First impressions are everything. The exterior of your home can leave a long-lasting impact on guests, neighbours or even just a passer-by on the street. Improving your home’s kerb appeal can not only make the outside of your home look more appealing and attractive, but it can also increase its resale value.
Often, we don’t think about how the outside of our home could say a lot about what it may look like on the inside — but isn’t it time we started to?
Sprucing up the front of your house needn’t be expensive or time-consuming — simple tricks like planting bright, colourful flowers or giving your windows and front door a new lick of paint can be easy solutions.
So, whether you’re looking to sell your property or your outside exterior is in need of some serious TLC, our handy guide will help you improve your home’s kerb appeal.
1. Paint your front door in a new colour
Peeling paint and mouldy doors can turn buyers off immediately if you’re trying to sell your home. If you have a wooden door, why not opt for a new lick of paint to brighten up the space?
To complement the style of the building, opt for a colour that will beautifully match the colour of the bricks. Bright pops of classic greens, natural wood and pastels look lovely against country houses, while strong steels, slate greys or blacks work wonderfully on more modern homes.
For a more coordinated look, match your garage door, front porch and gate.
For homes with uPVC doors, you can easily give your front door a new lease of life with a specialist cleaner that will remove stubborn stains and improve the look of wear and tear from weather damage.
2. Clean up any paths or paving
Over time, paths and pavings can become increasingly dirty with grime and moss, making your home look outdated and uncared for.
Use a pressure washer to clean large areas and remove moss to quickly and easily improve your home’s exterior appearance.
If you’re working with a smaller space, use a scrubbing brush with a specially formulated outdoor paving cleaner that will help to make the surface sparkling clean and aid in preventing mould growth.
Pesky weeds can be unsightly and ruin the kerb appeal of your home. Use weed killer on any plants growing up through paving cracks or, if possible, dig them up by the root. Digging up weeds is a tried and tested all-natural method and when done properly, can work wonders.
3. Refresh your windows
If your double glazing is dirty or filled with condensation, you can easily replace the glass without having to replace the entire window. Our top engineers at Cloudy2Clear regularly repair and replace steamed up double glazing. Whether it’s damaged glass or faulty window seals, our double glazing replacement repairs will leave your windows looking as good as new.
Give the window frames and sills a deep clean to remove any mould, dirt or spider webs. This will prevent a build-up of dust and grime when replacing the windows.
If your wooden windows have seen better days, they may need a coat of paint to add a new lease of life. When picking a new colour for your frames, it’s best to consider matching them to your front door or gate.
If you need double glazing repairs, contact your local branch of Cloudy2Clear today for your free, no-obligation quote.
4. Tidy up greenery
A neat and tidy garden can be a major selling point when it comes to putting your property on the market.
Make sure to trim any shrubbery or bushes, mow any long grass and pull weeds. Sure, you can hire a gardener — but with a pair of shears, some gardening gloves and determination, it’ll be much cheaper.
5. Dress your windows properly
Sometimes, a simple swap on the inside can transform the appearance on the outside.
Updating worn window dressings can be a great way to refresh an old, outdated style. Light or natural-toned curtains work well in letting light shine through and they also offer a neat appearance from the outside, too.
If you’re looking for something that offers a bit more privacy, wooden shutters or Venetian blinds can have a surprisingly big impact on the way your windows look.
You can also add some simple decor — like photo frames, ornaments or plants and flowers — onto your sills for an added touch of warmth and style.
6. Replace or clean the gutters
Over time, gutters can fill with debris like leaves, shingle granules, bird feathers and more, so it’s important to make sure that you regularly clean your gutters — once at the end of spring and once towards the end of autumn as a minimum.
Once you’ve dislodged all of the debris from your gutters, use a garden hose to expel the remaining waste.
For gutters that are looking worn, snap-fit vinyl gutters are a great alternative that is easily put together with a few tools and requires no painting. If you have a higher budget, copper systems cost a little more, but look incredibly high quality and last much longer on average.
7. Update your hardware
Whether you’re in a country cottage or an upscale townhouse, update your front door with some stylish new hardware.
Adding a new door number or knocker can add extra charm and character to your home. If your handle or letterbox are looking worn out or dated, replace them with an updated style that reflects your personality.
If you just can’t part with some of your home’s original features — or simply don’t want to change the look — applying metal polish will help remove rust and can help older doors look rejuvenated.
8. Get your glass gleaming
Ensure that your windows are gleaming by giving them a proper clean. Clean windows not only look attractive from the outside, but they’ll also flood your home with more natural light, allowing your home to look and feel brighter when giving the tour.
A simple sponge and fairy cleaning liquid is the most traditional way to clean your windows, but, for a more effective clean on higher up windows, professional tools will be able to get the job done and leave a sparkling finish.
9. Let there be light
Light fixtures can be a great way to add kerb appeal to your home. A light fitting not only adds extra security but it also gives your home a welcome glow to guests and neighbours in the evenings.
The best way to pick a fitting is to choose a design that complements your building — classic, vintage styles look stunning on older properties, while more modern designs like solar lights or lanterns are a lovely finishing touch for newer homes.
10. Add accessories
One of the most obvious and impactful ways to boost your kerb appeal is to add accessories to your home.
Why not try planting some of your favourite greenery and flowers? Potted plants will brighten up an empty-looking front step, with two small shrubs placed on either side of the door creating a stunning welcome to any guests. If you don’t have the room for this, planters on your window sill or hanging baskets are great options for adding bright pops of colour.
Showcase your personality when you accessorise with a new doormat. A stylish pattern, fun shape, slogan or even personalised text can help make guests feel welcome.
If you have the space, a sculpture or water feature — something as simple as a birdbath — can vastly improve the look of your home’s entrance.
Improve your home’s kerb appeal today
Boosting your home’s kerb appeal can be done in no time. Chances are, the exterior of your home just needs some small finishing touches then it can look its best.
If you’re looking to repair or replace steamed up double glazing — whether it be damaged glass or faulty window seals, get in touch with the team at Cloudy2Clear for a free, no-obligation quote.
