Easy Ways to Spruce Up the Outside of Your Home

You may require a little planning and possibly make a few purchases, but the payoff for a home makeover is quantifiable, whether you want to bump up the asking price for your house or just want to lift up your homeowner pride. 

Here are several ways to improve the outside of your home or bump up its curb appeal.

Your house, like your car, needs a wash every so often. Standard rainfall may not get your home’s exterior as gleaming as can be. If you have vinyl, metal or composite siding on your home, you should plan to pressure wash it at least one a year. If you have wood siding, you can hand wash it (as long as you have plenty of large sponges and a ladder) and pressure wash where there’s a dirt buildup.

Why wash your siding? Your home will get dirty so slowly you may not even notice the subtle difference in shade that’s happening over time. Start scrubbing away at the siding, however, and you’ll quickly see that things are far grimier than you realized. This is one of the easiest ways to give your entire exterior a facelift. You might not notice the grime, but you will certainly notice the shine of clean siding. 

If you’re using a pressure washer, you can buy a pre-made solution or make your own out of laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner, bleach and water. If you’re going to make your own cleaner, be sure it’s appropriate for the surface material you’re washing. Another reason to be cognizant of the cleaning products you’re using: There may be some runoff into your grass or garden, and some cleaners can be hard on plants. If you’re using a ladder, make sure to follow appropriate safety precautions.

You can change the framing of your house in a weekend by adding the right plants, shrubs and small trees. When choosing the right composition of flora, you’ll have to consider your climate as well as the sun exposure of each section of your lawn. Choose the right size plant for the space you’re planting in. You’ll have to consider how each piece of greenery expands vertically as well as horizontally.

You’ll also need to take into account how the roots will expand so each growth has enough space to drink water. Not sure how to architect your home’s landscape? Consider that you have to vary the height, leaf structure and colors throughout the pant beds to create depth and interesting textures. If you have the space, create layers that include a background, middle ground and foreground. The background should have taller evergreen plants so there’s always some greenery around the house. In front of that layer you can create interest with more colorful and shapely plants.

The foreground layer is typically shrubbery that transitions your landscape from the grass to the plant bed. You want to consider all angles of your yard. This might mean training a flowering vine to run along your fence. It might be accomplished by placing tall planters on either side of your door. You might also want to consider window boxes. 

Not only will this leave things feeling lively and fresh, but it could also help support pollinators if you choose blossoming varieties.

In Feng Shui, the front door is a very important part of your home. It’s where energy enters your home and represents the face you present to the world. Keep this area free of clutter and give it a nice color that feels inviting to you. The front door is one of the few spaces where almost any color works well, so feel free to get creative. A red door can be really iconic. A yellow door can be welcoming. A blue door can make your home look like it belongs on a postcard.

This might be the easiest upgrade on the list. Most townships require your house number to be clear and visible. Why? House numbers give emergency responders and postal employees the information they need to do their jobs promptly and safely. Not only is it a good idea to make sure your home numbers are in good condition, but this is also a wonderful opportunity to add a little personality to your home. Of course, make sure that whatever you choose is easy to read.

You don’t want people getting confused reading the numbers.

Not all outdoor upgrade needs to be in the front of the house. Consider adding backyard features that encourage your posse to spend more time in the yard. Perhaps a fire pit, hammock, hot tub, patio furniture set or even lanterns can help make the outside of your home more welcoming.

Not only do these things look inviting, but they’re also a lot of fun to use. (Be sure to look up the burn regulations in your area before having a fire, however; some places don’t allow personal fires during extreme weather conditions like droughts.)

Okay, this last suggestion may not be that easy, but it is important. Most roofs last a while, but when they starts to sink, lose shingles, crack or otherwise function worse, it might be time to consider a replacement. Speaking to a roofing company can help you figure out whether you simply need a bit of patching or whether you should be replacing the entire roof.

This can be a big expense. Speak to professional roofers as soon as you notice wear and tear; if you know in advance roughly when you’re going to need a new roof, it’s easier to financially plan for it.

Taking care of your home’s exterior can improve your property’s value, encourage you and your household members to get outside more often, and present you with a welcoming vision every time you come home.