15 front yard curb appeal ideas for any budget.

What makes good curb appeal?

The key to creating good curb appeal starts with understanding what trends are popular in your real estate market. If you're planning to put your house on the market, chat with your real estate agent to find out what homebuyers are looking for in your area to see what you should implement in your front yard.

Other than that, creating good curb appeal is easy if you focus on the three following areas: cleaning, painting and landscaping. Walk around your home's exterior, and inspect the siding, windows, doors, walkways, decking, etc. Take note of areas that are dirty and damaged, so you can address them later.

Next, survey your front yard and lawn. If you have the space (and the budget) to add a few landscaping features to beautify your yard or create a focal point, start brainstorming ideas and work with a professional to make a plan.

How to add curb appeal to your home.

Now that you know what it takes to increase your curb appeal, let's dive in to 15 of the best curb appeal ideas you can emulate.

1. Pressure wash your siding, driveway and walkway.

Pressure washing your home's siding, driveway and walkways is a quick way to improve its appearance. A pressure washer allows you to effectively remove layers of grime that may have built up over time. The end result is an exterior that looks nearly brand new.

Hiring a pressure washing pro is a great way to get this project done efficiently and with the best equipment possible. A handyman or a local company that offers pressure washing services can quickly tackle your entire property. 

Spend some time comparing prices online. In many cases, a local handyman or power washer will offer you the best price on this job. 

Related: How much does pressure washing cost?

2. Paint your front door and garage door.

Your exterior doors are the entryway to your home, and they can leave a big impression on passersby. Without the need for any major overhaul, both your front door and garage door can be spruced up, improving the look of your entire home. Adding a fresh coat of paint is an easy way to give these doors a new look.

Before you dive into this project, explore the various paint options — some colors can actually help you increase your home's resale value. Once you settle on a color palette, pull quotes online from reputable house painters. Hiring a professional will ensure that your door’s new paint job is done well. 

Related: How much does it cost to paint a house?

3. Decorate and furnish your front porch.

In addition to painting your front door, decorating and furnishing your front porch is a cheap and quick way to make your home look more inviting. By adding a few pieces of outdoor furniture, pillows and potted plants, a potential homebuyer can envision themselves spending time on your front porch with friends and family. 

Here are a few other curb appeal ideas for your front porch:

• Add a welcome sign or mat.
• Touch up your home's address numbers.
• Hang a seasonal wreath on the front door.
• Add a front porch screen.
• Hang up new lighting, such as sconces, lanterns or string lights.
• Install a front porch swing.
• Upgrade the flooring and add an outdoor mat.

4. Keep up with the seasons.

Consider updating your home's exterior to match the current season. For example, during the spring, spruce up your front porch by adding bright flowers. Decorate your windows with spring-themed window boxes. And plant a colorful pollinator garden.

When winter comes, swap out the bright flowers on the front porch for classic evergreens, and fill your window box with cypress branches, pinecones and red berries. And, of course, put up some classic holiday lights.

5. Repair and touch up your siding.

Your siding probably endures at least one (if not all) of many harsh elements throughout the year — dry and extreme heat, rain, snow, ice and wind. All of these can cause your siding to buckle, warp, chip and crack. 

If you notice your siding is damaged, talk to a professional about your options. For example, minor damage may just require a cleaning and a new paint job. But more extreme damage may call for actual repairs or a replacement material that's more durable.

6. Spotlight your windows.

When was the last time you washed your windows? If you can't answer that question, it may be time to give them a thorough cleaning (which you can DIY or hire a professional window cleaner to do).

After your windows are clean and streak-free, consider adding a few enhancements to really show them off. For example, if you appreciate European-style home designs, perhaps you'll want to add shutters (or repaint your existing shutters a more flattering color). Or, get a little creative by adding a window sill that's filled with beautiful seasonal plants, branches and flowers.

7. Tidy up your yard and lawn.

Another easy and affordable home exterior project is cleaning up your yard. Remove old leaves and fallen twigs. Once the yard is clear of any debris, give the grass a quick trim.

