Is your home exterior looking a little dull and dreary? It might be time to think about dressing it up a little more. We’re mainly going to look at the front of the home in this blog post as this is the main factor to consider when considering curb appeal. The curb appeal of your home will have a direct impact on the actual value and no doubt, how much you enjoy living there.  It is, after all, the first thing you see every time you return home and the first impression of your home for any visitor. So, what can you do to add interest and value to this part of your property?

Dress up your doorway

The doorway of your home is the most important aspect of the front. It’s where the eye-line is always going to be drawn to and the welcome point for anyone visiting your home. You want to make sure it stands out and looks incredible. One of the ways that you can do this is by adding pillars around the doorway to give it some character and texture. This is a fantastic choice if you want to make your home look more modern and contemporary with architectural stone a great choice for materials. You could also think about wooden materials but remember, wood will require more maintenance to stay looking great.

This isn’t the only area of your home exterior that could benefit from extra cladding, but it’s definitely a great place to start. Or, if you want to avoid the cost of cladding, consider adding a full porch to your home. This can give it an aesthetic that feels warm and welcoming as well as some extra space for shoes, coats and umbrellas, so it’s practical too.  If unlocked, it also helps stop your visitors from standing around in the rain on a wet day.

Power wash your property

You probably think that your home is the same colour or shade that it’s always been. It’s only when you take a power washer to the walls that you’ll see just how much dirt and grime has built up over the years. If you don’t have a power washer, you can rent one or even buy one online. Regularly power washing your home has a similar impact to using it on your vehicle. It will make the property look shiny and new once more. Just be careful that the finish or cladding used on your home isn’t going to be damaged by this type of equipment.

It’s also worth power washing your drive way once per year to keep it looking fresh.  It’s amazing how dirty some materials get, such as block paving.  A power wash can really make it look like you’ve had a new drive laid!

Changing your roof

If you’re looking for a more expensive way to transform your home this year, you might want to consider altering the roof. This can be a staggeringly large job, and you will need to hire a contractor to complete the work for you. But, it could certainly have a tremendous impact with flat roofs giving any home a modern and magnificent look. If you don’t want to make a complete, expensive change here, there are alternate possibilities. For instance, a brise soleil can be multifunctional and can hide a pitched roof and still provide you with a modern look.

Add a flagpole

A wooden flagpole is a popular choice for homeowners. They are attractive and durable, and come in a variety of sizes to suit any yard. Some homeowners worry about the installation process, but it’s actually not complicated.

Step one is to find the right location for your flagpole. It should be at least 20 feet from any building or tree, and should be set on level ground that is sturdy enough to support its weight. Step two is to dig a hole deep enough for the bottom of the pole, which will be a third of the overall pole length. The hole should also be wide enough to fit the base of your flagpole.  The final step is to set the pole in concrete and allow to go off for at least 24 hours.

Convert the garage

Finally, you might want to think about changing the design of the garage for your home. You could replace the old boring garage door with a custom stable door design that opens in the middle and looks magnificent. Or, if you don’t really use your garage to store your vehicle get rid of the door and replace it with a wall and windows instead. That way, it can be a brand new impressive part to the outside of your home and also a fantastic addition to the interior as well.  Take it one step further and consider converting the garage into an actual living space and joining it with the rest of the house to add value to your home and create an extra useable room.

There are so many ideas to start improving the exterior of your home.  You can also think about cladding the exterior walls or painting them, depending on the material of your exterior walls.  Adding hedges, fences or landscaped borders to the front of your property can also add extra visual appeal.  There are lots of ways to make your house the best in the street if you have the time and money to devote to this challenge!