Update house numbers
Your house numbers should be distinctive and well-suited to the architectural style of your house. You'll find many styles and options available today, from individual numbers in wood, metal, and ceramic, to custom-ordered plaques and markers. These Stella numbers in antique silver finish are from Pottery Barn and can be installed in minutes using a screwdriver and a pair of mounting screws.
Pottery Barn
Use planters
Consider dressing up the front entry with flower- and plant-filled containers. Whether you choose ordinary clay flower pots or more decorative options like these self-watering Nantucket Planters from Plow & Hearth, think about symmetry, style, and placement. Window boxes serve the same benefit for street-facing views.
Plow & Hearth
Add a decorative trellis
A trellis is an ideal way to add decorative interest to the side of a house. You can make one easily enough by picking up ready-made lattice and a couple lengths of framing lumber, or opt for something like New England Arbor's Luxembourg Privacy Screen Trellis. Made of premium weather-resistant vinyl, it requires no maintenance.
Outdoor Living Showroom
Replace light fixtures
Replacing an old light fixture with a new design is a great way to enhance the beauty of your home's exterior—day and night. You can easily find outdoor fixtures that fit your taste and budget and—provided you are qualified—even do the replacement yourself. This one, finished in classic Corithian bronze, is from the Murray Feiss Martinsville collection and available at Lightingdirect.com.
LightingDirect
Improve walkways
The walkway to your house has a dramatic impact on overall curb appeal, drawing the eye directly from the street to your front door. Consider improving the look with a path made of pavers, bricks, or flagstone. You will find an abundance of materials at your local home and garden center and plenty of how-to help and support to tackle the job yourself. A great weekend project!
Reading Road
Consider shutters
Dress up a drab exterior with shutters. Available in a variety of materials—wood, metal, and vinyl—and in louvered, board and batten, and raised panel designs, you are sure to find a pair that fits your home's style and your budget. Best of all, you can install the shutters yourself. The louvered designs shown here are from Timberlane.
Timberlane
Update mail box
Add some curbside impact with a new, decorative mailbox. You will find many styles and designs to choose from in wood, aluminum, and, even, Rubbermaid, at a broad range of prices. This Imperial 311 model from Mailbox Works is hand-crafted in aluminum and finished in premium enamel paint, making it impervious to rust, insect damage, and harsh elements.
Mailbox Works
Add a door mat
The doormat is no longer just a necessary front door accessory. Take advantage of the fashion-forward designs available today—at every price range—and add some style and color to your entryway. For a more formal look, consider something like this Monogrammed Coco design from Grandin Road. Made from all-natural coir, it is designed for durability and weather resistance.
Grandin Road
Invest in paint
An investment in a single can of paint can do wonders to improve the look of your home. Add a splash of color to the front door, find a complementing color to enhance trim and details, or give the whole house a fresh new coat. There are paint tools and guides to help you pick the colors best-suited to your home's architectural style. Be sure to choose a premium-quality exterior paint for long-lasting beauty.
Marvin Windows
Visit a garden center
One of the best and least expensive ways to add curb appeal to any home is with plants, shrubs, and trees. Visit your local garden center or nursery to seek their advice on the varieties best suited to your landscaping needs and climate conditions. Be sure to follow planting instructions and consider height and spread of mature species. Mid-summer and end-of-season are perfect times to pick up some real bargains, so you want might want to add it to your list of things to do this weekend.
Ettinger's Garden Center
Don't Miss!
If you have the money to hire a handyman for every household woe, go ahead. But if you want to hang on to your cash and exercise some self-sufficiency, check out these clever products that solve a million and one little problems around the house. Go now!
