Every homeowner knows how important curb appeal is and there are always all sorts of questions about how to update the exterior of our homes. However sometimes it’s hard to know where to start; should you put your budget toward new paint or your wilting gardens? From painting, lawn care & planning we thought we’d go through a few great tips for an exterior update. (Not to mention something for everyone’s budget.)
Easy MaintenanceBasic cleanup can go a long way in changing the curb appeal of your home. Think about the following points when you go about your curb appeal upgrade:
If you’re looking for a one-day fix up, take it down another level. If it’s an afternoon project we’d suggest repainting the front door and adding some potted plants or shrubs. Small items such as flowers, a new bench and a new welcome mat are quick and inexpensive ways to instantly add curb appeal to your home. |
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Make sure the landscape and the house are connected Landscaping is often what makes the biggest difference in exterior appeal. Whether you’re aiming for a quick freshening up or a complete front yard overhaul, take the time to come up with a basic plan for your landscape. Aim for a good balance of lawn and plants. Avoid just putting sod down and calling it a day; create a transition from the house to the grade by using species that descend in height from the house. This will give the appearance that the house is married to the landscape rather than plopped on a lot. |
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Refresh with exterior paint- (#1 on our list)
After landscaping, a new paint job is what’s next on the list! For the biggest and most inexpensive way to update an exterior make sure this is on your list! Keep your colour palette simple for the most dramatic effect. (Visit us in store at Color Company so we can help you find just the right colour for your place.) There’s nothing worse than a home with too many elements, textures and colours mixed together. Keep consistency and simplicity in mind to bring out the elegance and charm of your home. Try and look at what can or what you want to have changed when it comes to colour — such as natural stone or brick that not everyone likes to paint (however it’s up to you on what you want for your space) It’s been suggest that sticking with two or three colours for your palette; siding, trim and accent is best. If you’d like to use the three colour palette, be sure to balance where you want the accent colour so it doesn’t overwhelm the siding and trim colour. Many believe that making the accent colour the darkest of the three colour choices is always the best way to go. Use your colour to emphasize the great parts of your house and draw the eye away from any negative features. If you’re in need of a colour consultation to make sure you’re comfortable with the combination of colours and where on the house they’ll be used we can also assist with that. Often we see the shutters, front door and garage highlight for emphasis of the curb appeal. However each home is unique. |
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When it comes to older homes, do your research Updating any part of your home’s exterior should be done with care, but older houses can come with their fair share of challenges. Renovating the exterior can be a great way to verify that vapor barriers and insulation are up to date — and inspect window frames, gutters and trim for any damage. Even painting can cause some problems. Painting on an older home can be difficult, depending on how many layers of paint are on and how well it’s been painted over time, if you’re looking to figure this out don’t hesitate to contact us to assist you. Dealing with past paint projects and various layers can cause more prep work and material cost however doing it right is always the best place to start and we’d be happy to make sure that is taking place. |
| Architectural details- respect these! Window shutters, molding around windows and doors, trim and other exterior details can all add interest to exterior styles. Energy-efficient windows, new trim, gutters and siding can improve performance as well as aesthetic. Anything that improves the building envelope as well as curb appeal will go a long way, especially if you’re looking at selling your home.
If you have the budget and the roof could use some upgrades it’s definitely something to consider. Roofing is often overlooked when it comes to the exterior of the home and the curb appeal. Always a nice plus if you are selling! |
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