Get colourful and get thinking about curb appeal

Two words. Curb appeal.

It can make or break your property, and it’s one of the easiest DIY projects you can take on. Ironically, though, so many home-owners fail when it comes to their front yard fixer-upper.

Curb appeal

Meanwhile, the neighbours with the perfectly-manicured, dandelion-free yard give you that disapproving look every time your eyes meet.

A nice, colourful front entrance and well-maintained lawn is your invitation, so to speak. It tells your neighbours you care about your property and it tells your friends “come on in.” And…you’ll no longer have to think “I really have to do something about this yard” every time you pull in your drive.

The time is now and it will take less than a week and not a whole lot of money to make a huge impact on your home’s curb appeal.

Paint your front door

First and foremost, one of the easiest ways to improve your curb appeal is to paint your front door. Years of wear and tear can easily show on a door, and it’ll only set you back about 25 bucks for a gallon of paint. Opt for a bright, complementary colour that really pops when seen from the curb. If you want to take it one step further, replace the hardware and your street numbers. Voila! You’ve got a brand new door that looks great and instantly adds curb appeal.

Let there be light!

Curb appeal 1

Another cheap improvement to add curb appeal is to update your exterior lighting, or if you don’t have any, get some. Depending on how elaborate you want to get, exterior lighting will probably not cost you more than $100. It’s a cheap fix, and will look fantastic in your home.

While you’re thinking about lighting, add some colour-changing solar lights. While some people prefer not to use solar, you can purchase these on sale for 2 for $4 at most home improvement stores. If you don’t prefer colours, you can go for bright white instead. Instant improvement!

Update your mailbox

Updating your mail box is also another quick, easy way to add some instant appeal to your home. Take down the boring black mailbox, and install a nicely-made, hand-crafted wood model. For about $65 bucks, you can have the best looking mailbox on the block, and your mail-man (and neighbours) will thank you for it.

Flowers and plants? Yes, please!

 

And last but certainly not least, add some colour! There’s nothing worse than a front lawn with no plants or flowers. Talk about drab! Buy a staple of perennials that will keep coming back year after year, and save some space to add some annuals every year. Hostas are quite hardy, and can grow in just about any conditions. Complement your greens with bright colours, such as red, white and purple.

Easy peasy. Nothing to it. For just a little bit of money and a little bit of work, your home can be instantly updated, looking fresh and looking good.