10 Curb Appeal Ideas That Make a Home Look More Expensive
Looking for a weekend project? I’ve got some ideas. This is the time of year I want to be outside… before it gets unbearably hot- the sweet spot of summer. I also feel motivated to tackle any end of spring outdoor projects, cramming it in before I lose motivation to the heat. Spending a few hours power washing or simply painting your front door can make a huge impact for your home’s curb appeal. If you’re looking for ways to enhance curb appeal or increase resale value this season, click through for 10 easy ideas… these are the upgrades I recommend most often.
This spring we’ve been spending more time at our cabin in the mountains. Plans for our main cabin bath renovation came together quickly and we’re almost ready to share the reveal. We haven’t tackled many outdoor projects yet at that property, but I found the best Adirondack chairs (I chose Polywood) for our fire-pit. If you missed cabin hunting in the Utah mountains, it’s definitely a fun scroll…now onward to improve curb appeal! I’m also considering this my reminder to freshen our outdoor spaces at home. Between the cabin and a new baby, things have been a little chaotic over here.
1. Upgrade Your Exterior Lighting
When it comes to enhancing curb appeal, lighting is one of the most impactful and functional details you can add. I love turning on our exterior lights once the sun goes down. There is something special about walking up to our home in the evening when it’s all lit up. Replacing your dated exterior lighting and porch lights can make a big difference in curb appeal both during the daytime and evening hours.
Start by choosing timeless exterior lighting (here’s my designer guide). We recently installed fence post solar lights… not only are they functional and energy-efficient, but they also add a timeless aesthetic to our backyard and existing fence. If you’re unsure where to install outdoor DIY solar landscape lighting I lay out all of the details and link the lights we used. Not everything has to be hardwired or an expensive project.
2. Pressure Wash Everything
When spring arrives, Emmett and I spend a day power washing our entire patio and exterior furnishings. It’s always my favorite outdoor chore because it offers instant gratification. I’m always amazed how dirty things get over the course of a year. We power washed our neighbor’s deck before we painted it (pictured above) and here is the exterior deck painting tutorial.
Anyway- giving your home exterior, sidewalk, patio, planters, and outdoor furniture a nice cleaning with the pressure washer always makes things shine. I’m linking our pressure washer– it’s budget friendly and does a great job. Talk about enhanced curb appeal on a budget- this tops the list!
3. Add Window Planter Boxes
I’m such a fan of window planters because they’re fun to update seasonally and instantly add character to any exterior. The box pictured above is one I planted outside on our storage shed. By the end of summer, this arrangement is giant and overflowing.
4. Update Your Exterior Doors
We replaced our front door and garage doors, which made such a big difference in terms of aesthetics and energy efficiency. Here is my guide on how to choose the best garage door style & color for your home. Whether you want to replace them entirely or just give them a fresh coat of paint and new door hardware, updating your exterior doors is a smart investment that also improves curb appeal.
5. Create a Welcoming Front Porch
If you have a front porch, I’d recommend adding planters, furniture (if you have the space), an outdoor area rug or doormat, and even replacing your house numbers. Styling your front porch is a good way to improve your home’s look and make it more functional. At our first home (pictured above), we had space for a dining set, which was really beautiful and convenient. Emmett and I loved having drinks outside.
6. Refresh The Landscaping
Landscaping can be costly, but it’s well worth it. If you already have great landscaping, the key is to maintain it and keep it looking nice. Plants, mulch, pavers, and landscape lighting can totally change the exterior of a home. Here are my tips for growing & caring for boxwoods.
7. Tile Over Concrete
The sea of concrete in our backyard was an eyesore. We spend so much time outside and the gray utilitarian aesthetic always bothered me. Here is how to easily tile over an existing concrete patio. This is a great option if your patio is cracked or showing signs of wear. When researching pavers, tile, or brick veneer, I ultimately landed on an affordable, yet aesthetically pleasing option that could accommodate our harsh climate (snow to extreme heat here in Salt Lake City). It’s also a great option for pool surrounds, should we ever want to extend our patio and add one in the future. This exterior home update definitely improved our curb appeal.
8. Build A Storage Shed
Having quite a bit of tools and outdoor equipment, we desperately needed more storage. I designed our charming storage shed and Emmett brought it to life. From the dimensional bartile roof to the window boxes, this added so much character and functionality to our yard. We poured a concrete foundation, built a sturdy structure, and even added a loft inside for maximum storage. If building a custom shed isn’t for you, here are tips for how to find and hire a reliable contractor. Also, there are many options for prefabricated sheds that are easy to build or even have a shed delivered. Having organized storage is an exterior home update that definitely improves curb appeal.
9. Install An Outdoor Kitchen
It has been almost two years since I shared my ideas & design plan for our outdoor kitchen build and I’m very pleased with the aesthetic and functionality it added to our backyard & patio. This exterior home update is one I wish we’d done sooner because we use this space all the time.
10. Paint Your Exterior
I know painting your exterior sounds like a massive chore (and it is), but paint has the power to impact your exterior aesthetic the most. I painted the balcony at our current home (pictured above,). Paint is a great way to enhance curb appeal on a budget.
