Curb appeal is how attractive your home looks when standing on the front curb, looking at it. So why does curb appeal matter? Well, for one thing, there is a sense of homeowner pride that comes from keeping a nice-looking home. It feels good when someone tells you that you have a beautiful home. But curb appeal is more than that.
Adding to your curb appeal is a way to contribute to your community. When everyone takes the time and effort to make their homes beautiful, it makes for a desirable neighbourhood, which is good for both the market value of your home and the general sense of beauty when you go for an evening stroll.
Adding to curb appeal is also important when you’re selling your home as it adds to the value of your home and attracts more potential buyers.
And while you could certainly pour lots of money into landscaping or exterior design to up your curb appeal, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to increase the beauty of your home. Here are 16 projects under $100 that add curb appeal.
Paint Your Front Door
Give your front door a fresh coat of paint to make your house look younger and newer. Over the years your door fades and wear and tear will have it showing off some nicks and scratches. By painting it, it’ll look beautiful and inviting again.
Pro-tip: for extra curb appeal give your home a pop of colour by painting your door a new shade! A robust and vibrant colour that compliments the colours on your house will make your place stand out on your street!
Make Your Numbers Pop
Your house numbers are the first thing people look for when looking for your house on the street. To increase your curb appeal, give your numbers a little love. Head out and buy some new numbers in a sleek and modern font, have them engraved into a large rock, stencil them onto a chic rustic wooden board, or get them back-lit.
Pro-tip: Not sure how to make your numbers pop? Drive around your favourite neighbourhoods, looking at the numbers. You’ll get some great ideas for unique and eye-catching house numbers.
Install Window Boxes
A window box with lush plants is a quick and inexpensive way to give your home curb appeal. Make sure to choose colours that match the rest of your home. You’ll also want to match the vibe of the decor with the rest of your house. If you have a sleek and modern exterior, then don’t match that with a rustic farm-house style box.
Pro-tip: The plants in these boxes will need more water than plants in the ground, so keep that in mind to keep them looking their best.
Add A Layer Of Fresh Mulch
Give your front garden a refresh by loading up a fresh load of mulch. It’ll make the plants in your garden pop and give your home curb appeal.
Pro-tip: Make sure to match the colour of the mulch to the colours of your exterior.
Give Your Lighting An Upgrade
Swap out your old and dated light fixtures with a new and modern one to give your front porch an instant facelift. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference it can make!
Pro-tip: From flush-mount sconces to traditional lantern styles, there are lots of exterior light fixture options to choose from, but remember to keep the overall style of your exteriors in mind so that your choice doesn’t clash with the overall vibe of your home.
Install Planters
Planters are a great way to add colour, elegance, and greenery to your entrance. While planters can certainly cost more than $100, look for second-hand planters, opt for cheaper materials that LOOK expensive, or DIY one yourself.
Pro-tip: Less is more when it comes to planters. While two large planters can add heaps of curb appeal, cluttering your front step with too many can easily take away from your curb appeal.
Replace Your Welcoming Mat
Your welcome mat gets trampled on day after day and is meant to catch debris before it enters your home, which means that they see a lot of wear and tear quickly. If you haven’t updated your welcome mat in a few years then it’s time to throw away your old one and replace it with something fresh and new!
Pro-tip: Make sure to choose a mat that fits your space well. Your welcome mat sets the tone for your entire entrance so don’t shy away from getting one that is big enough to be noticed, but you also don’t want to overcrowd a smaller stoop.
Upgrade To A Sophisticated Mailbox
Replacing your boring old mailbox with a new more elegant one is a quick and easy way to brighten up the front of your home.
Pro-tip: to keep your mailbox looking good throughout the years make sure to clean it a couple of times a year and keep it free from cobwebs.
Pressure Wash Your Exteriors
From your driveway and front porch to your siding, your home has years-worth of dirt and debris clinging to it. Rent a pressure washer and give it a good and thorough cleaning to make your house look brand new again!
Pro-tip: Start washing on the lowest setting to avoid doing any damage.
Install Window Shutters
Window shutters are a great way to get your home to stand out. They add character to your home and can be elegant or playful, depending on the style.
Pro-tip: Your shutters are another great place to add a pop of colour to your home!
Paint Your Garage Door
Your garage door is a large chunk of real estate on the exterior of your home that people see when they first drive up or walk by. Over the years the colour fades, it gets a coat of dirt and debris, and it just stops looking as appealing. A fresh coat of paint can bring new life to your home!
Pro-tip: You can also install hardware on the door and fake some windows with paint or decals to make them carriage-style doors.
Light Your Walkway or Garden
By placing solar lights in your garden or lining your walkway, you can give your home major night-time curb appeal. Don’t forget that oftentimes friendly or family come to visit during the evenings and the warm glow of lights is a beautiful way to welcome them.
Pro-tip: If you’re using solar lights, make sure to place them in spots that will catch sunlight during the day.
Projects That Don’t Cost Anything
You don’t have to spend a dime to add to the curb appeal of your home. With a little time and energy investment, you can make the exterior of your home look more attractive.
Trim Your Hedges
Trimmed hedges instantly make your home look and feel more attractive. Put in the time to keep your hedges properly trimmed and clean-cut for a seriously smart-looking front yard.
Clean Up Your Garden
There is nothing quite as lovely as walking by a home with a well-kept garden. Even if your garden is relatively plain with just a couple of bushes, if it’s well-kept, free from weeds, and pruned properly, it’s going to catch some eyes!
Cleaning Out Your Gutters
While people don’t necessarily notice clean gutters, they sure do notice ones that are full of debris. Having leaves and debris sticking out of your gutters is an easy way to take away from any curb appeal that you had. It just makes your home look messy and unkempt.
Clean Your Windows
It can be surprising how much filth accumulates on the outside of our windows. Even if you regularly clean the inside of them, there is still a film of dirt on the outside that you need to clean off. Your home will sparkle a little more with those gleaming windows.
Final Thoughts
Hiring local service providers to add curb appeal to your home can be easy and rewarding if you do it through Locorum. Not only will you be supporting a verified small, local business, but you’ll be able to see the rewards that you’ll earn by connecting with them through our platform. Don’t worry, our rewards aren’t points. The dollar amount you see is the dollar amount you get. Your rewards get loaded onto a Locorum Mastercard, which can be used in-store or online anywhere that accepts Mastercard.
Check out Locorum today to find local experts who can add curb appeal to your home!
