Homeowners are welcoming back the front porch as a way to add character to the home’s curb appeal. You only have one chance to make a good first impression. By giving the front porch, door or entry to the home extra charm you welcome potential buyers and create excitement for what they will find inside. It is important to step back and take a look at your front entryway and see how it really looks. What kind of impression does it give? There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to sprucing up your front porch but here are a few things to get you started.
Changing the color of your door can transform an ordinary porch into something really beautiful. The style of the home and the color of exterior features should influence the color choice. There is no need to conform to tradition when choosing a door color. A beautiful affect can be achieved with colors that are not considered mainstream.
A place to sit and visit helps your home seem more welcoming from the street view, adding lots of curb appeal. Similar to the furniture inside your home, leisure areas are always appealing to homebuyers. No two design elements are more associated with a porch area than a traditional porch swing and wooden rocking chairs. Wicker or wrought iron furniture is also a staple of front porch furnishings. If the furniture on your porch needs refreshing, try spray painting in bright and bold colors or choose a relaxing neutral palette. Incorporate plump cushions and pillows to complement your color scheme.
Add potted plants to the porch to cozy it up. Potted plants flanking the entry door are warm and welcoming. Choose plants that will add height, fill the pots and a few that spill over the edge. Terracotta pots, woven baskets, wood planters and topiary plants can add a lot of nice texture and color. Use caution when choosing colors. Consider the color of the exterior of your home while making plant selections. Look for colors that complement the colors of your house. Potted plants will add instant color to the overall appearance of your home and will make homebuyers happy to come see more inside.
One of the highlights of your front porch is the lighting. Not only does proper lighting help create valuable curb appeal, having the right amount of lighting can help create a sense of safety and security. Stick with lights designed to reinforce the style of your home. Updating your lighting can be a DIY project but even if hiring a pro is needed, it’s generally considered a low cost home improvement upgrade that returns a high value.
Replace welcoming elements. A few obvious ways to add curb appeal include house numbers, door hardware, and door mats. If you have lived in your home for a while, these inexpensive updates are sure to add an instant boost to your front porch. Door numbers are your home’s personal signature. Great address numbers make a statement about your home. Replacing door hardware and locks could not only improve your home’s style but its worth as well. Think of decorative hardware as jewelry for your front door. Just make sure your accessories match your home’s style.
Welcome mats say just that – Welcome! Come on in, put your feet up a while. Replace worn mats with new. Welcome mats come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Look for mats to match your home’s architectural style. Choose from hefty cast iron, sturdy rubber, washable vinyl and grit consuming coir. Check out Pinterest for DIY welcome mats.
It doesn’t take a large amount of money to update a home’s curb appeal. Many a Realtor has mentioned that homebuyers make up their mind about your home within 15 seconds of seeing your home. Make them want to spend countless minutes in your home with appealing curb appeal.