Whether you’re thinking about selling soon or simply making a great first impression on visitors, curb appeal is essential. But making sure your home is stunning at first glance doesn’t necessarily mean spending a fortune or diving into a complete remodel. Instead, check out these 5 simple ways to add curb appeal:

1. Deep Clean

The first and most important step to increasing your home’s curb appeal is cleaning! Scrub any stains you see with a degreaser, dish soap, baking soda, a specialized cleaner—whatever you need. Then, when you’ve scrubbed clean all the stains you see, rent a pressure washer and go to town. Make sure to get your driveway, walkway, siding, fences, and anything else that looks dirty. If you have patio furniture, you can even give that a good wash.

This deep clean will do more than make your house feel fresh and sparkling clean—it will also give you a clean slate to enhance other areas, which is why it’s a great place to start.

2. Refresh the Doors

Take a close look at your front door, and your garage door. Do you see any stains that didn’t come free, any chips in the paint, any scratches or scuff marks? It might be time for a refresh! Whether you’re looking for something neutral or opting for a bold new color, a fresh coat of paint on your front and garage doors will make a huge difference.

If you want to repaint your front door, make sure you remove it, take off any hardware, and thoroughly clean it first. Ensure you’re prioritizing safety when re-painting the garage door. For automatic garage doors, unplug and pull the safety release chains before you get started. According to Ace Hardware:

“By having the garage door unplugged you will avoid accidents while working on the door and prevent anyone from opening while painting.  By pulling the safety release chain you will be able to move the garage door up and down while painting it.”

3. Beautify Your Lawn

Your lawn is one of the most crucial factors of curb appeal. In addition to regularly mowing, controlling weeds, and trimming hedges, you might consider some extra research. Find out what type of grass you have, if it’s the best kind for your area, and how to take care of it. If you have plants, consider whether you’d like to keep them and how to take care of them if so.

On top of keeping your lawn manicured and healthy, you can also get creative. Consider adding plants, rocks, mulch, etc. Maybe add a small garden around your mailbox, create a walkway out of greenery, or plant more trees.

If you don’t know where to start, look for inspiration online. Along with sparking ideas, this will help you be strategic about color coordination and visual appeal. Your lawn has the power to impress guests and buyers, while showcasing your personality—so have fun with it!

4. Add Porch Decor

If you have a front porch, sprucing it up is the perfect way to add curb appeal and a personal touch. Consider getting or changing up any furniture, like seats or couches—this will make your space feel cozy and comforting. A touch of wall art could also help liven up the area, but make sure it’s something weather-proof. Potted plants are another great option, bringing in more color.

When enhancing your porch with decor, make sure you’re thinking about symmetry and color coordination. For instance, if you put a potted plant on the right side of your door, add one to the left side to balance it out. If you’re looking to add a pop of color—either through furniture or your front door—look up colors that will complement your home. Visual cohesion is essential to attracting positive attention.

5. Don’t Forget the Details: Lights, Hardware

While enhancing your curb appeal, you might get wrapped up in all the big projects—but don’t forget about the details! Small changes like swapping out hardware—doorknobs, knockers, handles, hinges, etc.—can make a big difference in the quality and visual cohesion of your home.

Lighting is a small change that makes a huge difference. Install lights on your porch, and maybe add some to your landscape. This will show off all the beautiful upgrades you made, even at night.

Bottom Line

Enhancing your curb appeal is a great way to turn heads and impress buyers and neighbors. And if you’re making upgrades to sell in or around Stillwater, Minnesota, get in touch with an expert who can help.