Get great curb appeal – 5 tips to follow

The exterior of your home is a window into your personality as the outside of your house can say a lot about you.  This is often overlooked with the inside taking priority in the decorating stakes, however don’t forget this important area as it really sets the scene for your home and for who you are.  This of course is particularly important if you are planning to sell your home as a buyer will often make up their mind in the first minute or so of the viewing.  But really why shouldn’t the entrance to your home always look smart and welcoming?  If you agree with me and would like to get some great curb appeal then I have a few tips to follow:

Making and Entrance - 7 tips to follow
Image – Tripscout blogspot

1) Great curb appeal with the right front gate

Not everyone has one due to the layout of their garden, but a front gate is a terrific starting point.

I love garden gates as they offer protection, privacy and the beauty with them is that you always want to see past one so you have captured people’s interest right from the beginning.  I don’t have a garden gate but would love one so spend my time collecting images!

5 tips for great curb appeal
Dwell.com

If you do have a gate, ensure that you either have an obvious door bell or there is an easy way to open it as there is nothing worse than arriving at someone’s house and not knowing how to enter – it is bewildering and sets the wrong tone for the visit straight away.

Making an Entrance - 7 tips to follow
Image – Garden of Eatin

Related: Behind the garden gate

2) The Garden Path

Next on my list is the garden path.  I visit a lot of houses with my work and believe it or not, it is often not obvious how to get to the front door and I sometimes end up walking across a damp patch of grass.

So make visitors welcome with a path direct to the front door which is attractive and tidy.  Garden paths work the best if they are wide enough for two people to walk side by side, so if you have the room and are landscaping from scratch then factor this in, but don’t worry too much if the path is narrower.

Making an Entrance - 7 tips to follow
Image – Atlas Outdoor
Making an Entrance - 7 tips to follow
Image – 3 Dogs in a Garden Gate

3) Making an entrance with the right front door

Now the front door.  I just love front doors.  They come in so many different guises and can also be painted so many different colours, that this is really a great opportunity to add your personality to your house.

I have posted another article on the blog about colourful front doors and what they say about you which you should read if you, like me, are a fiend for colour and front doors.  Whether your door is made from glass, timber or painted, ensure that the finish is clean and fresh – this really is an easy weekend job to freshen up the look of your house.

Making an Entrance - 7 tips to follow

Related: Colourful front doors – what they say about you

5 tips for great curb appeal

4) Which door handle gives the best curb appeal?

Front door hardware is the next item to consider.  If you have a stunning contemporary wide pivot door then ensure that you have door hardware that is large enough to suit the door.  Size and scale in design is so important so the size of your pull handle should be in proportion to the size of the door.

If however you have a more traditional front door, then your door furniture should suit this style.  Ensure that it is kept clean and polished for a welcoming entrance.

Making an Entrance - 7 tips to follow
Image – The Fuller view

5) Accessories – the finishing touch for great curb appeal

Finally, don’t forget the accessories.  You absolutely must have a good quality doormat and if you have space then some greenery or cheery flowers planted in pots at the front door make a great statement.  Together with welcoming lights that suit the style of your house, these finishing touches make all the difference.

5 tips for great curb appeal
Classy Clutter
Making an Entrance - 7 tips to follow
Image – Mestergronn
5 tips for great curb appeal
Image: Homes to Love

If you are building, renovating or simply doing a weekend refresh project on your home then you will find my e-books and checklists in my Free Resource Library invaluable.  I have an e-book dedicated to getting the right curb appeal You can sign up for free here.

Making an Entrance

I have lots of inspiration on my Pinterest Boards for exteriors and front doors and I would love to hear your comments in the section below.

Once you have the front door selected, you need to consider what you will paint on the inside of it – will you keep the same colour or an alternative?  Read my article about what to paint on the inside of your front door to find out more.

 

19 thoughts on “Get great curb appeal – 5 tips to follow

  1. Jane Schmidt says:

    Hi Samantha

    I love your website and it is just what I have been looking for.

    We are currently deciding on colours for the exterior of our home and it is dragging on!! We live in rural NSW (on acreage)- Northern Tablelands and have a home that looks more like a Queenslander. It has verandahs around 3/4 of the house and sun on the rest. I am getting myself very confused over colours and input from family and friends. I personally would like a whitish colour on the weatherboards and a vivid white on the railings, trims, fascia, gutters and ceiling. I have tried lots of different colours from Highland Meadow, Shale Grey, Hog Bristle, Raw Cashew Nut, Antique White and others and now have 1/4 strength white cloak and 1/2 strength Miller Mood to try. I think I have tried about 10 different colours to date and my house is beginning to look very rainbowish:)

    I have found your information really helpful. I am wondering if 1/2 strength white cloak for the weatherboards with vivid white or maybe caspar white as suggested by you above for the trimmings. Would love some suggestions and I can send a photo of the house if needed.

    Thank you.

