8 Tips for Beautifying the Front of Your Home

Whether you are looking to sell your house or want to make your frontage the desire of the neighbourhood, here are eight key tips for beautifying the front of your home.

We’ve all been taught not to judge a book by its cover, right? Still, whether we mean to or not, we all do it. When it comes to homes, your facade is just like that proverbial book cover – is your home inviting and warm, sophisticated and elegant, or is it tired and rundown and in need of some love and attention?

Chances are, the front of your home already has some beautiful features – it may just need some finishing touches. Beautifying the front of your home is a job that can likely be done in just a day or weekend if you plan ahead and prioritise the projects that will really make a difference. Put some time and effort into it, and you’ll be amazed by the results. Here are some expert tips to give your home better street appeal.

Embrace symmetry

Symmetry creates focal points that are pleasing to look at and make your home look more put together. A simple way to achieve a symmetrical pattern is to add matching planter boxes or large pots to either side of your front door or garage. You can also add symmetrical wall decorations if you have room or even plant balanced trees on either side of your entrance.

Power wash it

How much dirt and grime has accumulated on the facade of your home? No judgment here – it’s not something many people think about. If you don’t own a power washer, there are plenty of hardware stores around that will let you hire one for a day, allowing you to quickly and easily wash your house, paths, deck, and driveway. Alternatively, there are many services Australia-wide that offer high-pressure cleaning services. You’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes.

 

 

Fix the small things

While you’ll likely have taken care to repair any obvious or dangerous problems out the front of your home, the small day-to-day defects might have slipped under your radar. Why not make a day of getting all those little problems sorted out to really bring your home up to scratch? Look for:

• Chipped or peeling paint;
• Broken lightbulbs;
• Cracked bricks or paving stones;
• Loose gutters; or
• Broken flyscreens and security doors that need replacing.

Some of these jobs are perfect for DIY, but others will be better attended to by a professional. Bear in mind that it is inadvisable to repair your own security screen as the screen’s integrity and ability to protect your home and household will likely have already been lost when it was broken or torn. Doing a cosmetic repair won’t fix it. To maintain the security of your home as well as its neat appearance, call out a professional security screen repair service to take a look.

Greenscaping!

One of the most impactful ways to beautify the front of your home is to add greenery. This doesn’t have to cost a fortune or bind you to hours of garden work every week – planting a large, low-maintenance shrub can be just as appealing as a curated garden bed. Alternatively, you can build planter boxes under your windows and by your front door and fill them with seasonal flowers.

 

 

Maintain your lawn

It’s a simple point in theory, but one many homeowners find difficult to maintain. When your lawn is mown and trimmed, it uplifts the look of your whole facade. Sadly, in just a few short weeks, your manicured carpet can quickly turn raggedy. By putting in small amounts of effort on a regular basis, lawn care doesn’t have to be a huge project. Set aside an hour every week to:

• Mow the grass as needed (but don’t mow too low, or you’ll kill it!);
• Rake and dispose of dead leaves;
• Aerate the soil regularly;
• Pull out weeds; and
• Apply lawn fertiliser

If you live in a dry area and find it difficult to keep a green lawn, you could look into lawn alternatives such as a matting ground cover, AstroTurf, or a combination of paving tiles, gravel, and drought-tolerant shrubbery.

Highlight your door

If you have recently painted your exterior, have a brick house, or simply like the colour of your house, you may not be looking to repaint the front of your home to boost its curb appeal. Instead, think about highlighting your front door to make it pop, rather than painting it to blend in.

The cost of painting a front door is minor compared to the entire facade and will often have more of an impact. Thankfully, it’s also a fairly easy DIY job that you can complete in a single day. Opt for a bold colour that enhances the other colours of your exterior, including any flowering plants or bushes nearby.

Upgrade your house numbers

If your house numbers are a bit underwhelming, you can enhance the look of your facade by upscaling to something with a bit of oomph. Classic homes could invest in some ornate wrought iron numbers, whereas newer modern homes could use something a little quirky such as numbers cut from brightly coloured corrugated iron. Have fun with it!

Hide electrical fixtures

The electrical box likely found by your front door really stands out – and not in a good way. Fortunately, there are simple ways to make it a more aesthetically pleasing feature. Depending on the look of your home, you could;

• Install a planter box in front of it;
• Custom-build a decorative wooden box over the top (ensuring the meter reader can still open it for access); or
• Paint it the same colour as your walls.

Consider fencing

If you don’t currently have a fence bordering your property, this may be what the front of your home is missing. Fencing is a good way to visually define the borders of your property (so that your neighbour’s messy garden doesn’t become your problem!) and sets the tone of your front yard. You can also use your fence as a decorative feature, either by painting it a contrasting colour to your home or hanging planters and art along it.

If you do have fencing, but it has seen better days, spend some time repairing any broken or missing palings and propping up any sections of the fence that have fallen over. This could be a big job, so don’t hesitate to call in professional help.

 

Do you need professional help to beautify the front of your home? For mowing services, contact Jim’s Mowing in Australia and New Zealand. For cleaning services, contact Jim’s Cleaning in Australia and New Zealand, For Franchise contact Jim’s Group.

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