26 Curb Appeal Ideas to Turn Your Home Into the Best-Looking House on the Block

Curb appeal is a blanket term that describes making your house look good from the street. You can update and enhance your home's curb appeal with improvements big and small, from front yard landscaping to house numbers, fencing, front porch decor and lighting, and the choice of exterior paint colors for the facade, trim, and front door.

Check out these curb appeal ideas in a range of styles to give your home a boost.

House Numbers

Replacing your house number is a simple and affordable way to increase your home's curb appeal. Make sure that your house numbers are legible, easy to find, attractive, and in a font that complements your home's architectural style.

Add a Picket Fence

A white picket fence is shorthand in the collective imagination for the American dream. This Florida home from interior designer Maite Granda includes a decorative picket fence at street level that flanks the long and wide driveway leading to the home, and a pair of white rocking chairs on the porch completes the picture.

Change the Mailbox

Changing your mailbox is an affordable way to up your home's curb appeal. Your mailbox should be easy to see for the mail carrier, but from a design perspective, it should also complement the style of your home. Whether that means going for an all-black look as seen above or opting for a contrasting color or material is up to you.

Light It Up

Upgrading your outdoor lighting can be an investment for a larger home, but one that will pay off in terms of curb appeal.

Kern & Co gave this Spanish-style home a welcoming glow with warm sconce lighting from the pillars flanking the driveway entrance and spreading throughout the front and recessed courtyard entrance.

Rethink the Front Pathway

Your front walkway should be well maintained, easy to spot, and welcoming for visitors. Giving your front entry a simple makeover with new landscaping or paving stones can make all the difference.

Add a Striped Awning

Simple changes can make all the difference to your home's curb appeal. A gray-and-white striped awning and a wall full of ivy adds instant timeless curb appeal that makes this home from Mary Patton Design feel quietly elegant, welcoming, and warm.

Refresh the Door

Think about repainting your front door in a bright contrasting color or replacing it if it's in poor shape or doesn't match the style of the home's architecture.

Add Contrast

Interior designer Sara Simon of Handsome Salt used modern high-contrast finishes that add curb appeal to this Southern California home, from the black paint on the facade to the wood awnings over the trio of French doors that match the pale wood of the steps and deck.

Update Architectural Details

Small improvements like repairing or replacing light fixtures, railings, awnings, porticoes, overhangs, or porch flooring will have a big impact on your home's curb appeal.

Consider Small Details

White Sands took care to embellish the curb appeal of this 1929 Southern California Spanish bungalow situated close to the street with tiered landscaping that extends to the sidewalk.

A spelled-out cursive number plate over the garage door complements a numerical number plate by the door to make the exterior feel polished and intentional without breaking the budget.

Consider the Exterior Color

Painting the exterior of your home in a new color (or two) can make it look like a brand new house. This is an expensive project, so be sure to choose a color that you will want to live with for years to come.

Preserve Original Character

Erin Williamson Design preserved the historic character of this California home that emphasizes its shingled facade, white porch columns, herringbone patterned brick walkway, and simple, well-manicured landscaping to create a timeless dose of curb appeal that will never go out of style.

Replace the Garage Door

Replacing a tired garage door that is visible from the street is a simple way to elevate your home's curb appeal. The cost varies depending on the materials chosen and installation costs.

Call a Professional

For safety reasons, replacing a garage door should be tackled by only the most experienced DIYers for additional savings.

Use Integrated Lighting

White Sands added integrated lighting that is both practical and decorative on the flight of steps leading up to the entrance of this three-story Southern California home that softens the imposing facade after dark.

Renew Your Landscaping

Maintaining your landscaping is key to ensuring that your home has curb appeal. Trim your hedges, water your lawn, sweep the leaves off your front porch, and if your home needs some trees, plants, and flowers, enlist the services of a landscape designer or landscaping company to help you come up with a plan that works with your climate and the architecture of your home.

Think Year-Round

Opting for plants like shrubs or even trees that look good year-round will keep your yard from looking drab and bare once autumn and winter arrive.

Try Xeriscaping

This Palm Springs home from Michelle Boudreau Design has desert-friendly xeriscaping that complements the midcentury modern architecture and fills in the front yard with an edited selection of sculptural plants that don't require regular watering like a green lawn.

Paint Your Porch

When in doubt, a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for the exterior of your home. You might need to give your porch a little extra attention with a mini refresh to combat wear and tear in the high-traffic area.

Think About Scale

Take into account the size of your house and your front yard when designing hardscaping and landscaping to enhance your home's curb appeal.

Larger homes may require wider sidewalks or larger plants to balance things out. Smaller homes may need to opt for smaller plant life and narrow pathways to keep things within scale and cohesive.

Add Unique Features

Your home may already have distinct features that you want to update and repair. But you can add your own spin with a pergola, decorative lighting, or a hanging chair to add some boho-style flair to your curb appeal.

Maintain Your Landscaping

While plants are often a common way to spruce up your front yard, their placement and maintenance are important.

Consider how much work you are willing to put into taking care of your landscaping—or hiring someone else to do it—before making decisions. Nothing wrecks your home's curb appeal faster than a wilted lawn or unkempt garden.

Mind the Fence

If your home has a gate in front, be sure to take care of the landscaping on the street side so that your curb appeal extends to the sidewalk, making your home look integrated into its surroundings and respectful of the neighbors.

Add Classic Details

Kate Marker Interiors added curb appeal to this home with classic details like a pair of vintage-style door knockers on the double doors flanked with double potted topiaries.

Contrasting pale wood shutters and columns over the covered front porch adds a fresh, natural touch.

Tile the Steps

Interior designer Michelle Salz-Smith of Studio Surface upped the curb appeal of this Spanish-style home with a small entry gate that matches the warm wood stain of the front door, and tiled the steps up to the entrance with geometric black-and-white tile that adds a surprise modern touch when visitors approach the door.

Cleanliness and Potential Repairs

Maintenance and cleanliness are part of the big picture. Take note of whether your home appears clean, fresh, and well-kept. Also look at working elements like gutters, siding, and shutters to determine if it's time to replace them.

Plant Seasonal Flowers

A generous planting of colorful tulips at the foot of a mature tree in the front yard produces a cheerful and welcoming effect that ups the spring curb appeal of this New England home from Finding Lovely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What adds the most curb appeal to a home?

A fresh paint job will give your home’s curb appeal a boost. Landscaping the front yard is another major factor in making a good first impression, particularly if your home is set back from the street. 

What is the easiest way to increase curb appeal of a home?

Try painting your front door in an eye-catching color. Give your front porch a deep clean. Prune your bushes, water your flower boxes, or mow your lawn. Replace your mailbox. Add planters on either side of the front door to create a welcoming feel.

What is the most affordable way to increase curb appeal?

Small fixes such as replacing light fixtures, repainting your front porch floor, adding a new house number, welcome mat, or mailbox can increase your curb appeal without spending a lot of money.

Read the original article on The Spruce.