First impressions are important, so improving your home's curb appeal is a great way to improve its value. Even though it may take some hard work, the cost is relatively low. This article provides some valuable ideas that will guide you in your efforts to improve the appearance of your home.
Maintenance is an essential part of having a beautiful yard. No matter how much work and money you put into creating a scenic landscape, the effect will be lost if the lawn is not kept neat and weeds grow in your flower beds. Make sure to plant flowers and shrubs with their blooming time in mind. If you have a balance of flowering plants in your yard, you will have color in every season. In other words, make sure there are flowers blooming in flower beds during the spring, summer and fall. Also make sure the plantings are balanced, so you do not have spring flowers on one side of your yard and fall flowers on another.
Nothing enhances the beauty of your yard more than flowers or shrubs that have brightly colored foliage. Forsythia shrubs are the first to show their bright, yellow-green foliage in the spring, and the burning bush saves its flaming colors for fall. There are many annual and perennial flowers that will provide as much color as you want from early spring until the snow falls.
Most homes have a deck or a porch that can be the background for hanging planters or potted plants. These are great areas for entertaining and relaxing, but they can begin to show signs of age if they are not properly maintained. Make sure all the wood surfaces are kept painted or stained to protect them from decay. It is best to use a water-repellent oil stain or paint for adequate protection from the elements.
While it may be difficult to appreciate your indoor window treatments from the curb, outdoor window treatments can add a lot to the looks of your home. Shutters that coordinate with the color scheme of your home are the most common choice, but awnings and window boxes also add a special touch.
Once you have the outside of your home looking as if it should be on the cover of a home & garden magazine, take care to maintain it carefully. Since these improvements are on the outside of your home, they are susceptible to harsh weather. If you live in a cold climate, prepare your gardens for winter by mulching or covering shrubs. Fall is a great time to put in spring bulbs, so buy a few extra and get them settled in their winter bed in preparation for early spring flowers. If a storm has done any damage to your beautiful yard, repair it as quickly as possible.
Having a beautiful yard to surround your home can be a great source of satisfaction and pride. It is better to stand out in your neighborhood because your home is exceptionally beautiful, than to feel embarrassed because it looks unkempt. Use this article as a guide to creating some great curb appeal for your home.