Your home is your castle, your haven, your retreat. But if you’ve been less than impressed when you arrive home after a hard day, maybe it’s time to take a fresh look … from the curb. Go ahead. Step outside and give your home’s façade a critical once over. Does it say ‘welcome?’ If not, here are four great ideas to enhance your curb appeal and make coming home the best part of your day.

Door Appeal

Don’t ignore your entry door. An easy fix is to simply replace what you have. Elegant stained wood or wood-look fiberglass doors are durable and offer designs that range from rustic to contemporary. You can find traditional panels, etched glass and much more. If you replace, you might also consider new trim for a truly dramatic statement. But the hot trend today is color – from rich red to nautical blue to sunny yellow. You can even paint your current door, but make sure you do it right. Clean, sand and use primer to ensure your appealing new door isn’t peeling in a few months.

Stupendous Stoop

There are plenty of ways to update your entryway, whether you have a simple set of stairs or a wrap-around porch. Think about stone or wood underfoot. Railings can add safety, but also make quite a statement whether metal, glass, wood or a combination.

Light Up Your Life

Exterior lighting is a must these days, so remember to think safety as well as beauty. Choose fixtures that accentuate your home design, but don’t stop there. Walkway lights are easy to add with plenty of solar choices that look great and provide light for hours. The sky’s the limit with today’s LED selections, from festive twinklers to dramatic colors…porch ala Prince anyone?

Mother Nature Can Help

Of course even the most gorgeous home’s façade will suffer if it’s fronted by an expanse of sod and little else. Landscaping is the icing on the cake, so tune up your green thumb (or your neighborhood landscaper’s) and go to town. Consider a terrace or two if your lawn slopes to the curb. Fill in that depression with a rain garden. Or simply stock your front entry with potted plants that add a splash of color and a bit of life. Even in Minnesota winters, a few red twigs, birch branches and spruce tops will create a delightful welcome for friends and family alike.

Cover photo courtesy of Southview Design.

Written by Wendy Danks

Wendy Danks (wendydoodles.com) has had a career-long love affair with the Parade of Homes, spending the last 20 years as its marketing and communications director. Recently retired, she now has time to spend on her other great love, writing.