How do I create curb appeal?

You have a lovely property and some good ideas. What is see lacking is color. I would start with changing the color of the base of the house and if paintable the window trim. I would put colored mulch around the tree bases. Use hanging flower pots from the eaves.

Donna...Congrats on your new house...it looks like a great place! My first thought since spring is near and too late for flowers for this year. I would use pots and buy flowers that are ready to bloom such as tulips, daffodils, etc. You can do single pots or buy tubs and mix. These can be planted after they bloom and then next spring will come up naturally. Shrubs such as azaleas can be planted after the last frost and will add color. Google Farmer's Almanac and add your zip code to see when they predict the last frost for your area. Good luck to you and have fun growing your new home and yard!

Fabulous find! And you're definitely on the right track. I agree that you need color and some texture to your property. Window boxes would be great. You can paint them a 'pop' color (and maybe the shutters, too). I'd also think of planting something that is upright (or, you could train, like a flowering vine on a trellis) on the front corners and between the windows. And leveling the beds in the front would make a big difference, especially to the left of the front door. I DO like the idea of a driveway circling the front - especially for front door access, but that is really expensive with a contractor and permits, etc. You could do a lot with lighting and planting the driveway - whichever way you go. Flower beds, loosely shaped, around the trees might be a real pick-me-up. Choose annuals or perennials that will take sun and shade (those trees are big!) Consider a fence, but make sure that fits with the neighborhood or else it will look odd. Also, give yourself a bit of time. North Carolina definitely has four seasons and your home will look different in every one. You don't want to invest a lot of time, effort and money and then have something look wonky in a different season! Most of all, enjoy your new home!

I feel you need to add a bit of height to the plantings in front. You could put a tall cypress between the 2 windows - they grow tall but thin.

Changing the color of the shutters and front door will add good permanent pops of color to the home, which is lovely btw!

You can begin building garden beds along the walkway, planting perennial flowers that return every year. I encourage you to create some curving beds to soften the straight lines that are everywhere. You may even want to transplant some of the evergreen bushes from the front of the house to those beds and replace them with flowers in front of the house.

It takes some time for new beds and plantings to fill out and look lush. Take your time and see the fruits of your labor.

Most importantly, find out your growing zone (google your city + growing zone to find out) and ONLY plant things that are geared to your zone! This will be the best guarantee for success along with minimal care/problems.

Happy growing! 😎🌼👍

Since your windows are smaller, I think adding planter boxes would be a great idea! They would add dimension to the front of the house and color depending on the type of plants you used. Welcome to NC! We love it here!

Until the seasons are right for plantings, decorate your front entry porch to create interest. Perhaps paint the alcove a subtle color with the door and shutters a brighter/darker shade (beige/toast, etc.) Add interest with seating, plants & planters (use faux plants in winter) and art - everyone’s eyes will automatically be drawn to your inviting entryway.

Tulips that have been forced in lots usually do not come back. Someone suggested that.

HOW about canvas and daylilies? Adding in some colorful annuals. Flower boxes can be a lot of work. Placing colorful pots around will brighten up your yard, too.

I would say you need some pop of color, like flowers etc or a little bench?

I like you ideas of window boxes- adding some nice large ceramic pots to the front porch will add some interest. I would like to see your home in another color other than white.

Your home has room for shutters on the windows, nice ones are made from wood with interesting hardware. There are beautiful ideas on Pinterest (I would remove the one set as it looks odd to have just one set.)

On one or more of the large outside walls a star jasmine on a trellis will add texture/color, fragrance and height. It can go in the ground or in a lovely large pot.

Over the garage I would like to see a sturdily built wood trellis over the garage doors with nice pots and climbing evergreen clematis behind Italian cypress on either side of the garage. On the garage wall area under the upper Windows there is room for a large metal art piece.

On on the perimeter edge of your yard consider a berm that raises the soil three or four feet in height (maybe more for privacy or less if it make the drainage weird) and six to nine feet in width.

Plant a seasonal border that gives year round interest. Local garden shops can let you know how to choose your plantings. A border like this can be low maintainence compared to lawn. Work in small confers, ground cover roses and edibles like fruit trees, elderberry, blueberries and the like.

The semicircular driveway and Italian cypress as a border sound good too. Start with the hardscapes, lighting and irrigation and then move on from there.

Your home is lovely, now it's time to make it look like you.

What a great place! Stunning property! You have some wonderful ideas, and I agree with all the suggestions! The fastest, easiest and least expensive fix is to paint! At least the shudders and front Door. Maybe a dark green or blue or even red! Here are some ideas

I'd get a bright red cart for your hill and dump it over planting red and white flowers cascading down the hill like a stream....using whatever configuration you feel as the artist in you shows out.......of course the prep of cultivating.....etc. is key.........😄🏡

I would paint the front door and shutters a brighter color you like and add a bench painted in a bright color. Colorful flowers in front of the shrubs you have would help and get a large tall colorful plant to add to the end of the house on the right side next to the garage, Esperanza is pretty,with lovely yellow flowers or clemantis on a trellis. Go first go to the local nurseries in your area and ask the professional about the most hearty plants for your area. Look at he web for ideas and take it easy the first season but drive around your neighborhood and see what seems to be thriving in other yards.

My first impression was the driveway and area outside the garages. I think an arbor above the garage doors would look good, perhaps with some wisteria trained across. To my eye it could help ease the abrupt change of one story becoming two as you approach by car. On the back side along the parking area I would like to see a row of arborvitae (or any columnar type tree) to help blend the house to its surrounding on that taller side.

I love the idea of window boxes on just about any house BUT I will say from experience that they pretty much require daily attention which can really be troublesome when you want to go away for a weekend or if you have to water second story plants from inside or carry water because your hose doesn't reach the planters. Enjoy your new home and give it some time. The house will tell you what it needs as you spend time there.