You know the saying, "It's the little things that count"? Have you ever thought about it when sprucing up your home? Chances are, you may have only thought of the bigger things. But the small changes can have a huge impact on the over-all look of your home.
There are many small, inexpensive tasks you can do to the exterior of your home and yard to give it more curb appeal. The tips mentioned below can be fun weekend projects or things to take of in only a few minutes. Take a look and see which of these you can do to make your home look more appealing.
Plant Flowers
Flowers can brighten up the outside of your house in a big way. Choose brightly colored flowers like Petunias, Marigolds, Sweet Alyssum or Zinnias and you'll instantly see the difference. Best things about those types are that they're cheap and low-maintenance so you don't need to be a gardening expert to maintain them.
Yellows, oranges, and pinks give a more cheerful appearance to the outside of your home. Be care when choosing purples or blues; they can have a more subtle effect that you may not want. Wood mulch in a plant bed will also give a nice contrast.
Flowers are a nice touch under windows in a flower box, on porches in clay pots, and in flower beds mixed with wood mulch. They create a warm, inviting, and friendly feel, which will make your property look well-cared for and enjoyed.
Take a trip to your local garden center. The associates there will be able to assist you in making the best choice for your purpose and region you live in. Here's a good tip: annuals are cheaper than perennials, so they'll be perfect for a project like this.
Replace Your House Numbers
This may seem like a rather small task but it will make a difference when it comes to improving the exterior look of your home. It's especially important if your house numbers are missing, if they are not easy to see or are just old and need to be replaced.
If your house numbers are carved into the exterior of your home, be certain they are visible from the street. Nothing is worse than looking for an address that isn't visible. Simply clean out the grooves, paint them a crisp color, and you should be good to go.
A fun way to do this is to use a sponge brush from a craft or hardware store. Just dip the sponge into a paint color that contrasts with your home and carefully apply to the grooves. When you're finished, the fresh paint will really have a big impact on the front of your home.
If your house numbers are mounted on the exterior of your home by the door or above the garage, you can paint those as well. Just unmount them, clean them, set them on some newspaper, and apply a fresh coat of spray paint. Make sure they are completely dry before re-mounting.
It's especially good to replace house numbers that are rusty, if they have pieces missing or if a number is completely gone. They are readily available at hardware stores and home building centers in your area. They have all kinds of styles for good prices.
This also applies to house numbers that are on your mailbox. If they are weathered, torn, or missing, get new ones. You can use stickers or stencils; either are cheap and easy to use. You'll be amazed by how much more valuable new numbers will make your house look.
Use these fun, easy, and quick suggestions and you will see a BIG difference in the look of your home. As mentioned, they're small tasks but will greatly increase the value of your home.
