CURB APPEAL

What constitutes true "curb appeal"? While the term embraces everything between your front door and the street, it doesn't take much to make dramatic style improvements, whether by adding flower boxes, sprucing up the mailbox, or constructing an elegant driveway. With a little faith in your vision, and a few tips from the pros, you can transform a dowdy exterior to an inviting, welcoming entranceway.

Easy Ways to Add Curb Appeal Around Your Home

1. Revamp the garage door. It's one of the largest focal points of your home and usually the most overlooked. Simply try repainting and replacing the hardware to give a fresh new look.

2. Paint the house. Try a different color than the last time. A complimentary color for the trim would really accentuate the design and make your house stand out.

Tip: Paint before signs of peeling, it saves time since there is no need for serious work with a steel brush.

3. Landscaping. A pop of color goes a long way from the curb. Planting some colorful annuals and ground-cover around trees looks great. A home with no landscaping looks uninviting.

Tip: If your home has no foundation plantings, try to add something at the front of the house.

4. Porches. The entry - and what surrounds it- are key to making a home welcoming.

5. Fences. Old, broken, and faded fences are an eyesore. Repair any loose or broken boards and give your fence a fresh coat of paint/stain. This will give your home a crisp newer look.

6. Mailboxes. Install a charming new mailbox. If you have a mailbox on a post near the street, you could use mulch or gravel around the base or try creating a border around the base with stones or bricks.

7. Lighting. Landscape lighting creates an impressive effect that can alter the look and feel of your home. You can insert lights to resemble a runway design that borders the sides of your driveway, or stagger two or more lamp styles for a more creative approach.

8. Walkways. The pathway to your home.