How to improve curb appeal?

Heather
by Heather
Hi! So my sister just purchased her first home and I am moving in with her to help her fix it up. The curb appeal is.. well pretty ugly. We’re trying to find ways or ideas of what we could do to make it look better from the outside? we are planning to install new windows in the front that are symmetrical and maybe changing the porch to face frontwards and adding some plants and such. But were looking for any ideas that could help. I’ve attached a front view of the house. Thanks!
  8 answers
  • Cindy Cindy on Jul 09, 2018

    Hi Heather. I'm Cindy. I would plant bushes on both sides of the porch. I think 3 on each side would look nice. Then plant some colorful annuals in front of them. Window boxes under your new windows would look great and would be the "finishing touch". Some sort of walkway from the porch to the driveway would also be nice. Maybe pavers or flagstone would be good. p.s. Start using lawn treatments. We use Scott's products and they have our front yard looking like a park. You only apply it every couple months. We don't do our backyard. Dogs and kids. Best of luck to you and your sister.

  • Peggy L Burnette Peggy L Burnette on Jul 09, 2018

    Hi this is Peggy. You need some flower beds or flower boxes under the windows. Have you thought of painting the front door an accent color maybe a color anything but gray. You could use a tree with a small flower garden around it, rocks or mulch. You may want a flag pole to display the American flag. A small chair or stool on the porch would be nice. Have fun and enjoy your make over.

  • Lauren of Mom Home Guide Lauren of Mom Home Guide on Jul 09, 2018

    I think you should add some flower beds in front of the home. You could plant Stella D’Oro day lilies in the back of the beds (they come back every year and bloom all summer), and easy care annual flowers in the front. You could paint the railing white and paint the front door blue, red, yellow, orange, etc. I agree that adding a walkway would be nice. A pretty ornamental flowering tree in the front yard would be pretty, too. Enjoy!

  • B. Enne B. Enne on Jul 09, 2018

    All good suggestions, I would also paint the front door your favourite brighter colour.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Jul 09, 2018

    I would not put flower boxes under the windows. The windows now are different sizes and heights, and their scale is not harmonius. Adding anything under them would be like underlining them, which will just add more attention to the fact that they are not symmetrical.

    Instead, I would add either a horizontal border the full width of the house, even in height with the bottom railing of the deck. This would integrate everything that is presently on the front of the house. As for future plans, I would recommend adding additional steps on the right side, the same as the set on the left. This would take away the lopsided look from the front facade, and add some needed symmetry. Paint out all the dark wood a brighter, livelier color.

  • Mogie Mogie on Jul 09, 2018

    I am going to make some awnings for my window. I am using this basic idea but making them wider and lower to protect from rain, keep the low summer sun out and add color to the house. This is the simplest now sew awning I have found that still looks decent. Obviously, the ones from this site are too high but they had to hang them that high so they could open the shed doors.

    https://www.unexpectedelegance.com/diy-shed-awning-quick-easy/



  • 2dogal 2dogal on Jul 09, 2018

    Shutters a dark grey - if the house is light grey, a red door and green planting around the foundation. I'd also paint the porch railing white. Power wash the siding first as one side looks like it needs it.

  • Dwp7470b Dwp7470b on Aug 04, 2018

    The first thing I would do Heather is get out my trusty antique pitchfork and prepare a 4 seasons Landscape with a path that leads to the Porch, not in a U shape or T but likely an R or K or E, that has 4 forks in the road, and make Sure there were some small hills at the top of R or K, Or Hills at the left of E.

    In that process, we would need to let the grass grow high and seed, so we can sort out the 14 different species of grass these obviously planted over 20 years.

    Once that was done [3 weeks] I would tear off the Stairs to the porch, and cut the facing wood railing off [1 day] to move it where the stairs presently are so you can move the steps too, to step right up to the door rather than Dance around with a load of groceries like you are a main player in a Human Chess Game, namely a Knight or Horseman who cannot travel except in L-Shapes.

    Once that nonsensical idiocy from Wonderland undid then you tend to: securing Plants and bushes all along any part of that lengthy Dirt Path where you do not intend to park a car.

    Once that's done, you can likely afford a 6 Foot Tall Living Fir Tree to plant in front of that LOL ridiculously small window that almost screams: 'What were they thinkin'?'

    WHAT were they thinking? 'They did not want their little monkey-like child to climb out the window', is exactly what they were thinking...so they after 3 to 5 weeks of contemplation, and 32 Anacins decided on a ridiculously small window in the wrong place no less, that belonged on the side of the house instead...and placed it Too High Too.

    Goofs.

    Then, they likely moved the Bathroom there as an afterthought, too thinking that Spray on Privacy Frost

    could resolve the Riproaring: Big Guy in a Little Suit Problem.

    Am I right? The bathroom's at the tiny window?

    If not they sold the house due to a snafu to their big plans.

    You know there is nothing you can do about that too high and too small window now except add an Addition or a Sunporch with a door to access a Patio or Deck at the Top of the R, K or E landscape?

    Who needs two backdoors? is my gyst.

    If anything you put the door on the side where the window should have went.

    As It is either plant a Tree or install a coin operated sliding board, that maybe attaches to a coca cola machine, seemingly that last option is out.

    So, as that option is out, you put a $60 Tree there to hide it and maybe buy a Big Dog to fertilize the tree, so it grows Big Fast.

    Once that is done you have a much Clearer Picture of everything that is going on, Per each Season in the 4 Sections: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.

    As that will be late September minimum, and all the Seasons except Fall are Represented in the landscaping and purchases mentioned, from there you can start getting the Fall Annuals and Perennials for that Fall Season Section, and that can and should include some fruit trees, as:

    2 Plum, 1 Apple, 1 Peach, 2 Pear

    For planting on the hill at the left of R, K or E.

    And some Vines: Climbing Roses and Grapes which all weave on a Trellis.

    Can you guess where that Trellis on a Mini Pergola made of Copper Pipe and Concrete goes? Right! Behind the Tree that is too young yet to hide the dumb window.

    That Trellis on a Mini-pergola can easily Fashion that in 5 years, you can move it if you want to another section of the lawn.

    Once all that 4 Seasons comes together you gotta wait until after spring thaw to do anything major.

    As that Major Job may include a Concrete Patio and mortar with Stone for along the Path, you may as well haul in a Nonassembled Wooden Picnic Table when they go on Sale in the fall to Assemble that next year in May.

    As any good Patio needs lights and a fire pit, of course you can plan those into budgets.

    But foremost, you can actually get about 70% of your ends of the job Complete before October.

    If you like Halloween, plant Pumpkins now.

    And Start Saving Seeds from Foodstuffs like:


    Strawberries, Tomatoes of All Kinds, Blueberries,

    Raspberries, Acorn Squash, All Melons, and Carrots


    Never throw potato peels away, get an old board, dig a hole in the landscaping and toss them there and use a board as the lid to the hole.

    Because the Pathing will upheave about 4 tons of soil, you can always borrow from that for indoor Patio sized miniature plants like:


    Mangos, Avacados, Bananas, Key Lime, and Lemon


    as long as you sift out the ants and critters from the soil.

    And although you are getting a late start, You would be suprised how much you can accomplish before fall begins on September 21.


    Good Luck with your project!