Freshen Up Your Home's Curb Appeal This Spring

Laura Gaskill, Houzz Contributor

Time to pack away the winter coats and pull out those Wellies spring is finally here! With this checklist as your guide, help your home burst into spring with a curb appeal makeover. Pick as few (or as many) tasks as you want to tackle, from porch swings to plantings, and your home will be looking its best before you can say baseball season.

1. Enhance the front door. The front door should be your homes exterior focal point ramp up the appeal by painting it a rich hue, updating door hardware or adding a new knocker. For a seasonal touch, hang a spring wreath or craft your own eclectic one using gardening tools, as these creative homeowners did.

10 Ways to Bring Charm to Your Homes Exterior

2. Add plantings on the street side of your fence. Remember, curb appeal starts at the curb so instead of just planting inside the border of your fence or stone wall, plant perennials and spring bulbs just outside it as well. The extra layer of foliage and color will create a sense of depth, making your front yard appear larger. If you dont have a fence, planting perennials in the hell strip between the curb and sidewalk can have a similar effect.

3. Check that house numbers are easily visible. Go across the street from your home to get a better idea of how easy it is to find your house numbers. Large house numbers in a clear font are the easiest to read from a distance. Place them where they are not blocked by trees or porch railings, and position the numbers horizontally rather than vertically if possible theyre easier to read that way. Ideally, place house numbers beneath a porch lamp or landscape light, where they will be illuminated in the evening.

4. Group pots of flowers on the porch. Theyre beautiful and as easy as can be to add. Cluster three pots in various sizes on your front porch or stairs, and fill them with blooming spring flowers.

5. Carve out space for front-yard living. If youre blessed with a deep front yard but find you rarely use it, consider whether it would be better put to work as a fun and functional hangout zone. A bench curved around an outdoor fireplace is sure to become a favorite gathering place for friends and neighbors but even a simple garden bench (minus the fireplace) can be a welcome addition.

6. Care for grass and mulch flower beds. If you have a lawn, early spring is a good time to reseed or add sod if it looks like its coming back patchy. Mulch flower beds with a natural mulch to help the soil retain moisture and give the beds a finished look.

7. Check the condition of the roof. If you notice spacing or curling at the edges of shingles or crumbling bits, its time to have a pro roofer take a look. If you need a new roof (or a second layer of shingles), check references and get at least three competing estimates before hiring a pro for the job.

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Freshen Up Your Home's Curb Appeal This Spring