7 Quick and Easy DIYs to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal

When many think of concrete projects, they envision large concrete mixer trucks with rotating drums that beep noisily when backing up. However, when it comes to mixing Quikrete concrete for projects at home, only a few simple tools and supplies are necessary. In many cases, a large bucket or wheelbarrow will serve for mixing the concrete, and a shovel and trowel are all that’s necessary for smoothing out small projects. Ahead, discover seven concrete DIYs that you can make in a weekend or less to update your outdoor decor.

Distinct lines between lawns, flowerbeds, and perennial borders are essential for achieving a clean look in the landscape. Concrete creates a permanent, low-maintenance border that will add value and boost curb appeal. Best of all, for DIYers who know their way around a circular saw and a cordless drill, installing a concrete lawn border is a straightforward project. Excavate a shallow path—straight or curved—build a simple border form, and then fill the form with Quikrete All-Purpose Gravel, followed by Quikrete Crack Resistant Concrete Mix. This unique mix contains synthetic fibers that give it the extra strength necessary for borders that won’t crack or crumble. Watch this video for the complete steps for building your own concrete garden edging.

Concrete is an optimal material for planters, but large concrete planters are heavy and difficult to move. This rolling DIY concrete planter changes all that. The rectangular shape of the planter is made using an old cabinet as a form, and rigid foam sheets are cut and fitted to create interior space. The superior strength of Quikrete 5000 Concrete Mix makes for a structurally sound planter, and a plywood board serves as a base for attaching caster wheels that make it possible to roll the planter from one spot to another. The concrete receptacle also makes a great cooler! Here’s a video for step-by-step directions. 

Water and foundations don’t mix. Diverting water away from a home’s foundation reduces leaks and structural basement problems, but homeowners need not resign themselves to steel gutter extensions that detract from the yard’s look. Creating an attractive concrete splash block is a quick DIY project when using Quikrete Concrete Mix. This particular project uses vinyl siding to construct the block form, but plywood strips would work as well. By embedding colorful stones on the surface, this splash block is as pretty as it is functional.

Lawn ornaments draw the eye and add appeal, and this leafy concrete orb is sure to become a focal point in the landscape. Made with Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix, this orb uses real leaves to achieve a realistic veining look. Each concrete leaf is hand formed around a beach ball that can be deflated and removed after the concrete has hardened. What’s left is a globe-shaped work of art that can be positioned on a column, filled with fairy lights, or painted to match other outdoor décor.

A concrete planter is a landscaping staple, and making your own couldn’t be simpler. This planter is made by dipping circular pieces of fabric in a concrete slurry made with Quikrete Portland Cement, and then draping them over the bottom of a bucket covered with a plastic sack. The fabric pieces are layered over the bucket one at a time to add strength and to develop the planter’s shape. Experiment with different types of fabric and bucket sizes to make a plethora of pretty planters.

Well-designed pathways direct foot traffic while visually defining and separating different areas of the yard. Creating a decorative walking path is a simple DIY project with the Quikrete Walkmaker that can be placed right on the ground and then filled with Quikrete Concrete Mix. Spraying the new walkway frequently for 3-5 days will help it cure slowly, or DIYers can apply Quikrete Acrylic Concrete Cure N’ Seal immediately after pouring, which will allow the walkway to cure slowly. The form is available in various attractive patterns, and users can create a custom look by adding Quikrete Liquid Cement Color. See how easy it is to create a beautiful path in less than a weekend.

Concrete and copper complement one another in these charming wind chimes that can be hung from a covered porch or a tree to add a touch of décor to your exterior. The chimes are made using two different PVC pipe sizes as forms, which are then filled with Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix that sets in 20 to 40 minutes. After stripping the outer PVC form, copper sheeting is attached to create an eye-catching accent. These hollow concrete pipes could also be used as columnar bases for holding various lawn ornaments, such as gazing balls or solar lights. You can watch video instructions here.