Who says you have to take on a huge project on the exterior of your home in order to add curb appeal? Not us! In fact, by doing a few relatively inexpensive and simple things you can update and add value to your home in as little as a weekend.
Spruce Up The Front Door
Take a look at your front door. How is it looking? A little faded or abused from a harsh winter or maybe a hot, dry summer really did a number on it? Maybe the doorknocker, doorknobs or kickplate is getting a bit worn? Believe it or not, your front door can send a significant message to visitors about you and your home and how you hope to present it. Adding a fresh coat of paint or changing the color of your door can make a world of difference. Even getting new hardware (such as the aforementioned doorknocker, doorknobs and kickplate) can greatly improve your door’s appearance. Your door can tell your guests a lot about your home’s personality so make sure it is saying the right thing.
Add Some Lights
Not only will proper outdoor lighting provide you with a well lit walkway and the security of presenting a well maintained home, you can also use properly and decoratively placed lights to accentuate your home’s features. You can also choose to use lighting to highlight unique and beautiful landscaping elements that you are proud of. Some homeowners choose to use lights to highlight ornate stonework, their house number or artwork on their property. There are numerous lighting options available from adding a new outdoor light post to hanging a new light fixture over your door. Solar powered lighting is a frequently used and excellent option because of its ease of installation and the variety of styles available. Go one step further and hang a well placed light in one or more of the trees in your yard, doing this looks gorgeous and actually replicates the effect of peaceful moonlight.
Plant a Tree
If no tree is available to hang lighting in, why not plant a tree or two? Adding trees, bushes and other greenery can really add beauty and dimension to your front yard. With spring on the way, now is a great time to decide what trees and other plants you feel would really add that extra something special to your property’s curb appeal. Before planting any trees make sure that you will not be digging near any electrical, gas or phone lines. Most areas have a special 1-800 number that can be called to check that none of these utility lines exist in the area you will be digging.
Rejuvenate with Stone
With stone you can be as elaborate or simple as you like. Depending on what you decide, you can complete your stone project in less than a weekend. For example, by placing slate stones over sand you can create a simple yet beautiful rock path within a few hours. Tutorials for a project of this scale can be found online. Or you might choose to go one step further and completely re-do your current walkway or driveway and replace it with brick or another stone option. This choice may require you to get some estimates and hire some experts and could take more than a weekend to complete, but the end result will truly be worth it! If you are content with your walkways and paths you could go one step further and add stone veneer to your home’s exterior. With stone veneer you have the flexibility of choosing your own color as well as cut and style of stone. Homeowners who have gone this route have been overjoyed with the elegance and prestige that stone has brought to their home’s appearance.
Replace Your Old Mailbox and Post
Replacing your old mailbox and the post it may be housed on is a quick project that you can complete within a few hours. You may even find that you have time left over to finish another project! A new mailbox can really add an extra touch of sophistication especially when it is paired with an elegant stand. Cast stone is a great option when considering a new stand because of the colors and varieties available. Another material commonly used today is a strong polymer plastic that is made to look like iron. A post can be found to fit every home’s personality from ornate scrolled posts to pedestal mount posts. Fortunately, these newer materials are virtually maintenance free and weather resistant and thus won’t succumb to time and the elements like some of the materials used in older mailboxes and posts.
These small projects are just a few of the many things that you can do to add some special touches to your home’s appearance. Why not plan something soon? If a larger scale project is in your future, like adding stone veneer to highlight some of your home’s features, consider calling North Star Stone. Their experts are here to help you design and plan ways you can add beauty and value to your home through stone. To learn why home owners in Chicagoland suburbs like Arlington Heights, Libertyville, Barrington and Mount Prospect are so happy with their new stone products, visit our Exterior Stone FAQ page or contact us at info@northstarstone.biz or call 847-996-6850 for a free estimate on your new exterior stone.
