When days are getting shorter and colder and the outdoors appears in your window as grey and uninviting, you’re probably thinking of curling up with a good book or watching a movie more than you are about yard work or landscaping. A well-maintained home exterior invites family, friends, and guests into your home during the season. This fall, welcome winter with these great curb appeal tips.
Tidy up the front and back yards.
You want your property to look clean and uncluttered. Rake the leaves. Trim tree limbs away from the roof and siding.
It’s going to get windy – ensure recycling and trash bins (and their lids) are secured.
Remove any items from your patio or deck that you won’t be using.
Install decorative edging with bricks, textured pavers, or stone blocks. It will make flowerbeds appear less drab and bare when plants are dormant.
Clean your home’s exterior.
Start with the roof. Clear away fallen leaves – if left on top of the shingles, they can cause damage resulting in leaks, stains, and moss or mold growth.
Wash the siding and clean the windows – a budget-friendly way to enhance curb appeal.
Before winter sets in make sure the gutters (inside and out) and downspouts have been thoroughly cleaned. Repair any damage that might trigger a system failure during the winter months.
Add hardy winter plants to your landscaping.
Your garden can be just as much of an attraction in winter as it is in summer. Popular hardy winter plants for Vancouver gardens include:
- Winter heather (Erica carnea)
- Witch hazel (Hamamelis)
- Western red cedar
- Japanese Pieris
- Skimmia japonica
- Japanese maple
- Winter blooming perennials such as Helleborus niger (Christmas rose)
Install functional yet attractive outdoor lighting.
Strategically placed outdoor lighting provides illumination when parking the car, keeps people safe walking on a pathway, and makes your entry door warm and welcoming.
Decorate shrubs and small trees with fairy lights.
Add curb appeal with low-voltage landscape lights, new sconces, or soffit lighting over the garage door.
Put the focus on your front door.
Paint the front door – popular colours for entry doors are black, teal, jade, forest green, and rich deep reds.
You like the front door, but you have to put the groceries down to open the door. Replace the existing hardware for a lever-style handle.
Decorate the entry door with a seasonal wreath; place pine garlands around the trim.
If you’re thinking about replacing the door, consider an entire new look for your home exterior by selecting one with glass panels or added security features.
Spruce up existing hardscape elements or add new one.
Hardscape elements are the part of your landscaping such as a walkway, driveway, patio, deck, or retaining wall that add functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Your home exterior looks great but what about the pathway to the front door, the front steps, or the birdbath that’s seen better days? If a thorough cleaning doesn’t solve the problem, consider new pavers, resurfacing the stairs, and paint the birdbath.
Add a waterfall, pond, or fountain to your front yard. Moving water draws the eye and demands attention (good for curb appeal).
Install a low-height decorative fence or paint/stain your existing fence a different colour.
Home exterior upgrades such as replacing outdated lighting fixtures or installing copper gutters can boost your curb appeal.
