If you’ve lived in your home for decades, you know how it can start to look worn down or outdated. Perhaps several different homeowners lived in it before you did and you never got around to removing their garden gnomes from the yard. Maybe it never occurred to you until now that your front walkway could be more than just a utilitarian means of getting from the street to the door. Or maybe you simply no longer feel that the look reflects your current taste.
Each home is different, of course, but there are some universal solutions that you can adapt to your outdated house. Whatever the reason for the makeover, here are eight ways to refresh the exterior of your home:
1) Front Door
The front door is the first thing people see when approaching your house, so it should feel welcoming. It may just need a fresh coat of paint or you might decide that a whole new door better reflects the overall design of your house.
2) Lighting
To ensure that your front door looks warm and welcoming, install a porch light. This could be a subtle low-voltage light bulb or a compact fluorescent bulb to save on your energy bill. If you want the lighting to be part of the design, choose a festive hanging lantern, post lantern or wall sconce.
Image source: Wayfair
3) Front Porch
A front porch is another great way to make your home look inviting, especially if you add a rocking chair, loveseat or porch swing. Add some extra details like a hip-high railing, plants or a hanging lantern for extra character. Make sure, however, that you don’t clutter up the porch with too many things, like unused bicycles and baby strollers — it’s not a storage unit!
Image source: Country Living
4) Front Walkway
The front path from the sidewalk to your door should not only be clutter-free and easy to walk on, but you can make it aesthetically appealing, too. Line the path with flowers, lighting or a rock garden, use stone or brick instead of the traditional cement, curve the path, or add steps.
Image source: This Old House
5) Garden
Take the front path one step further and use a landscaper to beautify your front yard. Even if you don’t have a lot of space, you can still plant flowers or bushes. If you have more room to work with, add a small fountain which is attractive, calming, and masks street noise.
6) Siding
The easiest way to ensure your home looks fresh is to regularly rinse down the siding or, for a hardier cleanse, wipe it down with a 3:1 water and bleach mixture. Or maybe it’s time to replace the siding on your home, in which case you might opt to upgrade the look to insulated vinyl, cedar or hardboard. If you need help, check out our blog post Choosing Siding Colors for Your Home.
7) Roof
Same goes for your roof. Take a good look at it (or hire a professional contractor like us for a free inspection and estimate!) to ensure that there are no leaks or moss or missing shingles. Or perhaps it’s just time to completely redo the roof with a bold choice like Southwest-style clay tiles! Ok, maybe that idea’s best suited to hot climates with little rain, but the point is to think about interesting and attractive options other than the roof that your house came with.
At Signature Exteriors, we proudly use these roofing materials:
Asphalt Shingle Roofing
Owens Corning Family of Roofing Products
TPO Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing
Rolled Roofing
EPDM Roofing
Mulehide Roofing
8) Window Shutters
It’s been said that your eyes are the window into your soul, and while we wouldn’t go so far as to call your windows the eyes into your house’s soul, they are definitely important aspects of your home’s exterior look. Not only do they provide natural lighting for the interior (so keep ‘em clean!), but they can easily and simply add to the curb appeal of your house. Install window shutters. Add bold colors, natural wood or interior shutters — there are endless options to beautify your windows!
Image source: Lowe's
So there you have it--plenty of ideas to give your home’s exterior a makeover. What other ideas have you implemented on your own house? Let us know in the comments below!