    Jane

    • Samantha Bacon says:

      Hi Jane Glad you are enjoying the blog. I think you might be better off with full strength in White Cloak outside. Even though much of the house isn’t in direct sun I think this is light enough as the weatherboards will create a bit of shadow but also harbour spiders webs and dirt from being in the countryside and I feel you need something with just a little more depth. Miller Mood will look too blue and I really think anything lighter than full strength White Cloak will be too light. Your Vivid White trims will look great next to this on the walls – again very white but it is a lovely look. Your house sounds beautiful – I hope you like the colours when it’s completed. Samantha

  2. Taylor Hicken says:

    I think it’d be fun to have a bright purple door, but it probably wouldn’t work for my home. My husband and I have been talking about putting in a pathway for our backyard. I’ll have to see if we can get a hold of a professional to work with us on the project.

    • Samantha Bacon says:

      Hi Taylor I think it would be fun too! My advice would be to go with a rich purple – colours that have a touch of grey and a little more depth work best on exteriors, although you will need to consider the light that your house receives. Have you read my post on what your front door says about you? This is a bit of fun to see if you personality matches your door colour! Perhaps a local designer could help you to ensure your entrance and pathways all work together – good luck! Samantha

  3. Katie says:

    I have a front garden gate that opens to a grave led courtyard with teak bench, seasonal pillows, beautiful potted plants and flowers. The front walk and porch is cobble stone. I have a beautiful wide dark wood door with vintage speakeasy and gorgeous door hardware. On the porch is an old iron bench I found in Santa Barbara that my husband had sandblasted and powder coated. He also installed a nice porch light fixture as well as landscape and walkway led lighting. I get so many compliments. We are getting ready to list our home for sell and I am hoping that it helps make the home sell. Thank you for the tips. I hope to make my next home just as welcoming.

    • Samantha Bacon says:

      Hi Katie it sounds gorgeous and you have clearly put a lot of thought and energy into your project. I hope that you have great success with the sale of your home and find another one soon to work your magic on Samantha x

  4. Tamara says:

    I have a corner block. The back yard is enclosed in a large white picket fence. The house is white weatherboard. Ita a 1950 house. The front is exposed. Would you recommend keeping with the white picket fence but on a smaller height or contrast with a wooden slat fence. Not sure to modernise or keep with the charm idea.

    • Samantha Bacon says:

      Hi Tamara my feeling is to keep the front in the same style as the back but on a smaller scale – I think you have to pick one look for your house and stay with it or it may look half completed. Samantha

  5. Dana says:

    Hi,

    In the first image Tripscout blogspot there is a sign on the side of the front door and it looks like a butterfly Fleur de lis. Do you have a source for this sign? I love it!

  6. Rachel Frampton says:

    If I were to improve my home’s curb appeal, I would make sure to hire an asphalt paving contractor that will help beautify its driveway. Thank you for sharing here as well the importance of keeping the garden look neat. It’s also a good thing that you clarified here the advantage of adding a fence in it.

  7. Yvonne Peterson says:

    Hi Samantha, love your website and suggestions particularly related to coastal styling. I am interested in your opinions regarding painting a front door in a dark colour. News to me, when we signed up to our new build contract we were told that the door supplier doesn’t cover damage or insure the door if painted in a ‘dark’ colour. Have you heard this or am I being fed nonsense?? Thanks, Yvonne.

    • Samantha Bacon says:

      Hi Yvonne you’re not being fed nonsense – this is unfortunately true. Dark colours can make the door warp if it gets a lot of sun and I have seen this happen. Generally it is fine if the door is mostly in shade but if it does get a lot of full sun this is a problem. I have clients who have taken their chances knowing that the door will not be under warranty. They have judged that the door is facing south, or in a portico, and have said they are happy to replace if necessary. Hope this helps! Samantha

  8. Rachel Frampton says:

    The home’s curb appeal is necessary, and that is why it would be best to hire a service that may prune the trees. Thank you for sharing here as well the importance of proper decorations. I also agree with you that it will be smarter to have a new gate installed.

  9. Rachel Frampton says:

    If I were to increase my home’s curb appeal, I would make sure to hire a roofer that will be able to replace my home’s roof. Thank you for sharing that it will be a great idea to have a new gate installed. I also agree with you that new lights must be installed

  10. Rachel Frampton says:

    My house lacks curb appeal, and that is why I’ve decided to hire a painting service that will be able to repaint my property’s exterior. Thank you for sharing the importance of adding more flowers and plants in its garden. I also agree with you that a new fence must be installed too.

  11. Daniel Brenan says:

    Hi Samantha,
    Thanks for the great articles and inpsiration. I love the images you have selected of welcoming garden gates and colourful front doors; so true that they set the tone for a visitor!
    We are planning a new build with a mix of cladding (Axon and Lineaboard) and are currently agonising about exterior colour schemes. I’m wondering if you would recommend a different colour for the each cladding type or have a consistent colour throughout? We are planning on having largely white tones for the exterior colour scheme with black window frames and zincalume roof & gutters.

    • Samantha Bacon says:

      Hi Daniel If you are envisaging a white house with black trim and zincalume roof then I would use just one white for your cladding and rely on the different finishes of the boards. The linea board will have a deep shadow line so this will make it look slightly different to the sleek Axon cladding. Good luck Samantha

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