Does your house need a facelift? Your only choice isn’t re-siding and full-on renovating. You can update and upgrade the look of your house in a few simple ways that don’t require a contractor or weeks of noisy morning construction sounds. Better yet, these easy tasks are something you can get the family in on, provided you can drag your teenager out of bed.
1. Paint your front door. Not only is a new paint job a signal to the neighborhood that you take pride in the way your home looks, but it‘s also a great way to add a pop of color to your home. This is also a good chance to replace any broken screens on your storm door, switch out worn-down door hardware, and replace your house numbers.
2. Revamp your dented garage door. Believe it or not, you can remove dents from an aluminum garage door, and cover dents on steel garage doors. Slap a fresh coat of paint on after, and this is one simple DIY garage door repair that will have your neighbors asking you if you actually had a brand new garage door installed. Pro tip: if you love carriage house style garage doors but aren’t trying to shell out for them, you can pick up magnetic hinges and handles for less than 20 bucks.
3. Is there anything more calming and inviting than the right ambient lighting? Hang LED string lights along the ceiling of your front porch; it’s perfect for sitting out with a glass of wine watching the sun set on a cool summer night. And it gives the front of your home a unique, welcoming vibe. While you’re at it, line your front walkway with matching solar-powered jar lights.
4. Redo your driveway. Asphalt and concrete driveways live a hard life. They’re exposed to the elements 100% of the time and, let’s be honest – we don’t take care of them. Good news is, a little elbow grease and some sealer, and you can make your driveway look brand new. For asphalt driveways, a simple reseal will do. For concrete driveways, a good pressure wash and some masonry filler will do wonders.
5. Chances are your mailbox isn’t cute. Mailboxes are often overlooked as a way to improve your home’s curb appeal, even though they’re often the first thing people see when pulling up to your house. Replace the box, replace the stand – go crazy! Here are some stylish ideas to make your mailbox more than a metal container.
6. Vents, pipes, gas meters, and electric meters can ruin the vibe of a beautiful garden and updated house façade. Consider creative ways to cover those eyesores, like a miniature privacy fence or a faux rock cover that blends into your garden.
A great way to spend some time together, keep everyone occupied on these long summer days, and increase your home’s curb appeal (read: value), consider trying one or all of these DIY projects – you’ll be glad you did.