If you own an older home, chances are it still has that Leave it to Beaver or The Brady Bunch feel to it. Chances are, it’s time to change that appearance. Your neighbors may be thinking the same thing. There are a number of things you can do to improve the appearance of your home’s exterior. These are just a few of them.
Cut Back the Greenery
One of the quickest things you can do is trim back your shrubbery. Overgrown greenery could be hiding your home, making it look like a rundown house in the middle of a jungle. Cut them down to a reasonable level; rework your entire landscaping if necessary. Replace existing bushes with ones that won’t grow so high, and layer them so that your eye flows from the street up to the house.
Don’t forget to mow the lawn. We have all seen yards where the owner does not do this often enough and the front yard seems more like a field of two-foot tall weeds than the prologue to a home. A well-manicured lawn is not to be underappreciated.
New Coat of Paint
Altering the color of your house would make for a great update. That 1970s yellow-tan does not work that well anymore. Try changing it to a more pleasing cool color. Not one that is too bold; find a hue that you like but is somewhat muted. Your neighbors may be forced to look at an eye sore if you use too bold or too bright of a color.
While you are at it, freshen up the paint on the trimming of your house. White tends to get dirty. That dirt never fully vanishes, even after pressure washing. Darker colors fade over time. If your trim is still its original coat of paint, now is the time to spruce it up.
Cover Up the Brick
Does the brick on the outside of your home make you cringe? You may think there is nothing you can do about that; you’re stuck with the brick. You would be wrong! There are creative ways to handle dingy brick to spruce up the outside of your home.
You can cover that old brick with a layer of concrete; and not just concrete, but concrete of the color of your choosing. Make sure your foundation is in good repair before doing this otherwise any damage to your home will come through the concrete; it is a decorative cover after all, not a fix-all.
Front Door
Your door may need a fresh coat of paint as well. Do not simply use the same color of paint; now is your chance to change it to a shade that enhances your home’s appeal. Try using a clashing color to the one on the exterior of your home. Again, do not use too bright or too bold of a tone. You want the front door to stand out yet seem natural.
Think about installing a completely new door as well. These come in a wide array of styles and designs that could add detail to your home’s exterior. Modern style doors typically have straight lines and sharp angles. They are minimalist in appearance, offering little other detail to them, but that does not mean they do not offer detail to your home. These are perfect for homes with sleek lines instead of curving trims and porches.
Traditional style doors are usually made of fiberglass, metal, or wood. You can install these straight from the store and usually come with pre-made designs. Custom order one of these if you find a design that you like. You will have to wait for the final product to arrive, but once it does you can add spice to your exterior that you did not have previously.
Consider a door with a window build in. A larger section of glass can increase the lighting inside your house while a smaller one creates an air of elegance. Regardless of the size of the window, it is the look that matters. Choose a door with the right design and the right size section of glass that fits the look that you want your house to have.
Create a Porch
If it is within your budget, consider expanding your roofline out. If you do this, you can add a beautiful porch to your home where one did not exist before. Choose a decorative style of posts to enhance the look of your porch and the overall feel of your house.
Do not forget about the trimming along the bottom of your extended roof, make sure it matches. Depending on the style you have chosen, you may want to include fencing around your porch for added effect.
These are great ideas. We recently screened in our front porch and now we can actually enjoy being outside.
These are great ideas. We recently screened in our front porch and now we can actually enjoy being outside.