Whether you are preparing to sell your place or just want to keep your abode the envy of the neighbors, it’s simple to improve your winter-time curb appeal. Remember, first impressions are very important!
Tidy up your driveway, walkway, porches and deck. The absolute best bang for your buck is removing clutter, sprucing up a bit and giving everything a good scrub.
- Rake the autumn leaves and cut back dead perennial growth.
- Trim shrubs, redefine edges of planting beds and add fresh mulch.
- Clean out your gutters and wash the outside of them.
- Wipe down porch, deck and patio furniture. Add colorful cushions.
- Keep driveway and walkways swept and repair any cracks.
Create interest with color. Just a few minor touches can make a major difference, especially when it’s gray and cold out. Spend a weekend focused on the little things.
- Paint your front door to offer an instant pop to a plain or drab exterior.
- Use the same color with doors on the garage, shed, playhouse, etc.
- Update your house number. Add matching door and mailbox hardware.
- Give a fresh coat of paint to entry trim, porch railings, steps and floors.
- Plant pansies and other cold weather annuals in pots and flowerbeds.
Go ever-green with plants that look healthy year-round. Your landscape offers insight to the caliber of your home and how you care for it. This is your first opportunity to make an impression.
- Soften corners with slow growing shrubs like Emerald Green Arborvitae
- Remove overgrown shrubs that cover windows or that have just seen better days. Replace with Rhododendron, Ewe or other evergreens.
- Fill empty beds with evergreen herbs like Rosemary and Lavender.
- Tame slopes or hard to mow areas with groundcover like Juniper or Ivy.
- Consider native plants on this list from Asheville Botanical Gardens.
Warm up with glowing light. In the dark of winter, you can utilize lighting to create interest. A house glowing at night seems so warm and inviting. These are touches too simple to be missed.
- Replace outdated fixtures with ones that match your door hardware.
- Add a dimmer to your porch light to create a warm & inviting ambiance.
- Accent architectural details with low-voltage landscape lighting.
- Use solar charged lighting to illuminate a safe path to your door.