Does anyone have ideas on how to up the curb appeal on this plain jane

Tpo1373640
by Tpo1373640
Maybe some sort of front porch? I just really don't want to block too much light by blocking the windows. I'm really on a tight budget, so DIY projects are a must.
Kind of blah...
  24 answers
  • Paula Paula on Sep 08, 2015
    Hi there, so much potential. I dont know whether you have bought this or are trying to sell it. Also not sure where you live or what season it is. From the photo it looks Winter. If this was my home I would try and do something with the entrance. This is the first thing anyone sees, including yourself. If money allows try and make a path to front door, doesnt have to be concrete, can be brick, gravel, even wood chips/bark, depending on the type of look you are wanting. If you can, increase the board area around the door, using pallets etc would do, even if the time of year is wrong for plantings, add some colourful pots or items, not too much tho! An old chair or bench for that homely touch! and there you go. Remember you can always find excellent items as second hand stores, check out those big skips outside peoples houses for items, be sure to ask first. Or see what neighbours or friends have that they are willing to part with or exchange a cake for. I wish you all the best. Cheers Paula
    • Tpo1373640 Tpo1373640 on Sep 08, 2015
      Thank you! Great ideas! My daughter just bought it and is on a budget. These are some things we can actually do ourselves.
  • Jean Thompson Jean Thompson on Sep 08, 2015
    How about some Color on the Doors, Window Trim and Garage Door ? I agree with Paula that some kind of Path or Walk way to the Front Door, not just straight. and some kind of feature like a Bird Bath or Bench off to the side with some little Flowers on the Road side of the Walk. Some Bright Geraniums planted in front of the Bushes etc..
  • Rhett Murphy Rhett Murphy on Sep 08, 2015
    How about window boxes with full dark pink Impatience lowers.....paint the front door....a 2 row side walk from the front door to the driveway made from large pavers. Paint the cement on the porch stoop and add something decorative. On the garage door add black hinge accents.
    • See 1 previous
    • Rhett Murphy Rhett Murphy on Sep 08, 2015
      If you paint the cement stoop & front door use ' break through ' paint. It's what the professionals use. It has a lot of bite to it and does not chip easily . When painting the door , paint then lightly sand over it and paint again . It's how the professional painters painted our doors.
  • Julian Julian on Sep 08, 2015
    I don’t how big your budget is, a paved drive way would reallyhelp. I would remove the evergreen from the front and the smalltree front the front. Make a new flower bed; you can re-plant the evergreens here. I made a sketch more less with my idea... I hope it helps and good luck
    • Tpo1373640 Tpo1373640 on Sep 08, 2015
      This is really helpful, great ideas! Thank you for taking the time to do the sketch for us.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Sep 08, 2015
    Depending on the season try dressing up the front with some flowers to brighten up the house. I would also recommend repainting the front. Understanding your on a budget perhaps go to a home depot if you have one in your area and ask if have have any oops paint which is cheap making sure of course it is an outside paint.If you can then extend the porch and put a bench or chair on it.
    • Tpo1373640 Tpo1373640 on Sep 08, 2015
      Janet, would you paint it a different color, or just repainted the same colors? Extending the porch would make a big improvement.
  • Jeni`1962 Jeni`1962 on Sep 08, 2015
    Small flowering hedges in front of the window but keep them low. A walk way or stepping stones leading to the drive way with bright colored flowers lining it. Maybe plant a flowering tree or 2.
    • Tpo1373640 Tpo1373640 on Sep 08, 2015
      Thank you Jeni. Everyone has been a really big help! I was so overwhelmed, that I couldn't even find a starting point!
  • Jen Calvert Jen Calvert on Sep 08, 2015
    I am always drawn to this look, with the simple little kit for the garage door. This is a house for sale in my local area very similar to the one in your picture. This one needs mucho more help than yours.
  • Taffetal Taffetal on Sep 08, 2015
    Paint the garage door. It's very prominent! Don't spend $$ on paving the driveway. Simply use small-grade stones, a couple of truck loads, to create a driveway - more rustic and softer to compliment your modest home. LEAVE that nice little tree in the front. Take out those ball shrubs and create and English style garden of various plants and interesting shrubs (Holly, Rose of Sharon bush, Magnolia, etc.) I love the garden islands people create in front of houses, some with rocks balanced with the above.
    • Tpo1373640 Tpo1373640 on Sep 08, 2015
      Thank you, Taffetal. A stone driveway is a must! What color, for the garage door, do you think would compliment the house?
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Sep 08, 2015
    I would repaint the house in a different color.I would not focus so much on shrubs right now. Your looking for a quick fix do it one step at a time.Once you decide on colors then you can proceed with the rest.As I stated before there are many ways to add curb appeal without spending a lot of money. Keep posted.
  • Paint the house a lighter color definitely. ..maybe faux paint windows on top of garage doors..make some cedar shingles from fence boards to dress up main window
    • Tpo1373640 Tpo1373640 on Sep 08, 2015
      So, cedar shingles would go on the sides of the window kind of like shutters?
  • Taffetal Taffetal on Sep 08, 2015
    A lighter color for your house will make it look larger and then do the trim and garage door in a darker shade of the same color A local contractor just redid a house very similar to yours near me. I can't believe the transformation. He used a beautiful taupe color which was a great backdrop to the simple garden. I'll try to send you a photo if it's possible.
  • Shari Allen Shari Allen on Sep 08, 2015
    I think a front porch would make it look more finished. Painting it a lighter color will make it look more cheerful. My house had a front porch and it did block the light, so I added a skylight in front of the window. I also put 2 skylights in my patio cover. I think pinterest has a lot of ideas if you look up curb appeal.
