The Year of Self-Expression Starts at Your Front Door
Kendra Sinclair•Thumbtack’s Home Design Trends Expert•Last updated Jun 17, 2026
Last updated Jun 17, 2026
There’s something happening on America’s front lawns — and it’s not just flowers and fresh mulch.
This year, curb appeal is getting personal. From bold front doors to cozy backyard retreats, homeowners are treating outdoor spaces less like a resale strategy and more like a reflection of their personality, creativity, and lifestyle.
To better understand how homeowners are approaching curb appeal in 2026, Thumbtack surveyed more than 1,000 homeowners across the country about how they use, design, and think about their outdoor spaces. Combined with our project and trend data, the findings reveal a clear shift in priorities. Homeowners are focusing less on perfection and more on creating outdoor spaces that feel personal, restorative, and reflective of how they actually live.
That shift is taking shape in many ways, from colorful accents and mood-setting lighting to styled entryways, private outdoor escapes, and smaller design updates that make a meaningful impact without requiring a full renovation.
The front yard is becoming a canvas for self-expression.
If the past few years were about maximizing indoor space, 2026 is about extending that sense of personality and comfort outdoors.
Nearly two-thirds of homeowners are updating plants, flowers, or greenery this season, while about one in three are refreshing key “first impression” elements, like front doors, entryways, or outdoor lighting. Fueling these projects is a growing desire for analog living, with homeowners turning to hands-on hobbies like gardening, planting, and painting to unplug and unwind.
While subtle updates still dominate, some homeowners are getting more adventurous with their design choices:
- Nearly 1 in 7 are using their outdoor space to reflect their personality or values, from flags to symbolic décor
- More than 1 in 10 are making bold, visual statements with their outdoor decor through color or design
Instead of trying to make their homes look perfect, many homeowners are focusing on making them feel more like their own.
The colors defining 2026 curb appeal.
When it comes to self-expression, color is the new calling card.
More than 4 in 10 homeowners are adding color through accents, while nearly a third are using color to create a specific mood or atmosphere.
To better understand how homeowners are approaching color in 2026, Thumbtack partnered with Samplize to explore the shades, moods, and design directions shaping this year’s paint trends. The data shows homeowners are becoming more comfortable experimenting before committing, with 23% testing colors ahead of time using peel-and-stick samples.
The flexibility is making it easier for people to try bold shades, compare options in different lighting, and make a decision before ever picking up a paintbrush.
According to Samplize, the top trending colors for 2026 reflect this balance of personality and intention:
Juliano Da Cruz, Thumbtack Pro Advisory Board member and Operations Manager at Paint LAB Painting, shared similar color trends he’s seeing among homeowners updating their outdoor spaces, noting a strong preference for bold greens and warm, creamy neutrals:
“Warm tones and creamy whites for the body of the house, paired with bold greens and browns for accent areas, are especially popular right now. Homeowners are moving away from cold grays, off-whites, and stark black-and-white combinations.”
Juliano also emphasized the importance of testing paint colors before committing:
“Tools including peel-and-stick paint samples help homeowners see the closest possible match to how a color will actually look on their home, greatly increasing the chances of a happy customer at the end of the job. Exterior paint projects are expensive, and most homeowners will live with those color choices for many years before repainting.”
Whether it’s a moody navy front door, a sun-washed terracotta planter, or a seasonal refresh, color has become one of the easiest and most impactful ways for homeowners to express personality and create an outdoor space that feels uniquely their own.
It’s not just about looks — it’s about how it feels.
For many homeowners, these updates are about more than appearance. They’re about creating spaces that feel calmer, more comfortable, and easier to enjoy every day.
The top reason homeowners are investing in their outdoor spaces is to create a relaxing, stress-free environment (35%), followed by simply wanting to feel proud of how their home looks (19%). That mindset is also shaping the kinds of projects people are prioritizing. More than half of homeowners are investing in upgrades that create privacy, comfort, and separation from the outside world, including patios, fences, awnings, and spa-inspired backyard features.
