According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary of our friends across the pond, “curb appeal” is described as “the visual attractiveness of a house as seen from the street”. A term popularised during the US housing boom of the mid-2000s, curb appeal has remained a popular phrase within the property and real estate business – and with good reason.
While many of us are familiar with the term “don’t judge a book by its cover”, it’s hard not to when it comes to housing. In fact, it’s fair to say it pretty much par for the course. After all, if your house looks like a complete mess from the outside, what does that say about what lies beyond the front door?
Luckily, there are a few very simple ways to change your exterior property from a bombsite to dynamite, and we’ve laid them out in black and white right here for you. Increase your curb appeal with these simple tips that will leave your house looking like the cover of Ideal Home.
Ways to Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal
Go green
Whether you’re looking to sell your house or just spruce up your home’s exterior aesthetics, the first stop for anyone looking to increase their curb appeal is, of course, the garden. So, if you're fortunate to have a front garden, this is the first place to start when thinking about how to increase your home's curb appeal.
The front garden, whether it’s a small strip of grass or a winding path of greenery, is the entryway to your home. As such, it’s important to keep it looking tidy.
A front lawn facelift or a polished pathway can make all the difference, so get the gardening gloves on and prepare to go green!
Tidy the lawn
It may seem obvious, but giving your grass a trim can have a huge impact on the overall ambience of your home from the outside.
Similarly, a jungle that’s overrun with litter and weather-ravaged kids’ toys isn’t a good look for any property either – unless of course, you’re going for the horror movie “creepy house down the street” effect.
So ensuring your lawn is mess-free is the second way to enhance the appeal of your property.
De-weed/plant flowers
Once the lawn is tamed, all rusted bikes have been removed and the sun-faded plastic furniture has been banished to the depths of horticultural hell, you can now begin to give your garden the makeover it deserves.
Unsightly weeds are just that – unsightly. Don’t let your garden degenerate into the Little Shop of Horrors. De-weed and re-seed with some vibrant flowers of your choice to rid your plot of the unwanted offenders and revive your lawn with a touch of colour.
Trim hedges
There are few things more pleasing to the eye than a neatly trimmed bush – a fact well worth remembering when revamping your garden.
Hedgerow overflow can be a real eyesore on any property, not to mention a hazard if they happen to impede on a pathway or reach out into a pavement. What’s more, a wild hedge can shrink the size of your garden. Tame the overgrown undergrowth and keep your shrubbery lovely jubbly.
Jet-wash the path
Using a pressure washer on a garden path can be the patio equivalent of a defibrillator. A quick blitz from this bad boy can instantly bring life back to a fading surface that seemed all but lost.
Think of it as a high-velocity fountain of youth – it’ll knock years off your tiles and brickwork, leaving your path or patio looking young, youthful and good as new.
Garden art
Ornamental garden art can be a great way to bring the personality out of your property and help it stand out from the crowd. If you want your garden to be the belle of the ball (or, in this case, the bombshell of the block), why not accessorise with some arty additions?
Whether it’s a rustic, metallic sculpture, a full-on water feature or a simple, jolly garden gnome, an artistic addition to your outdoor space can bring your lawn to life and turn your garden into a gallery of green, increasing your home's curb appeal tenfold.
Beyond the garden
It’s not just your garden that grabs the attention of passers-by. Curb appeal can stretch right the way up to your front door. Bring aesthetic flair to your property with these simple tips that can offer instant curb appeal right on your doorstep.
Replace old hardware
Remember the intro to the classic ‘70s sitcom, Fawlty Towers? The lettering on the hotel’s sign was habitually out of order, creating weekly comedy gold in the process.
Unfortunately, dodgy numbering and rusty signage are far less funny in real life, not to mention far more off-putting. Whether it’s a rusty letterbox or a cracked doorbell, be sure to replace any unsightly hardware on your doorstep.
Outdoor lighting
Whether it’s a designer hanging lantern or a standard wall-mounted lamp fixture, effective lighting can transform how your home looks in the evenings, creating an inviting environment that radiates curb appeal.
Similarly, solar lights can be placed strategically in your front garden for that extra wow factor, keeping the spotlight on your property, even after the sun goes down.
Symmetry
There’s something about symmetry that makes for a superior visual across the board. Humans are scientifically proven to even find symmetrical faces more attractive and for home design, it’s no different.
Introducing symmetrical design on your doorstep can transform how your house is viewed from the outside. Whether this effect is created via planned placement of ornamental features (e.g. potted plants on either side of the front door) or uniform design of outdoor lighting fixtures, the results remain the same – truly inviting.
Clean windows
Is there anything more off-putting about a house than a filthy window? Muddy, murky or cloudy windows are hard to hide and act more as a curb repellent rather than curb appeal. What’s more, dirt, debris and grime can stain and damage your glass over time.
Keep your windows clean to really let your property shine. Similarly, try to keep the inside of your window equally as tidy. A cluttered windowsill or broken blinds laying pitifully in full view can be an instant turn-off that’s hard to un-see.
Tile doorstep
A grubby surface outside your property can spoil an otherwise flawless outdoor space. From cracked tiles to dirty, moss-covered slabs, it’s a real mood killer.
A doorstep makeover can shift your home’s curb appeal into hyperdrive and act as the cherry on the proverbial curb cake. Whether it’s tiled surface or decking, creating an appealing path to your home is perhaps the greatest way to make an entrance.
We hope that these tips have helped you with how to increase your home's curb appeal. For more information on how to spruce up your garden, drop us a line today on 0800 111 4958 or hit the button below to get in touch online.
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