  • Elaine Shoyren Morris Elaine Shoyren Morris on Sep 08, 2015
    Define the driveway from the yard with edging stone. Then a curved path with 12 X 12 pieces to the entrance. A tall thin tree like an arbovitae between the windows to balance and break up the line of shrubs. A pretty front door would make a difference too!
  • Emma Emma on Sep 08, 2015
    Yes on brighter color; how 'bout a red front door? I agree with Elaine about the driveway definition and an inviting, interesting path to front step. Absolutely dress up the driveway with some sort of surface, even if it's just a load of inexpensive road mix. This will make an immediate improvement to a very prominent feature.
  • Maggie Kimble-Bernard Maggie Kimble-Bernard on Sep 08, 2015
    If repainting the house is financially impossible right now, focus on small projects that will give the most bang for the buck. Adding shutters to the windows will be a good start. Next, hang flower boxes beneath the windows. Plant sweet potato vines in them and add a few flowering plants for a pop of color. I like Elaine Shoyren Morris' suggestion to plant a tall thin tree between the windows. Down South we are crazy about Crepe Myrtles. That would be my choice if your climate will allow. To open the view to the front door I would move that tree that is in the middle of the lawn. Outlining the driveway with stone and making a curved parh with pavers or slate stepping stones will welcome guests. The biggest expense would be covering the driveway with shale or aggregate. These upgrades can be divided into weekend projects over time to spread out the expense. Good luck!
  • No use cedar fence boards and build singles to go on each side of the windows
  • Lizzy L Lizzy L on Sep 08, 2015
    I like all the responses here. I would also add a tall flowering shrub in the blank space between the windows. And, definitely paint the front door a bright contrasting color, like orange, perhaps,
  • Pam Potter Pam Potter on Sep 08, 2015
    Lighten the color of the house to light green or tan---then add shutters around the windows and paint the window trim and shutters and the rain gutters and down pours to a darker green or brown depending on the color you pick. Paint the front door burnt orange works with both color schemes Make a curved path to the driveway from the front porch place orangish brown flat rocks and put moss or gravel in between each stone. The space between the front windows get a wrought iron scrolly design or initials. Build a extention out for the porch with nice poles. Get some big pots the have color to them to put ferns and draping plants in to set at the interance Get a fancy long stile light for the porch area and house numbers . Plant low to medium height flowers around the path and continue them across the front under the shrubs. You could also paint the house numbers at the top part of the garage door with scroll lines on both sides of the numbers and it would take away from the just a plain door look.. My husband loves to hunt I painted a deer sceen with a darker white and at first you don't see it until you walk up towards the house or the sun is setting and shining on it. I draw the house out and then play with it on paper until it looks like I want it to then go from there------Good Luck
  • Taffetal Taffetal on Sep 08, 2015
    I just passed his renovated house again. He left the windows and door frame white which looks good with the taupe color also. If your windows are wood, they would be easier to paint a pale taupe, otherwise leave them white. But best to paint the garage door in a darker shade of taupe rather than leave it white. For your little tree in front, get someone to take up the grass around it in the shape of an oval, teardrop, whatever about 12' by 5'. Loosen the soil and mix in a mound of fresh earth. Position a medium/large rock in the new space but not too close to the tree. Then add some of your favorite plants. I like ornamental grass and white blossoming hydrangea against the taupe color. I'll try to send a photo.
  • Dickie Davis Dickie Davis on Sep 08, 2015
    There are lots of good suggestions listed previously which will improve the curb appeal of your home. One thing that might help is more plants and trees in the yard. Some nurserys offer free landscape design provided you purchase the plants from them that you can plant yourself.
  • Denise Denise on Sep 09, 2015
    Put a garden to left? Mark off areas, fill with dirt, put pavers down, space an inch or two apart to allow grass (?) to grow between pavers. Put a big rock or two, Crepe myrtle, dogwood, vytek tree or two (cant tell how big space is), and some creeping thyme ground cover. Make walkway to street, line both sides poo f walkway with colorful foliage plants (croton,etc) or low growing flowers. Make a concrete birdbath, some yard art, small diy fountain. Good luck. Post pics!
  • Taffetal Taffetal on Sep 10, 2015
    Here's a photo. The color of the taupe appears darker the real life. He attached a simple front porch and if you did that, your garage door would be recessed especially painted, say, a chocolate brown. The colors of his few flowers are poppin' red which also did not come across here. Hope this helps
    • Tpo1373640 Tpo1373640 on Sep 10, 2015
      This helps so much! Thanks for taking the time to get the photo for us. You are awesome!
  • B. Enne B. Enne on Sep 11, 2015
    Lots of great suggestions! I personally wouldn't paint the gutters and downspouts a contrasting or coordinating colour. I had mine matched to my siding, which the contractor thought was weird until he saw it. Now he thinks it is great and sends potential clients to come drive by to see what it looks like. It used to be cream siding with dark brown gutters and downspouts. At my cottage, I went 2 shades lighter ( before I had my house re-sided), and it is still better than a strong contrast. They are not attractive features, and look like stripes, so IMO it is best to put the focus on the shutters and the front door.
  • Kayo Frazier Kayo Frazier on Sep 11, 2015
    Ok. Here's my 2 cents...1st, I would asphalt your driveway if you can. That will give you a definitive line for the grass. 2nd, I would take out 2-3 of the bushes then widen the space bet the house & lawn. So you can add plants, flowers. I would add a trellis on the open space to the left in the pic & add a vine like flower. 3rd Then I would add a slate walkway from the door to the driveway & to the street. Hopes this helps.