Questions?
Fresh mulch, front door paint, pressure washing, and updated house numbers are some of the highest impact improvements you can make on a budget.
Classic colors like black, navy, deep green, and charcoal tend to have the broadest appeal and age well. We used Sherwin Williams tricorn black on our exterior doors.
Related Posts
Looking for more outdoor projects or exterior inspiration? I’m going to link some of my favorites for you below…
- 20 Things Every Outdoor Living Space Needs (According to A Designer)
- Chic Garden & Landscaping Finds to Upgrade Your Backyard
- How to Set a Summer Table for Outdoor Entertaining
- How to Build a Custom Outdoor Sofa
- 25 Neutral & Beautiful Outdoor Area Rugs for the Patio
- Grandeur vs Emtek Exterior Door Hardware
- How to Dress Up Your Door With a Classic Door Knocker
- Classic Planters for Every Aesthetic and Budget
- How to Choose a Timeless and Durable Outdoor Dining Set That Will Last
The homes with the best curb appeal aren’t always the biggest or the most expensive. They’re the ones that feel cared for. Focus on a few thoughtful updates, pay attention to the details, and let your home’s architecture do the heavy lifting. That’s usually where the best aesthetic happens. Do you have any other ideas for improving curb appeal? I’m loving tinkering around outside lately, and will gladly add more chores to my list. One big project we’d like to tackle is removing our shutters, but that’s a post for another day. I hope you all have a great week ahead!
A getaway sounds just right! I’m definitely feeling the itch to get out of Dodge. We had started tackling our front spruce up, then I got distracted by my indoor trim painting project. (Getting there!) I definitely need to revisit your house numbers post; I don’t even think we have any visible except on our mailbox. A new doormat is probably also in order. Are the shipping delays getting any better? I keep putting off shopping because I don’t want items sitting around until I’m ready to tackle the project. Maybe I should start ordering…. Two more weeks of school, and then I will really get after my list! Here’s to a productive week!
It was exactly what we needed… the dogs had a blast and we soaked up some beautiful views! How is your indoor trim painting coming along? It’s going to be well worth it! The shipping delays I’ve experienced have only been bad for furniture and larger items. I haven’t had an issue with medium to small size things. Sadly, for our neighbor’s deck it’s a lot of big outdoor furniture (from Lowe’s online). I just found out our upholstered bed for the guest room makeover is cancelled indefinitely because of delays on custom furniture, so it’s back to the drawing board for that project. I’m thinking I might scheme up a DIY and do my own headboard or something. TBD. Anyway- here’s to an awesome productive week ahead! Have a great day, Peggi :) xo
Camping and getting away sounds so good! Do you take the dogs with you?
Power washing is so rewarding! I secretly want to go over to my neighbors house and power wash their moldy driveway…hee hee!
Oh gosh, hate to hear about the headboard being cancelled. I have no doubt you will come up with an idea or replacement that will be beautiful!
Have a great Monday Sarah!
We did! It was really wonderful. I’m thinking i’ll share a “date night” post with photos on Friday. We found a beautiful spot. Power washing is the best! I’d say your neighbors would either be #1) so happy they don’t have to do it, or #2) offended. Haha! I’d be happy if someone crossed a chore off my to-do list for me. Have a great week, Danna! xo
Oops, you did take the pups! I just read that after hitting send.
We did :)
My kids are begging to go camping! They are tired of being at home, and I can’t say I disagree. I’ve been thinking a lot about trying to plan some weekend camping trips close-by and at least trying to give them a small getaway to look forward to. Our list of outdoor projects is getting smaller as the weeks go by, which is lovely to have accomplished some cleanup and exterior updating. We are back to the drawing board on outdoor landscape in the backyard; after cleaning up the two photinias, there is only one left to trim, and two to remove. Sadly, that has revealed a ton of blank space; they used to span the entire wall, but some have died off over the last three years. Now that there will only be three we have the choice to remove those and landscape fresh, or plant more to fill in the space. We are opting for refresh. It’s exciting, but also a large chore that ultimately adds a few more tasks to the list. Haha! We’ve bitten off a lot of projects lately! I still need to replant the beds in the front yard and four huge pots, but we’ll get there soon. This week we are rebuilding the container bed now that those pesky palms are gone! These updates are all great tips Sarah! I’m sorry to hear about the delays in shipping you’re experiencing! That can be frustrating. Out here the only delays we are having are amazon related items. Thankfully! I know whatever you decide for the headboard will be equally amazing! Cheers to a productive week!
It was so nice to get away and unplug. I really enjoyed it. Way to go on tackling your outdoor projects- that’s amazing. You guys have been so busy- definitely see a weekend away camping in your future! I think a refresh for your landscaping sounds like a great plan. Luckily I haven’t had any delays with Amazon yet, but we’ve been in saving mode- so I haven’t made as many personal purchases as normal. Cheers to another wonderful week, Lauren :) xo
Thank you Sarah! My husband and I recently purchased a new home but are looking for ideas how to boost the curb appeal, especially around our garage. This helps a lot! Thanks again!