Whether you’re looking to love your home more or are preparing to sell it, curb appeal is crucial.
If you are selling your home or wanting a refresh, we’ve got 17 easy ways to improve home curb appeal. We made sure to include plenty of budget-friendly options and ideas that only take a few hours to complete
With these curb appeal tips, you can create a neat, inviting home that attracts buyers and wows guests.
17 Easy Ways to Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal
- Tidy Up
- Makeover Your Mailbox
- Add New Hardware
- Add a Pop of Colour with an Accent
- Level Up Your Landscaping
- Add or Upgrade House Numbers
- Make Your Front Door Stand Out
- Pay Attention to the Garage Door
- Add a Patio
- Install Window Boxes
- Add Outdoor Furniture
- Install Outdoor Lighting
- Add Instant Beauty with Potted Plants
- Power Wash the Exterior Surfaces
- Renew Paint, Railings, Siding and Trim
- Refresh the Driveway
- Clean the Windows
1. Tidy Up
The first tip to improve curb appeal is something you can tackle right away: clutter. Take a good look around your home’s exterior. Are there toys scattered about and all over the front path or verandah? Is there a garden hose tangled up? Are there shoes piled up outside the front door?
Show potential buyers that you care about your home by presenting a tidy exterior. Organising your yard, paths, and entryways can go a long way in improving curb appeal and creating a more welcoming environment.
2. Makeover Your Mailbox
It may not be the most exciting upgrade, but a new mailbox is worth considering. As one of the first things prospective buyers or guests see, it is crucial that your mailbox is in good shape.
Little details, such as a nice mailbox, let guests and buyers know that you likely take good care of the rest of your home. A mailbox can also show off a bit of personality or complement your home’s style or colour.
3. Add New Hardware
Worn or outdated hardware is a little detail that can have a big negative impact on curb appeal. Adding new hardware is a cheap upgrade that can instantly elevate curb appeal.
We recommend brushed nickel hardware for contemporary or modern homes and oiled-bronze finishes for traditional homes.
4. Add a Pop of Colour with an Accent
A bold exterior feature or accent piece can add a pop of brightness and personality to your home. This can set your home apart amongst the competition and improve curb appeal.
Try a pop of colour through:
- A bold front door
- A vibrant bench
- A statement gate or fence
- Colourful outdoor furniture
- Plants in colourful pots
5. Level Up Your Landscaping
A yard with weeds, overgrown bushes, or dying plants usually isn’t a positive sign for potential buyers.
Show buyers a well-maintained yard by:
- Making sure garden beds are well cared for, weeded, and watered
- Replacing any faded mulch with fresh mulch
- Pulling any dead flowers or plants
- Pruning overgrown shrubs or trees
- Paying attention to any garden borders or edging that need to be replaced or reset
- Raking any leaves
- Mowing your lawn regularly
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6. Add or Upgrade House Numbers
Replacing house numbers is an easy, cheap house upgrade that will instantly boost curb appeal. Faded or worn house numbers can give buyers a poor first impression.
7. Make Your Front Door Stand Out
We recommend paying close attention to the current state of your front door. Is it well-maintained, inviting, and well-suited to your home? Or does it look outdated, worn, or out of place?
Ensure the front door is clean and free of any dirty spots or stains. Add a fresh coat of paint, if needed.
8. Pay Attention to the Garage Door
Just as the front door is important, the garage door also affects curb appeal. A new garage door can instantly boost a home’s curb appeal.
If a new garage door isn’t within budget, make sure the garage door is clean and try to repair any cracks or faded areas.
9. Add a Patio
Increased curb appeal is one of the many benefits of adding a patio to your home. This is a more costly curb appeal upgrade, but it also offers immense impact and can increase your home’s value.
Adding a custom patio instantly elevates curb appeal and adds style and function to any home.
A dedicated outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining is hugely appealing to buyers and can increase your chance of selling your home.
10. Install Window Boxes
Window boxes add instant charm and bring a whimsical quality to any home. Choose boxes that add a pop of colour to your home or complement your home’s style. When choosing flowers, consider whether the plants will receive full or partial sunlight.
11. Add Outdoor Furniture
Inviting outdoor furniture can create an inviting atmosphere that offers excellent curb appeal. Add outdoor furniture for a comfortable space to sit or a convenient spot to remove shoes before walking in the front door.
Here are some outdoor furniture ideas to add to your verandah, deck, or patio.
- Swing
- Rocking chairs
- A bench
- Adirondack chairs
- Wicker chairs or sofa
- Ottoman
You May Also Like: 15 Patio Furniture Ideas to Create an Outdoor Oasis – Aussie Patio Designs
12. Install Outdoor Lighting
We love how outdoor lighting can instantly transform a backyard. We featured outdoor lighting as one of our 8 Outdoor Home Improvements That Raise Home Market Value.
Landscape lighting adds warmth, security, function, and beauty to any backyard. Use accent lighting strategically to light a pathway or patio area. Use a variety of lighting types to add visual interest, such as:
- Hanging lanterns
- Solar lights
- String lights
- Rope lights
- Wall-mounted lights
- Step lights
- Outdoor lamp poles
13. Add Instant Beauty with Potted Plants
Plants and flowers add instant vibrancy, personality, and visual interest to any home. Create a lively, inviting atmosphere with minimal effort by adding potted plants.
Use a mix of pot sizes and colours and drought-tolerant or native plants. Improve curb appeal by strategically placing potted plants on the verandah, by the mailbox, along walkways, or by the driveway.
14. Power Wash the Exterior Surfaces
A good power wash is an excellent way to ensure a good first impression of your home. Power washing clears away debris, mildew, and unsightly stains to instantly refresh your home’s exterior.
Always double check with the manufacturer, but these surfaces are generally safe to power wash:
- Aluminum
- Wood siding
- Vinyl siding
- Wood decks
- Concrete sidewalks
15. Renew Paint, Railings, Siding, and Trim
Exterior items that are worn out, faded, or in disrepair will instantly decrease curb appeal and possibly turn buyers away.
We recommend paying attention to:
- Stoop and porch railings
- Gutters and downspouts
- Trim
- Paint
- Siding
16. Refresh the Driveway
The last thing you want is for buyers to have to pull up to a driveway that is stained, caked with mud, or cracked. Give your driveway a good pressure cleaning, pull any weeds, remove stains, and repair any cracks.
17. Clean the Windows
A beautiful backyard and lovely home can quickly lose curb appeal if the windows are dirty. This is particularly true if you have a wall of windows facing the street or numerous windows.
Whether you tackle the job yourself or hire professional window cleaners, sparkling windows are worth the investment.
Bring Your Dream Backyard to Life with Aussie Patio Designs
Improving curb appeal doesn’t have to be overly time consuming or expensive. Many upgrades can make your home more appealing to buyers in just a matter of hours.
Need help making your backyard your favourite place to be? We’ve been helping Perth homeowners bring their backyard dreams to life for almost three decades. Contact us to book your free on-site quote for a custom patio to get started.
