What Is Curb Appeal?
Find out how to boost your home’s curb appeal.
Curb appeal meaning isn’t just for vanity or looks. Knowing the basics of “what is curb appeal?” is essential in properly valuing your home. Whether you’re looking to sell or wanting to protect an asset, learning about curb appeal meaning is key as a homeowner.
What Is Curb Appeal?
Curb appeal refers to the exterior design and features of your home. Think of it like your home’s first impression, with the exterior giving potential buyers (or even just people who are walking through your neighborhood) a sneak peek at the quality of home, that they might be able to find inside, from the street.
Curb appeal is a term often used by realtors to describe the attractiveness of a property, as viewed from some distance by a prospective buyer. There are several inexpensive or complete gut projects that can improve the curb appeal of a home, such as fresh paint or clean landscaping.
Why Is Curb Appeal Important?
Ultimately, curb appeal boils down to value – the value of your home to buyers, and the value of the surrounding homes’ properties. Each small detail that impresses buyers will count toward their overall impression of the home's worth. So even if you’re not selling your home, it is still important to maintain your property’s curb appeal for the benefit of the whole neighborhood.
What Are Some Examples of Curb Appeal?
Revive Your Landscape
Your front lawn plays a huge role in your home’s first impression. Through all seasons, it’s important to keep up with the appearance of your yard, trees, and plants. Revive your landscape with garden accessories and learn Everything to Know About Lawn Edging using our guide.
Don’t let your home’s exterior fade into the night, and instead, swap out your old light fixtures for new ones. Choose your own design from rustic farmhouse, to modern mansion and check out our guide, 13 Dazzling yet Easy Outdoor Lighting Ideas for more inspo.
Whether you’re looking to tackle a new paint color, or simply want to wash off the existing siding, occasionally hitting your home’s exterior with a pressure washer is an easy way for an instant upgrade to your curb appeal.
If the windows are the eyes to the home, make sure they look lively. Changing out dated shutters or even adding a new coat of paint to them will make a stark difference. Keep with the theme of fresh and flourishing by adding window boxes and keeping some seasonal or evergreen plant thriving for passersby to enjoy.
Still have the same mailbox that was there when you first moved in? Make your home’s first impression one of your own style with a quick mailbox refresh. Choose a different box shape, size, or color and outfit it with modern accessories such as a festive cover or wrought iron house numbers. Lastly, if you notice your post is leaning more than it used to, make a quick swap with a new post or stand. You don’t even have to dig a new hole!
Foot traffic and visitors increase significantly especially around the holidays. Make your front door the perfect welcome area with a seasonal wreath. Whether your wreath changes for every holiday, or just with the colors of the season, it’s an easy way to upgrade your door. If you don’t want to change out decor every season, simply freshen up your door knocker for a staple that looks clean and new.
Tip!
Check out our guide, How to Hang a Wreath on Your Door (And Not Ruin It!) for a hassle-free hang up.
Decorate With Door Mats
Continue your front porch’s personalization with an adorable door mat. Like a wreath, these mats can change depending on the season or holiday or can remain an evergreen functional piece to increase the appearance of your curb appeal. Take the personalization to another level by opting for a doormat with your family’s initials.
Not only are door numbers a subtle way to implement your own style into curb appeal, they’re also a vital safety feature for your home. Ensuring that your house number can be seen from the street protects you if an emergency occurs and someone needs to know where you live. Having numbers clearly visible from your mailbox, curb, or front stoop can help responders find your house quickly and get to you faster.
Garden flags, house flags, banners, or windsocks are an easy way to bring personality and whimsy to your curb appeal. If you’re not interested in a complete landscape DIY, you make small changes like adding a seasonal garden flag that can still add the charm that comes with curated curb appeal.
Having curb appeal is important for your home and your neighborhood to protect the value of your space. Make it yours with easy steps to personalize and revitalize your exterior for the best curb appeal on the block.
