16 Ways to Increase Curb Appeal

Updated December 2022

Let's face it, the first thing people notice about your home is the exterior, so why is it that the exterior of our home is sometimes one of the last things we update?

You may be busy finishing the basement, updating your appliances, painting the bathroom, or whatever else that may be on your list, but there is something to be said for driving up to a very well-kept home.

Updating the curb appeal of your home can be very easy. Some projects can be small, and others much larger, so pick the ones that best fit your home, budget, and style!

Here are 16 ways to increase your curb appeal:

Clean Windows

Fix the Front Door

Paint the Front Door

Decorate Your Front Door With A Wreath for the Season

Change Your Doormat

Remove / Update Rotted Wood Around the Home

Powerwash Your Home, Walkways, Patios, Driveway, Etc.

Give Your Porch and Deck a Facelift

Paint Fences, Mailboxes, and Home Numbers

Bold Home Numbers

Give Some Love to the Landscaping

Change Up Your Porch Lighting

Paint Your Garage Door

Add a New Door Knocker

Add Window Boxes, Potted Plants to the Exteriors, Etc.

Plant Perennials of Different Colors Throughout Your Home

1. Clean Windows

A quick wash to make the windows sparkly clean will make your home gleam and give the impression that the home is clean and cared for. Plus, your home is covered in windows, so you don't want people to walk up and immediately think you don't take care of your home.

2. Fix the Front Door

The door is the first physical contact a guest will have with your home, so make sure you WD40 the squeaks, tighten any loose knobs, fix the storm door, clean any glass, and repaint if it needs a new coat.

3. Paint the Front Door

Consider repainting or using a fresh color on the front door. If you do paint the front door, give it a color that makes it pop!

4. Decorate Your Front Door With a Wreath for the Season

Feel free to buy one, but making a wreath for your home can be a lot of fun! For the summertime flip flops are fun, and for football season? Show off your favorite team! The options are endless!

5. Change Your Doormat

This is so quick and easy to do! Put the finishing touch on your front porch and keep dirt and moisture out of your home. After the winter months you probably need a new doormat, anyways.

6. Remove / Update Rotted Wood Around the Home

Give your home a good once-over and fix any wood that may have gotten damaged over the years.

7. Powerwash Your Home, Walkways, Patios, Driveway, Etc.

It's amazing how a good powerwash removes years of dirt, mildew, and build-up to make it look almost new again.

8. Give Your Porch and Deck a Facelift

Restain if you can, or another option is to use the "deck cover" product from Home Depot, which gives a similar look to fresh stain without all the work.

9. Paint Fences, Mailboxes, and Home Numbers

While you're restaining, cleaning, and painting, make sure your fences, mailboxes, and home numbers look pristine too!

10. Bold Home Numbers

While we're talking about home numbers, make sure these are bold and easy to spot. The worst thing is to have someone searching for your home and not be able to find it.

11. Give Some Love to the Landscaping

New mulch is an easy way to give a fresh look to your home's façade! Try the red mulch for a great pop of color!

12. Change Up Your Porch Lighting

Get a beautiful pendant light or solar lights along your front walkway.

13. Paint Your Garage Door

Repaint your garage door, or if you're up for a challenge, repaint your home! You'll be amazed at what some new paint can do to an older home.

14. Add a New Door Knocker

New hardware will give it an updated, modern, cared-for appeal. Plus, you'll hear when guests are knocking on your door!

New Door Knocker

15. Add Window Boxes, Potted Plants to the Exteriors, Etc.

Think about those things that are constantly catching your eye when you're on a walk or driving. Make your home truly stand out with these items.

16. Plant Perennials of Different Colors Throughout Your Home

Think of eye-catching color combos like reds, yellows, and oranges!

Hopefully, some of these updates (if not all) sound appealing to you! It’s amazing what a little bit of TLC to the exterior of your home can really do to your curb appeal.

Dan O'Malley

Author

Dan O’Malley is the Vice President of Product Development for M/I Homes.With over 30 years of expertise in residential architecture and design, Dan has been overseeing the product needs of the company's 16 divisions located throughout the Midwest, Southeast, Nashville and Texas for the past 12 years. Before joining M/I Homes, he was a partner in the Chicago office of BSB Design, a national residential architectural firm, for 14 years. Dan is an expert in all aspects of single-family and multifamily design and has received several awards for his successful projects. He is also a popular speaker at various industry events, including the International Builder’s Show, Midwest Builder’s Show, and Multi-Housing World.