Since the exterior area is the first thing people will notice in your property, it only makes sense to make a few upgrades to make your home look more inviting. This will not only boost curb appeal but may also increase its value.
While most homeowners enjoy doing exterior makeovers—particularly, the lawn area—there are a few things you still need to consider. Without proper planning, it may cost you a lot of time and resources. Feel free to use the guidelines below when upgrading the exterior area of your home:
Start with Basic Maintenance
Before spending money on outdoor furniture and other fixtures, start with the simplest routine. Inspect every corner and remove unnecessary items. Fix or replace old and malfunctioning fixtures. Touch up paint trim, and mow your lawn. Repainting the front door and adding some potted plants. You’ll be surprised how these simple clean up tasks can make a big difference in your yard.
Work on the Layout of your Landscape
The problem with some people is they usually start growing plants or landscaping without working on the layout. As a result, they end up redoing their landscape project all over again. The first thing you need to do is to examine the structure of your exterior.
Clear the designated landscape area. Consider hiring tree removal services in Murray if necessary. This should provide more space for your project. From there you can start evaluating the best landscape features you can add. You can use a combination of timber and brick for steps. Other popular options are concrete and stone. For the overall structure, you can build a pergola, arched arbor, or lattice arbor. Some people also like adding picket fence or arched gateway to make for more visuals.
Upgrade your Lighting
Choosing the right lighting fixture is one of the simplest ways to enhance the overall look of your home. Other than added security, this should highlight the best features of your property. First, you need to consider your views. Avoid using bright lights on windows as this creates a glare on the outside, which can block your view from the inside.
The key here is to find the perfect balance of your lighting. For example, porch lights and wall scones can create “light noise.” You can also use gas lights to neutralize the ambience. Another simple technique to create balance is the placement of your fixtures. Installing overhead outdoor lighting provides a striking effect, which can highlight architectural details. This trick can also make smaller areas look more spacious at night.
Refresh Exterior Paint
Give your home a new look with a fresh coat of paint. The general rule of the thumb here is always to keep it simple. As much as possible avoid using too many variations on your color palette. Too many elements or color mixture can be distracting. Stick to monotone or two-color palette.
In case you want to use three-color palate, make sure you can neutralize it with accent color. You can integrate this with the sidings and trims. Choose a color scheme that can emphasize the best features of your home. Look closely to architectural details before proceeding to the paint job.