When it comes to home improvements, most of us focus on renovating the interior of our homes, after all, creating a stylish and functional interior can enhance your lifestyle and add serious value. However, it’s important to give the exterior some love and attention also. Research reveals that most people, over 90%, pass judgement on a property based on purely on how it looks from the outside! The outside appearance, or kerb appeal, of a property also has the power to put potential home buyers off, which is sure to impact the sale price it could potentially achieve.
Ensuring that your home looks visually pleasing from the outside will ultimately bump up its kerb appeal, and subsequently and its overall value. Whether your property is old, new, modern, or traditional, there are many simple things you can do enhance its aesthetic and add value.
Understanding Kerb Appeal
Essentially, kerb appeal is the visual first impression when someone passes by your property. It’s how your property looks from the street, and it’s very important in today’s real estate market. The attractiveness of the outside of a house or building can have a big effect on its value, as well as how people perceive it while they are walking or driving by. Kerb appeal can also help to make your home stand out among other properties and attract potential buyers or renters.
5 Ways to Add Kerb Appeal to Your Property
Landscaping
Carefully planted trees, shrubs, and flowers add colour and life to an otherwise dull exterior, giving it a unique and attractive aesthetic. Landscaping can help create a sense of harmony between the home and its environment as well as add texture, depth, light, and colour to the exterior. Landscaping doesn’t necessarily have to cost a fortune. Simply wedding, trimming, and tidying your current garden, and adding in some new plants and flowers for a splash of colour may be all it takes to get your garden looking great. An attractive, and well-maintained garden creates a warm and welcoming ambience that invites people in and gives them a taste for what they may find inside.
Lighting
Illuminating the exterior of your property will create a welcoming ambiance, and it also boosts security – both of which can have a massive impact on kerb appeal, and therefore property value. Be creative and play around with different types and styles to create a layered lighting effect.
- Use up-lights to highlight architectural features – position the lights so that they create the right amount of light and shadow to accentuate pillars, rock work, or other stand-out architectural features you want to highlight.
- Silhouette landscaping features – position lights to silhouette specific landscaping features at night. Whether it’s large pot plants, a water feature, or a particularly attractive tree or bush, casting a silhouette is a subtle way to create warmth and texture.
- Create areas of light and shadow – this is a great way to add visual interest if you don’t have any particularly interesting features to show off.
- Create a moonlight effect – using downlights high up in trees or under eaves can create a beautiful gentle, glow of illumination that simulates natural moonlight.
Driveway and Pathways
Driveways and pathways invite people into your property, so it’s important they are clearly defined and well-maintained. Repair any cracks or potholes and consider resurfacing, re-paving, or adding a fresh layer of gravel to enhance their appearance. It’s also vital to ensure edges are neat for a clean and well-defined look. It’s a great idea to light up an entrance path with subtle pathway lighting, as this will lead visitors on a journey to your doorstep safely during the evening.
Fencing
A beautifully crafted fence that complements your home adds charm and character. The right fence can change the whole look of your whole property, so if your fence is looking a little worse for wear it might be time for an upgrade. Fences that are leaning over, filled with holes, or missing palings make the whole property feel unkempt and can even be a safety hazard.
If you can’t repair or repaint your existing fence, then consider a new fence that harmonizes with your home’s architectural style. Alternatively, pick an element to match from the house’s exterior, it could be stone, wood, or even painted trim. You could also choose an interesting architectural detail such as a porch balustrade or pillar and repeat it in the fence to tie everything together.
Window Treatments
Interior and exterior window furnishings may not immediately spring to mind when it comes to kerb appeal, but they actually play a vital role. While drapes in the living room and roller blinds in the kitchen usually have nothing to do with each other, outside, they do. Keep them consistent across the front windows in your home for a cohesive look. Treatments that can significantly boost kerb appeal include:
Plantation Shutters – With their crisp, clean shape and thick louvres, they stand out more than many other window furnishings and complement almost any style of house. Often considered a luxurious addition, they can add uniformity across your windows and can be easily adjusted according to the amount of light and privacy you need at any time of day or night.
Roller Shutters – Modern roller shutters are a popular choice for improving security and privacy, but did you know that they can also significantly enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home? Adding an attractive finishing touch to your windows, they are available in a wide range of colours and styles, so you will be sure to find the perfect match to complement your home’s exterior. Whether you prefer a sleek and contemporary look or a more traditional style, electric roller shutters are the perfect way to add convenience, security, and kerb appeal and value to your home.
Kerb appeal is all about creating a visually appealing and well-maintained exterior that attracts attention and makes a positive first impression! If you want to enhance your home with high-quality, dynamic roller shutters, reach out to the team at Nu Style Shutters today. Made right here in Perth, our security shutters are designed to withstand the harsh WA climate so you can be confident in your investment. Call 1300 296 820 today.
