50+ Curb Appeal Secrets That Will Add Major Charm to Your Home
Want to make a better first impression? Get inspired by these gorgeous house exteriors.
It doesn't take a major overhaul to gussy up your home's exterior—these small upgrades and subtle design ideas can help create an eye-catching front yard on any budget. Plus, find more inspiring ways to upgrade your porch and patio or landscape your yard.
Add Planters
A sun-drenched garden is extra charming thanks to various groupings of potted plants, scattered across the front steps and patio. Plant evergreen fillers, then add in annuals that will bloom across the seasons.
Let the Architecture Shine
Don't let too many plants or overgrown landscaping take the spotlight off your actual home. A grassy lawn and a few rose bushes and planters let this Cape Cod home's weather-worn shingles and cerulean blue shutters shine.
Give Your Exterior a Pressure Wash
A good pressure wash is a great way to give your home's exterior a quick and easy makeover. You can rent a pressure washer and most hardware or home improvement stores.
Surround Your Home with Greenery
You don't always need flowers for a lush look—this California cottage's front yard feels like it's in the middle of a mini forest, thanks to lots of trees and full shrubs.
Display a Wreath
Nothing says "welcome" like a pretty seasonal wreath on your front door—this Mississippi barn home has two! See our favorite wreath ideas for spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Paint a Colorful Front Door
This Alabama farmhouse's brown facade gets a punch of color from an aqua front door. It doesn't cost a lot to paint your door, and it's easy to repaint if you get tired of the color.
Design a Lovely Path
A curved walkway made with well-worn pavers offers your home some unique flair. (A vintage toy car-turned-planter ups the quirky factor, too.)
Build a Charming Fence
Even if you don't have a coastal cottage as charming as this Hamptons saltbox, you can create the same vibe with a wooden picket fence. Or, if you have a more stately home, opt for a wrought iron fence.
Splurge on a Porch Swing
Nothing shows off your laid-back vibes better than a porch swing filled with cozy cushions. A wicker chair or wooden rockers do the trick, too.
Give It a Fresh Coat of Paint
Though it was dilapidated when its owners first spotted it, this house underwent an extensive structural and aesthetic to-do list to uncover a beautiful, character-rich home filled with carefully chosen antiques.
Focus On Symmetry
With ceiling fans, rocking chairs, symmetrical planters, a blue door, and a loyal dog, this Texas home's porch couldn't be prettier.
Bright Colors and Shrubbery
Bold colors and patterns are a recurring design choice in this converted Catskills home, and that's evident before you even step inside. With a happy yellow door, green-striped awnings, and lush shrubbery lining a picket fence, this home invites you to come in and take a closer look.
Go For Contrast
The black-and-white combination of this New York home sets the stage for what you'll find inside. It may not be the largest porch, but the brick aesthetic coupled with black shutters and white ornamental columns is striking.
Build Out Your Porch
This gorgeous Connecticut home has two sprawling porches that wrap around the house, and the green shutters add an eye-catching pop of color to the exterior.
Embrace Your Personal Style
This traditional farmhouse, complete with a gable roof and board-and-batten paneling, stands out from the typical Spanish-style architecture popular in Ojai, California.
Keep It Simple
When it comes to curb appeal, it's hard to do much better than this Gothic home in Hamptonburgh, NY. Its steep gables add a fairy-tale quality to the home, and its perfect symmetry is pleasing to the eye. Arched windows and bronze house numbers add an elegant touch.
Refresh Siding
James Hardie HardiePlank lap siding and HardieTrim boards in Arctic White were used to refresh the tired exterior on this Tennessee farmhouse. The crisp white planks are an eco-friendly choice that are as long-lasting as they are beautiful, thanks to their unique weather-resistant fiber cement formulation.
Dress Up for the Holidays
This Alabama farmhouse's classic black-and-white color scheme makes it stand out; pops of red (from an upcycled bike-turned-planter and patriotic decor) makes it drool-worthy.
Make It Multi-Purpose
Say hello to the hardest-working porch in Georgia. It's a sitting room, mudroom, potting station, and breakfast nook rolled into one—the perfect way to take advantage of a yearly average temperature of 62 degrees
Add Window Boxes and Shutters
Colorful shutters with window boxes painted to match brighten up the exterior of this cozy Hamptons cottage. Red flowers add even more pizzazz.
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