Home Improvement Projects for Added Curb Appeal
The front porch and walkway are the very first thing that your guests see when they visit your home. Keeping this in mind, wouldn't you want to do whatever you could to create a warm welcome for yourself and your visitors? Boosting your home's curb appeal is simple and highly effective; better still, most projects can be completed without hiring a professional or investing a great deal of time and money.
If your home features unique or distinctive architectural elements or creative color schemes, make the most of its beauty by ensuring that tree limbs, shrubbery and hedges are trimmed neatly. Overgrown vines or branches can obscure the view of these details from the street and create a shabby, untamed and neglected appearance that can easily drive down the value of your home.
Although replacing your front door can be quite costly, there are other, more affordable alternatives. For example, one or two fresh coats of paint can do wonders for a drab, lifeless door. Depending upon the color of your house's vinyl and siding, you have a number of options for a color that will complement the entire front facade of your home. Opt for paint that is specially formulated for use on the exterior of your home, and look for a semi-gloss finish. White or light-colored homes look best with a pop of vibrant color, whereas homes with darker brick and sidings do well with deep shades of cool colors like forest green, navy or dark purple.
Landscape lighting is one home improvement project that looks great in both the daytime and after the sun has gone down. Depending upon your budget, you can consider either wired lighting or a series of affordable, decorative solar lanterns. Wired lighting is more versatile and can be used to create a variety of effects to highlight your house, flowerbeds or statuary. Solar lighting, on the other hand, requires only a modest investment to create a defined walkway. Solar lanterns also have the added advantage of being sold individually, allowing you to purchase as many (or as little) as you need to complete the final effect.
If your front entryway is baked by constant exposure to the sun, you may also consider adding an awning or covered porch to create a comfortable, shaded area. This will add visual interest to the front facade and will also reduce the amount of heat that is absorbed into your home through your front door, which could even lead to modest savings in your cooling bills. Creating a shady spot will also make it easier for you to incorporate flowers or greenery in your home's external appearance. This will make container gardening a far more manageable undertaking.
A few updates to the front entryway of your home can have a huge impact on the appearance and value of your home. Consequently, any of these projects is perfect for a quick makeover to suit your own desires, or even as a means to add value to your home should you decide to list it for sale. Either way, your guests and visitors will be clearly impressed as you prepare to greet them into your home.
