curb appeal doesn’t have to break your bank. By embracing the natural elements you will already get half of the job done and the rest is like applying makeup - the door is the inviting lips, the windows and blinds as irresistible eyes, and the fences and railings like necklaces and bracelets. And of course, proper lighting is what brings it all together and makes it shine.

Author Bio: Bethany Seton is a real estate agent from Melbourne. For the last two years, she decided to leave her office job and follow her passion for writing and travelling. Currently, she travels with her laptop and writes for various blogs, hoping one day she will gather all the experience she gets in one book.

cover photo © Pixabay