• 08 | 03 | 22

Boost Your Curb Appeal With Top-Down Home Improvement Tips

August is the perfect month to enjoy your outdoor living spaces. It is also National Curb Appeal Month, so while you are outside, it’s a great time to think about your fall home improvement projects.

To help your home make a great first impression I put together Roofing Rules and Top 10-Tips For Creating “Top Down” Curb Appeal. These tip sheets are designed to make sure your home grabs the right kind of attention and that you know how to get a good return on your investment of time and money.

Boost your curb appeal with top-down improvement tips from Roofing Rules and 10 Tips for Creating "Top Down" Curb Appeal.

“Top-Down” Home Improvement Tips That Boost Curb Appeal

    1. The roof plays a major role in creating curb appeal because it can be up to 30 percent of what you see as you approach a home. Blend the color of your roofing material with other elements of the home exterior to create an overall cohesive look.
    2. Window frames can either blend in or stand out; it all depends on the color you choose. Selecting a green, chocolate, or bronze painted frame can add a powerful punch to your home’s curb appeal.
    3. Add color to trim and decorative millwork to call attention to architectural details and enhance the design appeal of your home.
    4. Update the color of your shutters for big curb appeal results. Rather than black, try inky blue, chocolate brown, or deep forest green. Consider soft gray or taupe to replace white.
    5. From classic and conservative to punchy and playful, the color of your front door tells the world something about the people who live inside. Think about what the color of your front door says about you.
    6. The front door offers you the most flexibility in color choices and is a great place to add a “pop of color” to a home’s overall neutral color scheme. Think out-of-the-box and consider a pumpkin orange, nautical blue, or harvest gold color for your front door.
    7. Draw attention to the front porch by adding bold hues. A colorfully painted ceiling or new outdoor furniture can update your porch. Pillows and cushions in a mix of colors and prints create a welcoming tone.
    8. Replace rotting or peeling wood porch rails, columns, or porch posts with low-maintenance polyurethane or PVC pieces for a clean, attractive look.
    9. Garage doors are a prominent feature of many homes, taking up 30 percent of the front view of the house. Replacing old garage doors with fashionable new doors can instantly increase your home’s curb appeal.
    10. The colors of your home’s exterior and landscaping should complement each other. Choose colors for your plants with the same eye for design you use when selecting accessories for your interior.

10 More Ways to Create Curb Appeal

    1. Broken, loose, discolored, or damaged shingles give a negative impression about the overall condition of your home. Repair your roof or replace it with a colorful composite slate or shake roof with a long-term warranty.
    2. Windows with energy-efficient glass packages and low-maintenance vinyl frames keep a home comfortable and help save on energy bills.
    3. Replacing a standard window with a bay or bow window can add character to a home’s exterior and make the interior feel larger.
    4. Cover any wear and tear with a fresh coat of paint. Power wash the entire exterior and repair any areas that are outdated, rotted, or rusted before applying paint. Investing in sweat equity can dramatically increase your curb appeal.
    5. You don’t need to go wild with color to get noticed. A home with neutral siding can make a statement with color on the front door, shutters, or trim.
    6. An easy-care stained or painted fiberglass door creates a focal point for the front of your home. Surround the door with decorative trim — such as pilasters and a crosshead — to make a powerful statement.
    7. Add window boxes, accent pots, or hanging baskets filled with colorful flowers and plants to draw the eye and make people smile.
    8. Downplay garage doors by painting to match the main color of the home and adding complementary trim elements, like a trellis over the opening.
    9. Surround your home with colorful shrubbery and plants with landscape lighting. Invest in hiring a professional to help plan your landscaping for maximum impact.
    10. Bushes and plants surrounding the base of your home add color, soften the transition between the lawn and house, and hide the foundation. Fill in any bare spots and tame any overgrown areas.

Your next step is to go outside and use this information to focus on ways you can add more value and design appeal to your home’s exterior.

These 20 tips will get you started. Below are a few other articles to give you great ideas for creating curb appeal:

About the Author

Kate Smith is an internationally recognized color expert, consultant, and designer. She is a skilled colorist & a color consultant who has lent her expertise to DaVinci Roofscapes for over a decade. Kate helps YOU select colors that you will love.