Now, it’s been my experience that exterior upgrades generally cost a lot more. The cost of materials is higher, and the labor involved is oftentimes more than an average DIY-er could tackle, especially if we’re talking about siding or paint changes, new windows or doors, hardscaping, landscaping, or changing the elevation by adding a porch or something. We were fortunate to receive new siding last year after some pretty extensive hail damage. Here is the before and after:
Obviously new siding and/or whole-house paint jobs aren’t always financially possible. However, we’ve recently added something that didn’t cost a lot at all, and it got me thinking about other ways to add a lot of curb appeal for NOT a lot of money. So I’ve rounded up 10 ideas for you. Hope you find something you can use!
Here’s the update we recently made for about 30 bucks:
I came across a garage door hardware kit at Lowe’s, and just love what it has added to our garage door. Our home came with this random hayloft type-thing on the garage, so we decided to go with it and make the garage door look more barn-ish. Next, we’re adding a cupola to the roofline. Here are some other ideas…
2. Hang Old Glory
Front porches and American flags are just meant to be together. It’s so simple, but if you don’t have one already, find a spot to hang Old Glory and try to tell me it doesn’t automatically boost your curb appeal.
3. Paint the Front Door
It bears repeating. Not nuts about your front door? Paint it! Exterior doors are hundreds of dollars but a quart of paint is do-able. You may not be able to change the color of your house, but sometimes just changing the color of the front door is enough.
4. Add Architectural Detail
Amarr Garage Doors via Vignette Design
Pergolas are easier and less expensive to build than porches, and you can train vines to grow over them for tons of impact.
5. Spruce Up Your Mailbox
If your mailbox is on the curb, it’s literally the first thing someone sees when they’re looking for your house. Make sure it’s not an eyesore!
6. Replace Outdoor Sconces
These don’t even have to be spectacular or expensive to be a huge improvement.
7. Remove or Replace Storm Door
This update is more expensive that my other suggestions, but it’s one of my biggest pet peeves…a storm door that covers half of the front door! If you need a storm door, get one that’s full-view. So much more inviting. They’re about $200, but it will make all the difference.
8. Edge and Mulch Your Beds
If you’ve got flower beds, get out a shovel and edge those babies! Fill in with fresh mulch and you won’t believe the difference.
9. Go with Green
Let’s face it, not all of us are gardeners, nor do we aspire to be. And perennials are expensive! So if you’re not sure which color flowers to choose, go green. It goes with everything. Some people might disparage hosta, but I love them. They come in a variety of shades of green, they’re inexpensive, they grow fast, they’re hard to kill, and you can divide them each spring and replant in other places. If you’re intimidated by all of the choices at garden centers and don’t have the budget for professional landscaping (who does?), buy several hosta, plant them in a somewhat shady spot, wait a year and two, and you’ll love how lush your home looks. Ferns are another good one. Hang a few, and your home instantly looks more home-y.
10. Plant One Vine
Going along with the gardening theme, I think it’s incredibly intimidating to plan landscaping without prior expertise. Rather than make mistakes and waste money and time, go with green (as I said above) and choose one flowering vine as a showstopper. The above pictures say it all. You don’t have to have much else going on…one gorgeous vine can do a lot. Most of them require a sunny spot.
I hope there’s something on this list you haven’t seen or thought of before. A lot of the lists I’ve seen for adding curb appeal include things like building a porch, getting new windows, or installing a brick walkway, and I always think, “Well, yeah! I could change the look of my house pretty easily with stuff like that!” But I think several little changes can make a huge impact, too. Good luck!
Love these ideas – thanks for sharing! Hugs, Holly
http://coconutheadsurvivalguide.com/blog/
All very good ideas. It is amazing what a big difference the smallest change can make. Thanks.
Thanks for the tips. We recently moved into a new home (from a very old one with lots of charm and landscaping) with a bare yard. I don't want to spend a lot of money but need to do something. I think I'll start with some green 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
Sarah
http://www.creativeramblingsblog.com
This a great roundup of ideas! We're selling soon so Curb Appeal has been high on our to-do list. Now that we've completed some of it – I LOVE it. It will be some of the first things I tackle in our new home.
– Lora @ Craftivity Designs
These are some great ideas, thanks for sharing! We would love for you to share at our new Super Summer Saturday party here: http://www.thechirpingmoms.com/2013/06/super-summer-saturday.html
Thanks!
Julie
Totally agree, Jessica. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for visiting, Holly! Have a great week!
It's sad to give up those charming details, isn't it? I always referred to our new house as the Beige Box until we started working on it. Now it's starting to look like home. Thx for coming by!
It makes such a difference when you pull up to your house, doesn't it? Thx for coming by, Lora!
I'll have to check that out, Julie! Thx for visiting!
Love all your ideas here! curb appeal makes a huge huge difference and you have listed practical and easy steps to achieve this. Come and visit my blog when you get a chance.
What great ideas! Breaking them down into little projects makes it seem so much more manageable. Where is the exterior light fixture from in your top image? I LURVE it, and haven't seen anything like it!
These are such good ideas! I love when little things can make such a big difference! Thanks for linking up at Whatever Goes Wednesday. This was the most viewed link last week, so we'll be highlighting it at tomorrow's party! We hope you'll come back and link up again 🙂
#truth, haha. These suggestions are right on point! I hope to implement some of these on my house next year. We don't have a builder-basic house, She's actually an old 50's ranch. But all the homes look very much the same in our neighborhood nonetheless. Pinning, OF COURSE!
I recently painted my door, mail box post and house numbers a very vibrant turquoise! Up against my dark grey house, it looks FANTASTIC!
Wow, Your content has good information, I liked it, I would like to thank the author for this post. Keep sharing like this…Birmingham Remodeling Contractor
Great article! We're currently working on a 50s ranch getting it ready to move in. Thanks for the tips!
iequalsalissa.com
Thx so much for stopping by! Hope you come back again soon…
Love your ideas. Many we have already done on our 70's red brick rancher with no landscape. the difference in unbelievable. Surrounded my many newer homes the neighbors have been amazed. Now more ideas! thanxX
I think your ideas are great. They are practical and mostly inexpensive. "it's one of my biggest pet peeves…a storm door that covers half of the front door! If you need a storm door, get one that's full-view." Unless you have active young children. My brother fell through a full glass storm door when he was a tyke and suffered many cuts that required stitches and left scars. Your pet peeve might be someone else's way of protecting their child.
Ah, you're right. I stand humbly corrected. Let me restate: "A storm door that covers half of your front door isn't as stylish, but if you have young children at home and are afraid of them falling through one that is full-view, it's a good idea to sacrifice on style until they're older." Thx for pointing that out!!
These are such good ideas! Thank you for sharing these ideas with us.
Flush Door Manufacturer in India, Block Board Manufacturer in India
You got a really useful blog I have been here reading for about an hour. I am a newbie and your success is very much an inspiration for me.
Seal Coating Atlanta & Concrete Contractor Atlanta
I liked the content on this site. Would like to visit again.
Siding Contractors medina & Roofing garfield Heights
You got a really useful blog I have been here reading for about an hour. I am a newbie and your success is very much an inspiration for me.
Roofing Loganville & Siding Contractor Loganville
Thanks for your tip about painting the front door. My wife and I have been landscaping our front yard. Now we are thinking about starting on the house. I'm not much of a designer, but I can add paint to the front door.
http://www.melbourneunitdevelopments.com.au
Thank you for this blog such a great help to us.
Contemporary Garage Door