15 front yard curb appeal ideas for any budget
By Thumbtack Staff•Last updated Oct 13, 2022
Last updated Oct 13, 2022
If you want your home to make a great first impression on your neighbors, family and friends, or (perhaps more importantly) potential homebuyers, spruce up its exterior. A tidy lawn, clean siding and windows, and beautiful flowers and trees can go a long way in attracting someone's eye and making them interested in your home. And, fortunately, there are many easy and affordable projects that can make your home even more appealing to those passing by.
Keep reading to see how you can easily boost your home's curb appeal.
What makes good curb appeal?
The key to good curb appeal is understanding which trends are popular in your local real estate market. If you're planning to sell, talk with your real estate agent to find out what homebuyers in your area are looking for and what to prioritize in your front yard.
Beyond that, curb appeal is easier to improve when you focus on three main areas: cleaning, painting, and landscaping. Walk around your home's exterior and inspect the siding, windows, doors, walkways, decking, and other features. Note any dirty or damaged areas so you can address them later.
Next, survey your front yard and lawn. If you have the space and 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 curb appeal, let's look at 15 of the best curb appeal ideas you can try.
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 can remove layers of grime that may have built up over time, leaving your exterior looking 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 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 the best price for this job.
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 any major overhaul, your front door and garage door can be spruced up to improve 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 start, explore the various paint options — some colors can actually help increase your home's resale value. Once you settle on a color palette, pull quotes online from reputable house painters. Hiring a professional will help make sure the new paint job is done well.
3. Decorate and furnish your front porch.
In addition to painting your front door, decorating and furnishing your front porch is a quick, affordable 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 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 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 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, you might add shutters or repaint your existing shutters a more flattering color. Or get creative by adding a windowsill filled with 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 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.
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 curb appeal, but it also makes your property safer. Large overhanging branches can be a serious hazard to your home.
Trimming shrubbery and trees is best handled by a pro. This is especially true when 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.
9. Add edging to your front yard.
Speaking of lawns, consider this landscaping technique for creating cleaner lines in your front yard: edging. It involves adding borders between your grass, garden, and other areas in your yard. You can use wood, bricks, or 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 edging, landscaping rocks, mulch, a sprinkler system, and perhaps even lighting.
11. Install new outdoor landscape lighting.
Similar to trimming back your trees, installing new outdoor lighting is a home exterior project that improves curb appeal and safety. Outdoor lighting reduces the risk of trips and falls around steps and stairs, and it also lets you 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 especially true if you're installing lights in an area that previously had no lighting. Contact a professional on Thumbtack to get 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 help protect your home against spring and summer storms. When your gutters are full of debris, they cannot properly direct water away from your home, which can damage 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.
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 range of new fencing styles and materials on the market. From chain-link to white picket fences, you have plenty of choices. You can find a fence that will match almost any home exterior.
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 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 pay more for.
Start planning 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:
A note about project costs included or linked in this article: Figures represent national average cost estimates using data provided by Thumbtack pros and additional research. These figures are provided for educational purposes only and are subject to change at any time due to various factors. Details about your specific project and local rates can impact costs.
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