The outside of your home is just as important as the inside of your home when it comes to home improvements. Although you may not spend a lot of time standing outside looking at your house, your neighbors and visitors see this side every day. Therefore, you should make sure that the outside of your house is attractive. Walk around outside your house, and take a good look. As you walk around, consider the following questions.
Does the pathway leading to your front door look inviting? This is the path that your guests use in order to walk up to your house. It should be around six feet wide, which is wide enough to allow two adults to walk side by side comfortably without bumping to each other. The pathway should be paved, either with brick pavers or cement stones spaced at a comfortable distance apart. Always keep the path to your door clear of any leaves or debris that may have blown across.
Are your bushes overgrown so that they block the view of your house? Overgrown shrubs and bushes make your house look like it has not been lived in. If your visitors cannot see your house because a big bush is blocking it, they will not be able to find it. Not only that, if ever emergency services need to find your house, they will have a hard time finding it if it is hidden behind a large shrub. So, give your bushes a good manicure. Cut them down in size so your house can be seen. This will give the outside of your home a neater appearance.
Does your door look like it has seen better days? Examine the paint job of your door. Chances are, it will need a new coat of paint. Pick a different color that complements the rest of your house. You can go to your home improvement store and get some paint chip samples to get some good ideas. You do not have to stick with the safe neutral colors. Your door can stand out with something entirely different. If your door is made of natural wood, clean the wood with a good quality cleaner, and see if you need to put on a coat of polish.
Do your visitors have a hard time seeing the path leading to your front door? If so, you may want to install lights along the path just to give it enough lighting. It really makes a difference in the presentation of your home, and it always helps your guest so they will not stumble along coming to and from your house. If you are concerned about the amount of electricity that these lights will use because they will stay lit all night, consider solar options. Solar lights will store up sun energy during the day and power the lights through the night.
Are your door handles and exterior light fixtures tarnished and rusty? If so, they will need a good cleaning and polish. If their condition has really deteriorated beyond what any cleaning can do, then consider replacements. This is a good chance for you to pick a different style. Just make sure that the color and finish of your door hardware and your light fixtures match each other.
There are many simple and inexpensive things that you can do to enhance the exterior of your home. Try these ideas, and have the prettiest house on the block!
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