If spending hours laboring in your yard is not your cup of tea, call in a lawn service. Check with local companies to see if they offer one-time services or consider scheduling ongoing yard maintenance.

Related: How much do lawn services cost?

8. Trim your trees and shrubs.

If your home’s front yard contains trees and shrubs, now is the perfect time to trim back excess branches and foliage. Not only does trimming your trees and shrubs help with your home’s curb appeal, but it also makes your property safer. Large overhanging branches can be a serious hazard to your home. 

Trimming your shrubbery and trees is best handled by a pro. This is particularly true in the case of cutting down large tree branches, which can be an extremely dangerous task. 

Do your research and seek out a reputable tree trimming professional for the job. Use Thumbtack to check local reviews and ratings of pros near you. 

Related: How much does tree trimming cost?

9. Add edging to your front yard.

Speaking of lawns, consider this landscaping technique to create cleaner lines in your front yard: edging. It simply involves adding borders between your grass, garden and other areas in your yard. You can use wood, bricks and even concrete to divide your space and make your front yard look neater. 

10. Plant a small garden and a few trees.

Your home’s exterior is far more than just the structure of the house. In fact, a lot of your home’s curb appeal is found throughout the rest of the property. For this reason, adding a small garden or planting a few trees is an excellent way to invest in the overall value of your property. 

Talk to a local nursery about garden options. Additionally, most landscaping and gardening businesses will provide planting services, including the careful placement of new trees or flowers on your property. When designing your front yard garden, plan to include some edging, landscaping rocks, mulch, a sprinkler system and perhaps even lighting.

Related: How much does a gardener cost?

11. Install new outdoor landscape lighting.

Similar to trimming back your trees, installing new outdoor lighting is a home exterior idea project that improves your curb appeal and safety. Outdoor lighting reduces the risk of trips and falls around steps and stairs, as well as offers you the ability to see if anyone is on your property at night.

Installing new outdoor lighting is a job for a lighting company, electrician or handyman to tackle. This is particularly true if you’re installing lights in an area that previously had no lighting. Contact a professional on Thumbtack to pull quotes and find out what can be done on your property. 

12. Clean your gutters.

Another quick and easy way to liven up your home’s exterior is to schedule professional gutter cleaning. Clean gutters not only look better, but they also ensure that your home is better protected against spring and summer storms. When your gutters are full of debris, they cannot properly direct water away from your home, causing damage to your siding and landscaping.

Gutter cleaning services are the best option for this job. Compare quotes from local gutter cleaning companies, as well as pricing from handymen who also offer this service. 

Related: Your complete guide to gutter cleaning.

13. Install a new fence or gate.

Consider installing a new fence or gate around your front yard. Fences offer better privacy, improved safety for kids and pets, and a little bit of style and character.

Begin by browsing the array of new fencing styles and materials on the market. From chain-link to white picket fences, you have an endless number of choices. You can find a fence that will match almost any home exterior.

Related: How to build a wood fence.

14. Fix the cracks in your driveway.

An exterior improvement that is often forgotten is driveway repair. Over time, concrete driveways tend to develop cracks and divots. Repair your driveway to improve your property’s appearance and reduce the risk of tripping.

Take the time now to speak with several concrete driveway repair pros before you hire anyone. Find out what costs are involved, so you're prepared. 

15. Add a front deck or porch.

This isn't a cheap curb appeal booster, but it may pay off when it comes time to sell your home. A deck or porch is a great way to add an outdoor living area to your home, which is a feature some potential homebuyers may love (and be willing to spend more of their money on).

Start planning out the type of material you want, as well as any other features, and discuss your design with a deck contractor.

Who to hire to do projects that increase your home's curb appeal.

On Thumbtack, you can find pros to help you tackle numerous projects that could boost your home's curb appeal. Download the app to start searching for pros, such as:

• Deck contractors
• Driveway contractors
• Fence contractors
• Gardeners
• Gutter cleaners
• House painters
• Landscapers
• Lawn services
• Outdoor lighting services
• Pressure washers
• Siding contractors
• Tree services
• Window washers