Simple Home Exterior Updates That Make a Big Difference
Most homeowners save their home improvement budget for the interior of their house. They paint their
living room or finally get new carpet in the basement. After all, they spend most of their time indoors.
However, years of wear and tear can leave your home exterior looking dirty and dated. You may think
exterior updates require too much energy, but small, simple updates can make a big difference.
Here are some exterior updates that can make a big aesthetic impact for your home.
Clean Up
Start your home improvement with a cleanup. Simple maintenance can amp your home’s curb appeal at nearly
no cost to you. You can power-wash the exterior or put fresh mulch in your flowerbeds. You may also want to
clean up the weed area near your driveway.
Simple cleanup projects will help your home look more fresh and new. These projects can be done in an
afternoon, but they create an instant impact.
Revamp the Landscaping
How well you keep up your yard heavily influences the aesthetics of your house’s exterior. Before you
decide to update paint or siding, look around your yard. A house with a dirty porch or weeds in the cracks of
the sidewalk looks worn and old. Trim the grass and rake the fallen leaves. Find a secluded area for your
garbage cans.
Then look at your home from the road and create a landscape design. If your budget permits, you may want
to redo the walkway to your porch or add shrubs along the front of your home.
Try to create a balance of plants and lawn. Too much sod makes a yard look bland. You can create a smooth
transition to your house with plants that slowly get taller. This design helps unify the landscape and the
home.
Update the Siding
Small exterior updates will only last so long. Every few years you may need to take on a bigger project. A
high-impact exterior update you can undertake is to replace your siding. Your siding plays a huge role in
your home’s exterior look as well as your home’s energy costs.
Make sure you invest in new, high-quality siding. You don’t want to skimp on the price now and have to
redo your siding again in a few years.
Updating the siding will also save you from having to repaint your home every few years. Homeowners often
encounter complications like rotted wood when they repaint older homes. Choosing new siding allows you to
start over with a durable material that gives your home a fresh look.
Choose a siding color that other homeowners will like in case you decide to sell your home. Also keep
simplicity and consistency in mind as you decide on the color scheme. Most designers recommend sticking with
just two or three colors for your home’s exterior. If you choose to use three colors, make sure the accent
color doesn’t overwhelm the trim and siding colors.
Polish the Details
Once you tackle the large projects for your home, polish the smaller portions. Small details can add style
and color to your home’s exterior.
Here are some ideas for details on your home you may want to update:
- Front door
- House numbers
- Mounted mailboxes
- Porch lights
- Potted plants
- Shutters
- Trim
If you decide to paint these details, consider using the same color for each accent. For example, use the
same color for the front door, shutters, and garage door to create a cohesive result. Using consistent colors
draws attention to your home’s best exterior features.
Updating your home doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars or take years to complete. Create a list of
what you would like to update, and then save money towards each of those projects. Consult with a home
exterior expert when you’re ready to make the updates.
