Your home tells a story, and when you're thinking ahead to selling—whether that's a year or ten away—that story can make a big difference in winning over buyers. Painting the den, investing in new family room furniture, and updating your kitchen cabinets are all price-boosting improvements you make on the inside, but what about the exterior?
Enhancing your curb appeal is all about beautifying your yard so that you, and any future owners, can enjoy it to its full extent. What kind of story will your outdoor spaces tell if you implement some of these touch-ups?
Add some fencing and a gate
Fencing might not be the easiest update to your yard, but it can be one of the most beautifying. A stylish gate can add a classy touch and serve as either a functional addition to enclose your yard or a decorative accent when affixed to a fence that just runs the length of the sidewalk.
There are so many options, so decide what look you're going for in general, and choose a gate that matches your dream aesthetic, whether that's white pickets or wrought iron.
Construct an arbor over your new gate
Arbors are a lovely addition to a yard, inviting guests through a dreamy portal into your personal realm. This decorative addition can be quite striking when the design complements other features, such as a gazebo.
Complete the look by getting some climbing vines going on the trellis siding, and soon your home will look like it's straight out of a Jane Austen novel. You could even install small lights that illuminate the arbor when the stars come out.
Green up your lawn
Those climbing vines shouldn't be the only greenery in front of your home. Your lawn is your outdoor carpet, basically, an extension of the family room! A lush, green lawn does remain a massive plus in the curb appeal department, though climate change-related thoughts on this are slowly adjusting.
If you're keeping grass, fertilize as needed, and make sure you mow on a regular schedule. Raking leaves in the fall and ensuring your lawn has enough water (shade trees can help cut back on evaporation) during the summer will keep your grass verdant.
Create a designer pathway
A home with a clearly defined pathway has class and character. Whether you opt for flat, colored stones, a brick path, or brightly colored pebbles, a trail leading from your front gate to your front door is inviting.
A second path that splits from the main walkway and winds around to the side of the house says, "Come check out the barbecue in the back." Consider lining the way track lights for the evening hours.
Trim those shrubs and bushes
Well-maintained shrubbery enhances curb appeal. Bushes and hedges that have become overgrown have the exact opposite effect. If you have bushes in front of your fence, trim them to nice, flat tops at or just below the fence line. They won't encumber your line of sight or that of passersby admiring your yard, and they'll look sharp.
If you plan to sell your home soon, well-maintained outdoor flower gardens are a great selling point too.
It's okay to remove some things
All this talk of adding this or adding that for curb appeal is great inspiration, but sometimes, less really is more. This couldn't be more true than when speaking of lawn ornaments. Do you still have gnomes, but have gone away from the whimsical in your yard? Consider finding them a new gnome home.
Any broken ornaments or other items that don't pair well with your new installations should go. Removing what no longer serves your exterior plans can highlight aspects of your yard that may have been hidden. Remember, open spaces don't always look empty—they can also evoke calm and relaxation.
Light up the night
Clean your front porch light fixtures. If they're outdated, consider updating them to match the rest of your renovation theme. If Christmas is the only time of year you have lights strung outside, you're missing out. Adding some yard lighting opens up options for outdoor adventures after the sun goes down, any time of year.
Solar walkway lights can light your paths, while multicolored fairy string lights lend a magical touch.
Add some plants on or around your porch
Verdant green foliage and pops of color can up your curb appeal game without costing too much. Consider potting containers of different sizes and materials.
If you plan to place containers where they'll be exposed to the elements, look for pots that can hold up to the weather in your area. For your porch, consider round planters in various sizes arranged with larger pots in the back and smaller ones in front.
You need a place to sit a spell
All these updates are cause for celebration. Once you've completed your curb appeal updates, you'll want a place to sit and admire your accomplishments. Your front porch or front yard patio is the perfect spot to create an outdoor seating area.
Consider some comfy chairs, a couple of end tables, a larger main table, and maybe even some throw rugs. Your yard should be open and welcoming, a cozy space to relax and unwind.
Dress up your door
Your front door is possibly the most critical piece of the curb appeal puzzle. After all, this is the portal into your domain, the doorway through which friends and family come for coffee or to visit for the holidays.
Consider painting your door a vibrant color or buying a brand-new design to match the rest of your exterior updates. Complete your new look with a fresh wreath to match the season: lilies in the springtime, daffodils in the summer, lavender and cedar in the fall, and one fully decked out with frosted pine cones and cranberry stems in the winter.
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