13 winter curb appeal ideas for your home
By Thumbtack Staff•Last updated Oct 25, 2022
Last updated Oct 25, 2022
Table of Contents
- 1. Decorate your front door and porch
- 2. Hang up holiday string lights
- 3. Project lights on your home
- 4. Add a few winter plants
- 5. Dress up your window sills
- 6. Add holiday charm to your fence and gate
- 7. Declutter your front yard
- 8. Clean, paint, or replace your siding
- 9. Trim your trees and shrubs
- 10. Upgrade your outdoor lighting
- 11. Clear the snow and ice
- 12. Prevent ice dams
- 13. Upgrade your windows
- Use Thumbtack to boost and protect your home's curb appeal this winter
- FAQs
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It might be surprising, but the winter months can be a great time for homeowners to improve their curb appeal. Whether you want to create a more welcoming space for loved ones, increase your property’s value to attract potential buyers or just beautify your home with seasonal decor, there are plenty of home projects to get you started. Here are the best ways to maintain or boost your home’s curb appeal this winter, starting with a few decorative ideas and a sprinkling of important projects that will protect your home this season.
It’s that time of year again. Your neighbors are unpacking holiday decorations, getting out their ladders, and hanging string lights. If you live in an area where homeowners go all out for the holidays, join in on the fun. Otherwise, your home will stand out among the rest.
1. Decorate your front door and porch
Getting creative with outdoor seasonal decor makes your property more attractive and spreads good cheer. Start with your front door and porch. Spruce up the area with an evergreen wreath, red bows, garland, potted plants, and more.
2. Hang up holiday string lights
Is it really winter if your home isn’t decorated with glowing string lights? Don’t be the one house on the street that’s so dark and gloomy you’d think the Grinch lives there. If your neighbors go big with their holiday lights, meet them halfway. You don’t need a lighted deer family for your lawn. Just hang a few lights on your porch or around a tree or two.
3. Project lights on your home
Don’t feel like climbing a ladder to hang string lights? Consider getting lights that project onto your home’s exterior. They’re easier, faster, and safer than traditional string lights. Plus, you can find dozens of patterns and colors at retailers — from snowflakes and snowmen to Christmas trees and stars.
4. Add a few winter plants
Landscaping doesn’t have to be a spring or summer project. Winter is also a great time to improve your property’s value by upgrading your yard with winter plants, evergreens, and other beautiful features. For example, consider adding blue spruce, holly, barberries, boxwoods, and shrubbery to your front lawn or porch.
Start by finding out what your neighbors are doing with their yard. This can help you see what works in your area and what plants will do well in your climate, especially during the winter months. You can work with a landscaping professional or gardener who can help you create a cohesive plan for the whole property. You can also ask a professional if there are steps you can take to protect your current plants. For example, you may want to add mulch to help protect them from freezing temperatures and promote growth.
5. Dress up your window sills
Give your home’s exterior a splash of color and texture by styling a window planter box. Lean into the holiday theme by filling it with seasonal plants and items like miniature stockings, a small lantern, red berries, poinsettias, and cypress branches.
6. Add holiday charm to your fence and gate
If your home has a fence or gate, take advantage of it when you’re decorating for the holidays. Hang garland, ornaments, or a wreath. You can even skip hanging string lights on your home’s siding and wrap them around your fence instead.
7. Declutter your front yard
Getting into the holiday spirit is one way to boost your home’s curb appeal. But if you want to protect your home and its appearance, you need to do more than that during the winter.
First things first: clean up your property, especially your driveway and front yard. It’s easy for clutter to accumulate on porches, near sheds, around the garage, and even in your front yard. A thorough property cleanup can help your home look inviting and clean. Start with the following tasks:
- Declutter your front yard. Get rid of old decor and lawn ornaments that need replacing.
- Put away unsightly items that are leaning against sheds, garages, or porches.
- Store or throw away empty flower pots and planters on your porch and window sills.
- Rake or mulch fallen leaves on your lawn, driveway, and walkways.
8. Clean, paint, or replace your siding
Unsightly siding can detract from your home’s overall curb appeal. If you have outdated, peeling, cracking, or otherwise drab siding, it may lower your home’s value and prevent it from protecting your home. Examine your siding and decide if it’s time for repairs, a wash, new paint, or a replacement.
