So you’ve decided it’s time to revamp the exterior of your house. Great idea! A well-designed exterior can make a huge difference in curb appeal and boost your home’s value. But where do you start with an exterior redesign project that won’t break the bank? The good news is with strategic choices, you can achieve maximum impact without overhauling everything. Focus on the details that will give you the most bang for your buck. A fresh coat of paint, a stylish front door, decorative shutters, new lighting fixtures, or landscaping updates could be all it takes to transform your home’s exterior from drab to fab.
Keep reading to explore some of the most advantageous ways to elevate your home’s exterior on a budget. With a few key enhancements, you’ll have the best-looking house on the block before you know it!
Assessing Your Home’s Current Exterior and Style
The first step to maximizing your home’s curb appeal is assessing its current exterior design and style. Take a step back and look at your house’s overall shape and structure. Is it a craftsman bungalow, colonial, ranch, or another style? The architectural details and features like windows, siding, and roofline can also help determine the style.
Once you know the style, consider whether you want to enhance it or take the design in a new direction. Strengthening the existing style with complementary elements is often easier and more cohesive. For example, if you have a craftsman home, incorporate wood and stone accents, exposed rafter tails, and an inviting front porch. Add symmetry with matching plants, lighting, and furnishings on either side of the front door for a colonial.
If you want to transition to a new style, make changes in stages. Start by painting the siding or replacing the roof in a style you like, then change other elements over time as your budget allows. The key is choosing a new style that still complements your home’s basic shape and structure.
You’ll also want to assess the condition of your home’s existing exterior. Look for any damage, wear, or other issues with the siding, trim, roof, porch, deck, or other elements that may need repair or replacement. It’s best to fix any major problems before making cosmetic changes.
With a plan in place for enhancing or transitioning your style and making necessary repairs, you can move on to the fun part—choosing new siding, landscaping, lighting fixtures, house numbers, or other details to give your home a fresh new look with maximum curb appeal. The options are endless, so take your time finding what suits your taste and budget.
Landscaping Tips to Complement Your Home Exterior
One of the best ways to boost your home’s curb appeal is through landscaping. Carefully chosen plants, trees, and greenery that complement your home’s exterior can make a dramatic difference.
Select a Focal Point
Choose a spot in your front yard as the main focal point, like around the front entrance or a large tree. Then, build your landscaping design around it. Having a central focal point gives your landscaping a polished, cohesive look.
Consider Your House Style
Match plants and trees to your home’s architectural style. Choose natural, casual greenery like ferns, hostas, and rhododendrons for a craftsman bungalow. For a colonial revival home, opt for more formal choices such as boxwood shrubs, lavender, and roses. The landscaping should enhance your house, not compete with it.
Add Height and Color
Include a mix of plants, shrubs, and small trees in varying heights for depth and dimension. Add pops of color with flowers, blooming shrubs, and colorful foliage. But don’t go overboard – limit yourself to 3-5 primary colors for the best results.
Hardscape Essentials
Incorporate hardscape elements like pavers, stones, gravel, or mulch for walkways and sitting areas. A stone or paver path leading to your front entrance helps create a welcoming sense of arrival. Benches or chairs provide a place to sit and enjoy your garden.
With the right choices in plants, height, color, and hardscape elements, your landscaping can transform your home’s exterior into a source of delight and curb appeal. Planning and effort in your front yard can lead to amazing results!
Budgeting for Your Exterior Remodeling Project
When planning an exterior remodel, coming up with a realistic budget should be one of your top priorities. The costs for projects like siding replacement, roofing, windows, landscaping, and patios can quickly add up to tens of thousands of dollars or more, depending on the size and scope of work.
To determine how much you can spend, look at your current financial situation – your income, expenses, savings, and any home equity or lines of credit you can tap into. Get estimates from contractors for the specific improvements you want to make. They can give you a good ballpark figure for materials and labor. Also, check with home improvement stores for material costs on things like siding, shingles, or pavers.
Once you have an idea of potential costs, set a maximum budget and stick to it. Here are some tips to keep your exterior remodel within budget:
- Focus on one or two areas at a time. Don’t try to do a whole house makeover all at once. Replace the siding this year, the roof next year, the patio the following year, and so on. This phased approach is easier on your wallet and less overwhelming.
- Consider lower-cost alternatives. Asphalt or fiberglass shingles instead of slate, brick veneer instead of full brick, stamped concrete instead of natural stone, vinyl siding instead of HardiePlank. There are many options at different price points.
- Get multiple quotes from contractors. Compare the quotes carefully based on the details of the work to be done. Look for someone experienced, properly licensed, and insured, with good reviews, who charges a fair price for quality work.
- Save money on materials by buying in bulk or at the end of the season. Look for sales and closeouts, especially for pavers, fencing, mulch, or plants.
- Consider DIY for minor landscaping, painting, or installing lighting fixtures. But leave specialized work like roofing, window, or siding replacement to the pros.
- Ask about financing options. Many contractors and home improvement stores offer low-interest financing for certain types of home exterior projects. Paying over time with fixed monthly payments can make a remodel more affordable.
With realistic budgeting and a few smart savings strategies, you can accomplish an exterior upgrade that enhances your home’s curb appeal without breaking the bank. Focus on high-impact changes that make the most difference to your home’s overall look and value.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, a few of the most useful ways to make a significant impact with exterior upgrades to your home outlined by DeCasa Collections. Start with the front entryway since that sets the first impression. A fresh coat of paint, stylish lighting fixtures, decorative planters, or pots are all easy ways to spruce it up. Windows are another focal point, so consider replacing old or damaged ones and using decorative shutters to accentuate them.
The roof and siding are the backdrops for your home’s design, so evaluate if it’s time for a replacement or choose a complimentary color if re-painting. And finally, the yard and landscaping tie it all together. Well-maintained lawns, flower beds, trees, and walkways lead right up to your impressive new entryway. Making smart upgrades to your home’s exterior is rewarding because you enjoy the results and increased curb appeal every day. Now get out there and get started – your dream home makeover awaits!