25 Ideas & Tips for Adding Curb Appeal to Your Home

Today I’m sharing a great collection of ideas for updating your home’s exterior and adding curb appeal, with a focus on ideas that will work for our raised ranch 70’s style home exterior makeover. 

Whew!

It feels like full-on summer around here the last few days and we’ve still got a month of school left.  All this beautiful sunny weather has me super excited and geared up to tackle some outdoor projects (even if there is still quite a list to get to indoors).  And if you saw our “before” post a couple of weeks back, you might remember that we are working on giving our new house exterior and front yard a makeover.

So far, we’ve had the concrete work completed and the yard is partially torn up.  Our poor neighbours must hate us for having such a disastrous front yard these past few months (and it’s gotten EVEN worse this past week!), but I hope they’ll forgive us once we get these front yard projects tackled and our lawn into better shape.

Curb Appeal

Today I’ve collected some simple ideas for adding curb appeal to your home, even if you have a fairly basic house architecturally (like we do).  Of course, there are a few adorable homes thrown in, as well, but I think they each demonstrate a simple concept you can use on any home to spruce up the exterior.  I hope you find some inspiration!

Before I get started on sharing other homes that created curb appeal, I wanted to share the before and after of our old house.  We made a big difference with adding new landscaping, but the biggest impact was definitely made by changing out the siding from white vinyl to Hardi-Plank siding in BoothBay Blue.

Our previous home, Before…

And, After…

Big change, right?  I also think adding the fence and then lush landscaping all around the edges of our yard helped to give it a ton more curb appeal.

You can read about all the changes that we made here:

Adding a Split-Rail Fence

Landscaping with River Rock

Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses

Back Yard Makeover Before and After 

Now onto some other homes that have used simple ideas to add or create curb appeal…

You might remember what our house is currently looking like from this post here: Front Yard Makeover BEFORE and Plans…

I found a couple examples of similar style homes that have been updated beautifully and that are inspiring me in some ways about what we could do.

I would never have pictured blue shingle siding, like we used in our previous house, on a home this style, but I think this lovely blue siding/white trim with a red door definitely shows you don’t have to go completely modern with this style of home.  The addition of the pergola over the garage definitely gives it a cottage type of feel, as well.  Via Redfin…

More commonly, you see a modern modern feel added to these homes, keeping with their 60’s and 70’s roots.

I like the dark colour and the cedar facing on this home, but it definitely has more of a mid-century feel then ours does with the peaked roof style.  Via flickr

In fact, the addition of wood coloured siding seems to be a popular way that people update raised ranch or 70s style homes.  Via

This classic split level has been updated with fresh paint, modern garage doors and a modern front door, as well as beautiful landscaping and planters.  Replacing our garage doors is definitely further then we want to go, but it does give this older style home a super modern, clean look.  Via Belvania

A siding update can make a big difference, though we plan to just paint ours as it’s still in good shape.This simple split level looks fresh and welcoming with new siding and the dark front door, as well as simple landscaping  Via Liz Marie

Another great modern split makeover where they simply freshened it up with paint and wood accents as well as a new door and landscaping.   Via The Inspiring Investment

A simple, ranch bungalow looks fantastic with the addition of wooden posts and a pop of colour on the front door Via Beneath My Heart…

Even a simple brick bungalow can be cute with a fun paint combination and landscaping! I love the pop of bright colour and modern planters on this home Via East Coast Creative …

Shutters are always a great way to add character to a simple square home design, as this beautiful duplex Via Young House Love shows.  I didn’t think shutters would work on our house, but this design definitely has me rethinking that assumption. The brick steps are a pretty addition, too, aren’t they?

I love the all creamy white scheme on this updated modern ranch style home.  All the greenery pops beautifully against this lovely, neutral backdrop Via Claire Brody Designs…

I remember watching the episode of Fixer Upper where they redid this beautiful classic ranch style home.  I love the addition of the warm wood against the grey exterior. The cedar posts, the rock work, and the ornamental grasses featured in the landscaping are all along the lines of what I have in mind for our home.  Via Magnolia…

Adding curb appeal no matter your home’s style

Of course, cottage and classic styles homes are a favourite with me, and I love how simple it is to add curb appeal and character to these properties.  But just because they have more architectural character doesn’t mean that you can’t adopt certain principals when upping the curb appeal on any other style of home…

For example, a black door and shutters pop against neutral siding, and dress it all up with cute seating, window boxes, and lovely landscaping. Via Nesting With Grace…

Landscaping makes such a difference! I mean, this front porch is dreamy, but looks that much better with the pretty plantings adding in front and the hanging fern baskets Via Christina’s Adventures…and creates an inviting space!

I love the idea of adding a cute little wooden sign beside the door!  It definitely ups the wow factor on this simple and classic home exterior Via Start at Home Decor…

This home is pretty adorable architecturally with the double dormer windows, but I absolutely love the clever character of the wooden door and mullioned windows Via Nest of Posies…

A classic all white paint scheme looks perfect with the pretty pitched black metal roof on this home Via BHG… aren’t the lanterns a fun touch?  And I love how the whole narrow front yard has been landscaped.

Another classic white home with black and wooden accents Via Newman’s Nest.  I like how crisp and fresh this combination feels.  Extra curb appeal has been added with some decorative frames on the covered front walkway, as well as a cute little bench and plantings.  The wood framed posts are a big feature and simple to do on many homes…

Again, this house has a lovely pitched roof, but the fresh paint colours and beautiful landscaping are what really set it off beautifully, Via HGTV…

This front door has such a unique upper window that adds character, but even without that, the minty aqua paint colour is a great way to add a fresh welcome Via Lantern Lane Designs…

This simple home style has been given extra character and interest with the addition of wooden shutters, and rock work around the craftsman style support post for the front entry.  I love the peak at the pretty craftsman style front door, as well, Via One Thrifty Chick…

Another super classic colour scheme, the red door and brass accents pop against a super neutral gray exterior with black shutters and white trim.  The simple shrub landscaping leading up to the front door welcomes you in.  So pretty, Via BHG

How fantastic are these painted striped steps and the pink front door Via Nesting with Grace?  It’s amazing how simple changes like these can add so much character to your homes curb appeal!  The planters, wreath, lighting, house numbers, mailbox, window boxes, and Adirondack chairs pump up the overall adorable look of this home, as well – each of which are not all that difficult or expensive to add.

This gorgeous classic Colonial home was given an update with a unique treatment on the brick that sets it off beautifully.  Black shutters and a black front door.  What more could you want?! Via Bless’er House

And although this home has much prettier lines then ours, I love the colour scheme of grey with a pop of colour on the door.  The front porch and adorable picket fence add to the cottage feel, that I’m still a total sucker for even if this home has a much more modern vibe. Via HGTV

 

What did you think?  Did you find some inspiration?  

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