How to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home

Updating the outside of your home not only brings a smile to your face, but also makes a great first impression. These curb appeal ideas can make your home desirable to potential buyers, too!

When we moved into our home, I loved the bones of it. The simple, symmetrical architecture, real shutters and bricks steps spoke to my heart. But the trim and shutter paint needed updating (the colors weren’t to my taste either). The front porch light was old and needed to be replaced, too.

So before we even bought the house, I had a vision for updating the outside of our home with a few changes. The first thing we did was have the trim, shutters and front door painted. That helped so much, but I also wanted to update the small front porch stoop with simple, classic updates.

This is what the house looked like when we first bought it. Green shutters, yellow trim and all!

As you may remember, we also had a grass fiasco in the front yard. So for about 9 months it looked like this. Womp. Womp. Dead grass was not the best look. I cringed every time I pulled into the driveway.

But once the trim was painted white (instead of yellow), the shutters and door were painted black (not green), and the new sod was put down, it really turned a corner.

The above picture was really getting to where I loved it! The sod was starting to green up and fill in. And I no longer cringed when I drove up to the house. Yay!!

When we moved in, I added my DIY planters and my peony and lamb’s ear wreath on the front porch as place holders. While I still love them, I think they have more of a farmhouse vibe to them. So, I set out to change up a few items.

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My Mini Front Porch Makeover

In my last home goals post, I shared my vision for the front stoop area:

I had already painted the door Onyx (Benjamin Moore) and added the American flag, but wanted to also change out the old light fixture and get some new planters and a door mat. Here’s how it looked mid-makeover …

And now the after!

It actually feels more simplified and classic. I don’t usually simplify when I redecorate, but I’m loving this new look! Let’s walk through some of the changes I made.

The French Quarter yoke style lantern has been on my radar ever since we moved in, actually. I love this kind of lantern, so I finally bought it and installed it. The previous pendant light was just old and wasn’t my favorite style.

And now I have the lantern of my dreams!

Then I replaced the DIY farmhouse-style planters with these classic style planter boxes to flank the front door.

My next order of business was to find some faux greenery to put in the planter boxes. I didn’t want to do something real, though I think that would be beautiful. I just know I wouldn’t take care of it. So, I went on the search for something faux that wouldn’t break the budget. (Nice looking faux topiaries aren’t cheap.)

I actually ordered several options to try. But when I found these faux jasper topiaries, I knew they were the ones! It’s so easy because you can just set them on top of the planters and don’t even have to worry about dirt! Yay!

Check out their sizing guide in the item listing to see what size you need. I got the XL size – 19″ for my 13.5″ planter. And I love how the greenery extends over the edges of the planter.

I like having something in front of the side light windows for privacy. But the ones I had before were just way too tall. These topiaries help it feel private, but not overpowering.

Then I bought a large initial doormat to keep things classic and simple. I did measure before I ordered everything to make sure it would all fit. And it does! Yay!

And the final thing I added was the cute brass pineapple door knocker! It’s solid and classic. I just love it. While most people ring the doorbell, it felt like I needed something on the front door when I don’t have a seasonal wreath hanging out there.

So that is my new, classic, simple front porch decor! I love that it’s ready to be dressed up for any season with a fun wreath or maybe some garland for Christmas. I’ll be sure to share any updates I make. But for now, I’m so pleased with this mini front porch makeover.

This final picture shows how much the grass has grown in! It’s come a looooong way from the beginning, and I’m so happy with how the house looks right now.

How to Add Curb Appeal to YOUR Home

Now, let’s chat about some ways YOU can add curb appeal to your home. Maybe you’ve never refreshed anything on your front porch and it needs a little sprucing up! Since the front door and outside of your home is the first thing people see, let’s make a great first impression!

Sometimes that might mean cleaning the existing lights or painting the front door. But it might mean replacing some items as well. I’m sharing some of my favorite front porch essentials that will raise your curb appeal to its highest potential!

Faux Boxwood Wreath | French Quarter Lantern | Brass Hanging Lantern | Bronze Wall Lantern | Classic Ring Door Knocker | Bee Door Knocker | Pineapple Door Knocker | Wreath Door Hanger | House Number Address Plaque | Rectangle Doorbell | Star Doorbell | Classic Nickel Doorbell | Cherry Blossom Wreath | Block Print Doormat | Faux Jasper Topiary | Classic Planter | Monogram Doormat

7 Ideas for Adding Curb Appeal

• Add planters with faux or real greenery.
• Clean up the existing lights or replace with a new light.
• Paint the front door.
• Add a fun doormat, or layer two doormats like I did at my old house.
• Hang a seasonal or evergreen wreath on the door.
• Change out the doorknob button or add a door knocker to the door. Or both!
• Add some house numbers to the front door or porch area.

Shop some of my favorite front porch curb appeal decor items:

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• How to Customize a Cute DIY Doormat