Easy Steps to Up Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Don’t wait for spring cleaning to give your home’s exterior a good pressure wash. Rent or borrow a pressure washer that produces at least 2,000 pounds per square inch of pressure and has an extension wand of 6 to 12 feet. Operate according to instructions and begin pressure washing at a lower part of a wall until you determine the optimum spray type and distance for cleaning your house.

Don’t stop with the wall paint or vinyl siding, but also pressure wash your driveway, front walkway, garage door, fence or patio, if appropriate. A vigorous cleaning can help your home shine by getting rid of dirt you may not have noticed was there.

Rent pressure washers for outdoor projects through The Home Depot's tool rental service.

A popular first step in boosting curb appeal is giving your front door a fresh coat of exterior paint. It's an easy and inexpensive task that makes a big difference, especially with a bright color.

Polish the metal fixtures or install some new hardware, such as a door knocker or a kickplate.

Maybe your front door needs more than a coat of paint and you'd like to replace it. Check out the Door Finder to help select the perfect front door for your home.

Try door decor: Wreaths, for instance, aren’t just seasonal decorations, but also come in styles suitable for displaying year-round.

Go green with annual and perennial flowers in your landscape. Gardens can be showpieces in a front yard, but plants can also flourish in carefully placed pots, window boxes and hanging planters.

If you’re planning for the long term, plant trees or shrubs and enjoy watching them grow over time.
Fall and early spring are the best times to get shrubs in the ground and establish roots without the stress of hot weather.

This should go without saying, but keep your front yard trim and tidy. Don’t let the lawn get overgrown in the summer or be engulfed in leaves when the weather cools off. Use an edger to trim along the driveway, sidewalk and curb if they look unkempt.

Literally brighten up the front of your house with new outdoor light fixtures, from sconces on the walls to string lights and solar-powered lanterns on the porch or in the trees.

Landscape lighting can illuminate your front walkway or other features in your yard.

Tip: Consider soft, colored light bulbs for your front patio, but avoid types that attract insects.

Give your old mailbox a fresh coat of paint or replace it outright with something more stylish.

Similarly, house numbers and letters can be taken for granted, but a visual upgrade can be pleasingly eye-catching.

Tip: When updating mailbox and house numbers, make sure that the replacements conform to any rules from your neighborhood association or local zoning.

Don’t just clean your windows, but give the trim new paint or repairs as needed. Add or upgrade exterior shutters; wood shutters have a classic, traditional look.

Tip: Windows work both ways, so make sure any interior blinds or curtains look good from the outside of the house as well as the inside.

Unless you have a tall house up on a hill, your roof is probably visible from the street, so make sure it’s as clean and tidy as your yard. Sweep or blow leaves and other debris off the roof. Replace damaged shingles as needed. Make sure the gutters and downspouts are cleared out and in good repair.

Safety Tip: Take all precautions when climbing up a ladder or out a window to clean off your roof. Never do it if you’re the only person at home.

Depending on the size of your front patio or stoop, add some outdoor furniture. Rocking chairs and porch swings are charming and inviting. Just avoid adding so much patio furniture that the area looks cluttered.

Tip: A fun or artful door mat may not be visible from the curb, but can offer a friendly, personalized way to welcome newcomers.

The front of your house may have an unsightly electrical box, garden hose tap or garbage and recycling containers that can’t go anywhere else. Fortunately, you can buy or build attractive panels and screens that are easy to assemble and keep such items out of sight. Fencing is another way to keep your yard looking orderly.

Birds bring life, color and music to a home, so consider adding a front yard bird house, bird bath or bird feeder, particularly one that matches your home’s style. Bird-friendly plants can also be effective at attracting feathered friends.