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Big and Small Ways to Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal

Tammy La

Spring somehow passed you by, summer's closing in and you've noticed your neighbors' curbs are kickin'. Perhaps that has you feeling a little green with yard envy. Not to fret, it's not too late to kick your curbside into gear. There are plenty of things you can do in a small amount of time to up your home's exterior appeal. Depending on your budget and your plan of attack, you could DIY most of these projects or get a designer/ contractor in your corner.

Make your front door pop at Orchard Supply Hardware.
  1. Window Box It: Window boxes are an easy way to give windows an affordable, green facelift. They're great for curb appeal, which is nice for the neighbors, and even better for your view from the inside. They are easy to add and easy to take down. And since they're confined gardens, managing the soil and keeping plants flourishing is a breeze. If you get bored, you can always change out plants for a new view. Window boxes can also be added to fences to brighten up any ordinary gate.
  2. Pave the way: Using pavers and river rocks to beautify your walkway can help define your path and lead to a striking, modern, clean look. This is a great way to make a big impact without having to pour concrete. Creating this look is pretty simple with the help of Pinterest and a little imagination. If you think you'll be missing the green, but don't like the hassle of watering, use pavers and turf for a green look. They even make drivable grass pavers with turf cut into grids to fit over pavers. The things you learn.
  3. You've Got Mail: Why not update your mailbox? You have a relationship with that box like you do with your car. When the check engine light comes on, you don't ignore it, you do something about it. This tiny real estate upgrade could really change things up. You have lots of sleek, new options. But let's say you have an old-school mailbox with the little red flag and you're just not ready to part ways. Have the post do double duty by installing a hanging planter on the back end or even adding a circular garden at the base.Ring
  4. Ring My Bell: Yes, you can impress your neighbors and guests with a tech-savvy door bell. (OK, maybe you're only impressing this neighbor.) Update your dated doorbell with a Wi-Fi enabled one. The Ring version has night vision and motion detection for extra security and it will ring your phone from anywhere in the world. Get this: It also records video in HD. And, if some thief covets thy neighbor's door bell, they'll even replace it for free.
  5. A Numbers Game. Give your home a contemporary look just by changing your house numbers. Modern House Numbers even makes customized options. Yes, it's a bit pricey for some small metal numbers, but I bet you've never changed your home's digits before. And consider this: You're probably only buying four to five numbers at the most. If you're feeling like getting crazy, you could even add wood cladding or lighting behind each number for a more modern update. All-in-all, a budget-friendly fix anyone can handle.
  6. Modernize Your Door. People can get-extra creative (and spendy) upgrading seemingly dull garage doors, but you can do something as simple as gel staining old doors to give them a weathered-wood look, with the right paint. If you have the budget, replace them with new glass doors that will also give your garage some much-needed light. For the front of the house, use a pop of color for an inviting entrance. Feeling extra frisky? Add molding and/or windows to the top and sides.
  7. Dirt Under Pressure: Sounds too easy to be a solution for increasing curb appeal, but pressure wash everything! It makes such a huge difference when you're smashing away at years of dirt and grime you didn't even know you could see. The results are remarkable with minimal effort; the machine does all the work! The effective, dirt-blasting washer you want is pricey, so just rent one at your local Orchard Supply and Hardware because let's be honest, this might be the last time you ever do it.
Need more ideas? Check out YP.com, search by city and download the YP app.
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