What’s an easy and inexpensive way to add
”
curb appeal
”
to your house? Well, there are actually four steps to make your
house more appealing without breaking the bank.
What’s an easy and inexpensive way to add “curb appeal” to your house? Well, there are actually four steps to make your house more appealing without breaking the bank.
First of all, just what is “curb appeal?” The definition is simply something about a house that makes you smile when you come home. This may be in the form of flowers, an attractive front entrance, an eye-catching plant or type of statuary, etc. Suffice to say, it has been proven that an attractive landscape can add 11 percent or more to the value of a home (according to a 1999 study from Clemson University).
No. 1: flowers. The most colorful and inexpensive flowers are annual bedding plants. From a to z, things like ageratum to zinnias and everything in between, such as petunias, impatiens, geraniums, lobelia, marigolds, salvia and more. You don’t have to plant flats and flats of bedding plants either.
Simply locate them in key spots, such as out by the curb or next to the front door where they are sure to be noticed.
No. 2: containers. Don’t overlook the fact that flowers or other plants that are planted in containers can put color or greenery right where you want it.
For instance, you should try to downplay or dress up your driveway. After all, the driveway is usually the largest hard area near your house.
Placing planted containers on your driveway will help soften its impact and draw attention to the containers rather than the hardscape.
I’ve even had friends who coated an old driveway with a thin coat of brick-design concrete to complement the brick chimney and porch.
It wasn’t inexpensive, but you don’t have to rip out the old and put down a new driveway.
I’ve also noticed that some new subdivisions come with stamped concrete driveways or even paving stones rather than the old standby gray concrete driveways.
No. 3: focus on the front door. Make sure visitors know where your front door is and then work on drawing people toward it.
This may include adding a curved path from the sidewalk to the house, or building a patio outside the entrance to create an outdoor foyer. Again, not inexpensive, but it could be an investment that will pay off in the long run.
Not all fixes need to involve major and expensive work. It might be something as simple as painting the front door a different color or buying a new front door.
A few years ago, I bought a quart of paint, and painted my front door and front shutters a matching color. Voila, for less than $10 I transformed my home’s entrance.
Of course, the primary focus should be on what you like and enjoy. After all, you’re the one who is living there now.
