Here are 10 quick fixes that will instantly improve your home.
Stay and not sell? How does the facade of your house look? Is it worn, run down and feeling unattractive? Are you afraid of what it will take to make your house look great and exciting to come home to every day? Fear not, making your humble abode a welcoming place to come home to will take some effort, but with these simple, tried-and-true design tips, you won’t have to spend a lot of money to really polish it up.
Let’s start by assessing the condition of the exterior of the house from the street. This is what is known as “outside appeal.” Walk around the block and back to your house to get a sense of what your neighbors are really seeing when they walk by your house. Then take several photos of each side to get a more objective view of the actual state of the house. This will allow you to further examine any turnoffs such as overgrown bushes, burnt out and outdated lights, or even possibly a rusty mailbox.
Now that we’ve probably identified a number of indiscretions that can be easily fixed, let’s get going. Start with the house itself, it probably hasn’t been seriously cleaned in quite some time. We need to start with a clean slate by power washing all the dirt, dusting the cobwebs, and cleaning the windows and gutters. This initial step will make a big difference.
10 quick home remodeling fixes:
1. Paint the front door: Give your home a quick facelift with a freshly painted accent door. It is expensive to paint the whole house, but very little paint is needed to paint just the door. It’s the face of your home, so make it welcoming by painting or staining your front door a color that complements the trim color or a really bold color like a deep forest green, deep red, or even black.
2. Hang a Door Knocker – Bring your door to life by putting your own personal stamp on your freshly painted door by installing a door knocker. For a traditional look, use a classic shield-shaped design. For a much bolder look, wear a large round ring or something more whimsical, a dragonfly or mystical lion’s head. When selecting these new additions, consider a finish that matches your outdoor décor accessories. These accessories would be doorknobs, mailboxes, house numbers, and light fixtures.
3. Clean up the landscaping: Trim foundation shrubs back and down to allow you to see into the house. Use a variety of different heights to create more interest. A quick and cheap trick is to plant tall trees along the side of the house to frame it and plant smaller shrubs in front that don’t grow more than 3 or 4 feet. If the lawn has some dead patches or looks patchy, reseed the bald spots to bring the lawn back to life.
4. Add or Replace House Numbers: A great addition to any house are some decorative house numbers, not to mention practical. They enhance the style of your home and give the postman the assurance that he is really sending the mail to the right house. When selecting numbers, think about a large scale that complements the architecture of the house. Choose something sleek and modern for the more contemporary home, a dash for something more colonial or casual, and a curvy mission style for the bungalows. Think of it as jewelry for your home.
5. Upgrade the lighting-. Another piece of jewelry in the house is the lighting that is mounted next to the front door. Make your home safer and more welcoming by installing new exterior lights. Create a warm and cozy feeling, especially at night. To give your house even more curb appeal, add some garden lights. Lighting under taller trees creates a wonderful, dramatic effect. Lead your guest to your freshly painted front door with lights lining the walkway.
6. Reattach Your Door Knob – Replacing your doorknob hardware instantly livens up any door. It can be easily changed if your new knob is the same size. Once installed, make sure it is secure and does not wobble loose. When selecting finishes, select warm finishes for homes with warm tones—red woods, browns—and warm metals like copper and brass. Cooler metals for white or pale tones. Again, coordinate all the hardware with the lights, doorbell, mailbox, hinges, and kick plate.
7. Window Boxes: Really set your home apart with a few window boxes. They are lovely and are a great way to add pops of color.
8. New Mailboxes – There are two different types of mailboxes, side mailboxes and wall mounted styles. Make sure they match all other door hardware and accessories.
9. Treat Your Guest With A New Welcome Mat – With a variety of mat designs to choose from, this will be the first thing your guest sees. It’s the easiest way to update your front porch. Have fun with your selection and, if you wish, change your mat.
seasonal design.
10. Potted Plants: Outdoor containers filled with easy-care plants are also a simple way to boost curb appeal. Place them along the path, near the door and out of the way of circulation or in any other prominent space that you want to draw attention to.
Don’t delay, start writing and you will be delighted with all these new quick fixes. Once he is done, he knows that he will be the envy of all his neighbors and this should certainly put a smile on his face. Best of all, he won’t even have to break the bank to do it.