Juliano Da Cruz says homeowners are increasingly approaching exterior design with the same level of intention and emotion traditionally reserved for interiors:
As a result, outdoor investments are shifting toward upgrades that make spaces feel more relaxing, enclosed, and restorative.
Homeowners still think about what their neighbors will say.
Of course, self-expression doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and there are limits to what people want to see next door. Homeowners are increasingly aware of how their choices land with neighbors — and where the line between “statement” and “too much” might be.
Homeowners Association attitudes also reflect this balancing act. While some homeowners prefer guidelines, 31% actively avoid communities that limit self-expression altogether.
At the same time, many homeowners are also drawing inspiration from the people around them. More than half admit to experiencing “yard envy” at least occasionally, especially when it comes to landscaping, thoughtful design choices, and well-maintained spaces.
But instead of keeping up with the Joneses, the trend is shifting toward something more personal: creating spaces that feel authentic, not aspirational.
Cities with the best curb appeal
As homeowners continue investing in outdoor spaces that feel more personal and intentional, some cities are emerging as clear curb appeal leaders. Thumbtack data shows homeowners are prioritizing everything from landscaping and lawn care to fences, pressure washing, and larger outdoor upgrades that keep their homes looking polished, welcoming, and well-maintained.
Here’s a look at the cities leading the way on curb appeal, along with the average national cost of some of this year’s most in-demand exterior projects.
From recurring outdoor maintenance to larger one-time home upgrades, these are the top trending exterior home projects of 2026 and their average national costs.
Big personality, smaller budgets.
Self-expression doesn’t have to come with a big price tag.Most homeowners are keeping their outdoor budgets relatively modest this season, with the largest share (44%) planning to spend between $100-$499 on updates.At the same time, budget remains the biggest obstacle preventing homeowners from creating spaces that fully reflect their style. Nearly 6 in 10 say cost is the biggest barrier. As a result, many homeowners are focusing on smaller, high-impact updates instead of large-scale renovations. And because outdoor spaces are now being used daily for relaxing (64%), spending time with family (50%), and gardening (41%), even smaller improvements can make a noticeable difference in how the space feels and functions.
3 ways to boost your curb appeal for under $100:
You don’t need a full renovation to make a statement. A few strategic updates can transform your space and make it feel more like you.
- Paint your front door A quart of exterior-grade paint and a free afternoon can completely change your home’s first impression. Whether you go bold or classic, it’s one of the highest-impact updates you can make.
- Refresh with plants or planters With nearly two-thirds of homeowners prioritizing greenery, even a few new plants or a styled planter arrangement can instantly elevate your space.
- Add lighting for ambiance String lights, solar path lights, or a simple porch fixture upgrade can create a mood and extend how you use your space into the evening.
So, what does curb appeal look like in 2026?
It looks more personal.For some homeowners, that means experimenting with color. For others, it means creating a quiet outdoor retreat, refreshing a front entryway, or finally investing in the backyard projects they use every day. The common thread is that curb appeal is becoming less about impressing other people and more about creating a home that feels comfortable, functional, and personal to the people living there. Ready to refresh your outdoor space? Download the Thumbtack app today and start planning your next project.
Survey Methodology: This SurveyMonkey online poll was conducted between April 23–24 among a national sample of 1,029 people (18+). Respondents for this survey were selected from the nearly 3 million people who take surveys on the SurveyMonkey platform each day. The modeled error estimate for this survey is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
Thumbtack Methodology: The list of top projects, national cost estimates, and city rankings are based on requests for exterior projects on the Thumbtack platform between January 1, 2026, and April 30, 2026. All pricing data is based on national average cost estimates using data provided by Thumbtack pros and additional research; real prices may vary based on city and supply. Regional rankings were determined by the relative frequency of exterior project requests per capita.
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