If your existing siding needs to be replaced, figure out what type of material you should install. You have plenty of choices on the market, including vinyl, wood, metal, and more.
9. Trim your trees and shrubs
During the spring and summer months, your trees and shrubbery likely grew in size. Winter is a great time to cut back branches that are hanging over your home, obscuring windows, or encroaching on your walkway. Winter is also the best time to prune most plants to encourage healthy growth next spring. Walk around your property and note any trees, bushes, and shrubs in need of trimming.
For smaller bushes and shrubs, you might be able to tackle the trimming with hedge clippers or handheld pruners. Be sure to cut back dead foliage. Remember: cutting down large branches can be extremely dangerous and could result in property damage or injuries. It’s always a good idea to consult a professional first.
10. Upgrade your outdoor lighting
Don’t want to put up holiday lights? No problem. Instead, consider upgrading or fixing your outdoor lighting to achieve great curb appeal.
New outdoor lighting will make your home’s exterior more inviting and help prevent trips and falls. Darker days make shadowy spots on your property less safe. So, line your walkway with lights or invest in smart lights you can control from anywhere. For example, install post lights or inground lights (also called well lights) to illuminate your walkways or driveway. Or attach lights to your patio, stairs, or deck. There are many ways to give your home's exterior a warm glow.
Before you start, test all of your existing outdoor lights to make sure they’re working correctly. Take note of any lights that no longer work. Then, walk around your property and identify any areas where lighting is lacking.
11. Clear the snow and ice
If you grew up in the snow, you already know the deal. But for those spending their first winter in the snow this year, don’t let it pile up on your driveway or lawn. Too much snow may damage your grass, plants, and trees. And, of course, you’ll want to always have a clear, snow-free path to your home. You can either shovel away the snow or use a snow blower. There are also local pros who can remove the snow for you.
12. Prevent ice dams
When ice dams form on your roof, you risk damaging your home’s exterior and interior. We’re talking broken gutters, loose shingles, and indoor leaks. You can prevent ice dams by removing snow from your roof and keeping your gutters clean. You should also make sure that your home is properly sealed to prevent warm air from leaking and interacting with the snow on the roof, another way ice dams can form.
13. Upgrade your windows
While your windows might be good at letting light in, an upgrade can improve your home’s curb appeal and even help with energy efficiency in winter and summer.
Inspect your windows to pinpoint drafts or other energy losses. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests checking your windows for air leaks and investing in new weatherstripping and caulking. In some cases, this is enough to reduce energy losses.
For windows that are still drafty — or windows that are outdated and in need of replacement — take measurements and write down the number of windows you need replaced. There are many different types of windows you can install. Choose a window with a vinyl, wood, or fiberglass frame, which have greater thermal resistance than metal, according to the Department of Energy.
If you don’t have the budget to replace all the windows in your home, consider doing it in sections. Prioritize the windows located at the front of your house to enhance your winter curb appeal.
Use Thumbtack to boost and protect your home's curb appeal this winter
If your home improvement projects this winter require a professional’s help, Thumbtack is a great way to find the pro you need quickly. Search for local home maintenance contractors or home remodeling contractors, compare prices, read reviews, and even reach out for free quotes — all from your mobile device or computer. Find a pro today to get started on your winter curb appeal projects.
FAQs
How do you get curb appeal in the winter?
Achieving winter curb appeal comes down to just a few things: 1) keeping your home's exterior and yard clean and 2) adding a few decor elements. Focus on improving the look of your home's front porch, doors (including the garage door), exterior windows, lawn, and plants.
Attracting potential buyers in your real estate market during the winter season may require a local professional's opinion as well. Ask your real estate agent what types of home improvements you should invest in to get potential buyers' attention.
How do I keep my yard beautiful in the winter?
Contrary to popular belief, it's still important to take care of your yard and lawn in the winter. To keep your yard looking beautiful, consider doing the following projects and tasks:
- Keep your grass shorter.
- Prune your plants and trees.
- Rake your leaves and clean out your gutters.
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