Curb Appeal

I’ve always been big on the exterior of houses. A few years ago, we moved to a smaller, simple cape; I knew I wanted to dial up the curb appeal. It took a little time and some muscle, but it was well worth the effort. If you ever look at houses with me, my favorite line is, “That house would be cuter with shutters!”

Before

I made simple changes, like changing the light fixture, house number (Etsy), and full glass/ screen door. Then, I added a new flag, pots, plants, brick edging, and porch railings.

I wish I’d taken a video of my nursery visits. I pulled all the plants I liked and maneuvered them until I came up with the basic layout and doubled my picks! It was a lot of fun. I dug all the holes myself. For the border, I roughly measured the beds' outlines for the bricks. I went to a local builder supply store and was able to buy just what I needed. My dad helped me dig a small trench. I laid them in not flat; I sat them on their sides if that makes sense.

I also added new shutters and redid the trim around the windows and a small architectural detail over the door.

The investment was pretty small for the return. My goal was for it to feel welcoming, and the best compliment I got was that the house looked like me!

My top five tips for adding curb appeal:

• Update your door; doors can date a house, and a new door can make a difference. If you can’t replace it or yours needs a bit of a pickup, paint it. A fresh coat of paint goes a long way. I love a good wreath, too, I have a few that I change with the seasons.

• Add plants; you can see there was little landscaping when I bought the house; the plants give it life, add color and texture, and you don’t have to have a big budget to do this.

• Keep things tidy; this is easy: mow the lawn, trim, weed, and keep things neat.

• Keeping up with repairs makes a huge difference in the house's overall look.

After

xo

Susan