More plants! Fresh hardware! New gutters!
Small touches that can be done in a day — think hardware swaps or new plants. Bigger investments add a wow factor — like new gutters or a deep clean.
It’s likely that, if you have one, your outdoor space — be it a yard, front porch, or back patio — has seen more use than normal this year. With everyone spending more time at home, renovation projects have surged over the last six months (just look at the numbers), and upgrades to exteriors have been of particular interest.
If your home is in need of an exterior refresh — maybe after six months of looking at the same color, you just want a change — there are so many ways to upgrade, both cosmetically and for functionality. Any dedicated DIYer has cycled through dozens of projects by now, but there are other changes you can make to up your home’s curb appeal. Here are eight ways that you may not have considered, from easy updates that can be done in a day, like upgrading hardware, to bigger interventions like replacing gutters (yes, seriously!).
Small touches
Give your home a new look in just a few hours at an affordable price with these simple solutions.
Dress up the hardware
The first thing people think of when considering a front door makeover is the color, but if you’ve already tackled that quarantine project, move on to the hardware. When was the last time you changed your house number? There are hundreds of fun and interesting styles on the market today, from slim mid-century modern digits to hand-painted tiles.
A new door handle in brass or blackened steel can instantly make a door look new, especially when paired with a matching knocker. And don’t neglect the light. It’s worth it to invest in quality fixtures for the front porch since they take a beating from the elements (and are one of the first things people see). But if that’s too much of an investment, refresh the base of the one you have with a coat of spray paint.
Add outdoor art
Outdoor art can easily cross the line from tasteful to tacky — hello, kitschy metal animals and garden gnomes — but when done right, it can add a wow factor that sets your house apart from the neighbors. No need to invest thousands of dollars in a custom statue, but if you do want a statement piece, turn to an online handmade marketplace for a wide range of outdoor sculptures at surprisingly affordable prices.
A stately stone bird bath could be the centerpiece of your front garden, or visit your favorite thrift shops for mirrors that could be repurposed in the garden. Consider hanging metal wind spinners or glass mobiles from a tree or the front porch ceiling to catch the sunlight.
Pile on the plants
A symmetrical pair of planters would look quite classy framing your front door, but for something with a little more personality, take a more-is-more approach. Fall is the best time to create an instant, layered garden because of the abundance of colors found at your local garden center.
Choose sturdy mums in a range of hues to ground your scheme, and add in a few evergreen bushes to keep some color through the winter. Mix in colorful, shapely foliage like purple kale and cabbage for interesting textures. Blooms like pansies, strawflower, and zinnias, along with wispy grasses, can fill in any gaps. Finish the look off with a wide range of pumpkins and gourds.
And don’t stop at the front porch: Install window boxes and add a few plants and flowers around the mailbox in the same theme to create a cohesive look that will be irresistible to any photographer passer-by.
Disguise unsightly items
A super easy way to instantly upgrade your exterior is to hide the things that aren’t so easy on the eyes. For example, you can plant shrubs around your air conditioning unit — just make sure to stay several feet away from it so that airflow is not obstructed and efficacy is not affected. While shading the condenser can be a good thing, you need to account for several feet over top and around the machine. And, of course, easy access to the unit for any repairs or maintenance.
