10 Steps to Freshen up the Outside of Your Home
Spruce up your front garden, fence and gate to instantly boost your home’s kerb appeal. Because, let’s face it, first impressions do count
From front gates and garden fences to beautiful blooms; thoughtful design and routine upkeep of the area that surrounds your home will pay dividends in creating a great first impression. As well as getting on top of winter-proofing essentials, such as repainting gates and repairing walls, beautify your space by trimming hedges, planning perennials to plant for the spring and creating a seasonal windowbox. Check out these inspiring ideas to get you started.
Stop the rot
A white picket fence looks pretty as a picture, but it can be quick to fade if neglected. Check your fence regularly for wear and tear, replacing slats if necessary. An annual coat of protective sealant should help stop the rot setting in.
A white picket fence looks pretty as a picture, but it can be quick to fade if neglected. Check your fence regularly for wear and tear, replacing slats if necessary. An annual coat of protective sealant should help stop the rot setting in.
Dress your windowsills
Window boxes and hanging baskets add instant kerb appeal to the front of your home for very little effort. Opt for colourful flowers in trailing varieties for a whimsical look. Ivy and red blooms will give a beautiful wintery look to see you through the colder months.
For a longer-lasting effect, plan to select a few plants that flower at different times, so you will have a constant stream of beautiful blooms throughout the year.
See more ways to go green at your front door
Window boxes and hanging baskets add instant kerb appeal to the front of your home for very little effort. Opt for colourful flowers in trailing varieties for a whimsical look. Ivy and red blooms will give a beautiful wintery look to see you through the colder months.
For a longer-lasting effect, plan to select a few plants that flower at different times, so you will have a constant stream of beautiful blooms throughout the year.
See more ways to go green at your front door
Paint your gate
Iron or metal gates will get rusty from time to time, so treat them to an annual coat of paint – just plan ahead so you can catch a spell of dry weather. It will increase their lifespan and help them look neat and tidy, too. If your railings are in relatively good order, give them a wash to get rid of dust and dirt.
Iron or metal gates will get rusty from time to time, so treat them to an annual coat of paint – just plan ahead so you can catch a spell of dry weather. It will increase their lifespan and help them look neat and tidy, too. If your railings are in relatively good order, give them a wash to get rid of dust and dirt.
Repair your walls
A garden wall is a sturdy, and fairly low-maintenance, alternative to a fence or a hedge, but it still needs some attention. If you have a wall, check it for loose stones, bricks or crumbling pointing at the turn of each season, so you can attend to any urgent repairs. It’s also wise to weed out any unwanted plants that are growing there to keep it looking in the best possible shape.
A garden wall is a sturdy, and fairly low-maintenance, alternative to a fence or a hedge, but it still needs some attention. If you have a wall, check it for loose stones, bricks or crumbling pointing at the turn of each season, so you can attend to any urgent repairs. It’s also wise to weed out any unwanted plants that are growing there to keep it looking in the best possible shape.
Plan ahead for flowers
If your front garden is feeling a little flat, start to plan for how you can add vim and vigour. Now is the time to curl up under a blanket and make your planting plans for the spring. Draw a rough blueprint of your garden layout, identifying gaps you’d like to remedy and areas that are ripe for change.
Wildlife-friendly flowers, such as peonies, foxgloves, Nepetas and Geraniums, can be planted within herbaceous borders. Pretty lavender and fragrant trailing roses can be left alone to work their magic and don’t require much maintenance.
If your front garden is feeling a little flat, start to plan for how you can add vim and vigour. Now is the time to curl up under a blanket and make your planting plans for the spring. Draw a rough blueprint of your garden layout, identifying gaps you’d like to remedy and areas that are ripe for change.
Wildlife-friendly flowers, such as peonies, foxgloves, Nepetas and Geraniums, can be planted within herbaceous borders. Pretty lavender and fragrant trailing roses can be left alone to work their magic and don’t require much maintenance.
Showcase your topiary
If you’re pretty handy with a pair of shears, get to work on your hedges to create an elegant, neat design that will give the front of your house the wow factor. If you don’t have a hedge, don’t worry: buy a smaller, potted version and display by your front door or along your driveway.
If you’re pretty handy with a pair of shears, get to work on your hedges to create an elegant, neat design that will give the front of your house the wow factor. If you don’t have a hedge, don’t worry: buy a smaller, potted version and display by your front door or along your driveway.
Plan pretty borders
If you have a path that leads to your front door, or around the house, frame the way with a selection of fragrant plants or herbs, such as lavender. Choose low-maintenance plants that suite your soil and, with any luck – and a bit of judicious pruning – they’ll come back year after year.
TELL US…
How have you designed your front garden and entrance? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
If you have a path that leads to your front door, or around the house, frame the way with a selection of fragrant plants or herbs, such as lavender. Choose low-maintenance plants that suite your soil and, with any luck – and a bit of judicious pruning – they’ll come back year after year.
TELL US…
How have you designed your front garden and entrance? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Framing your front door with planters is a welcoming gesture that will win plaudits from visitors and neighbours. Choose matching terracotta, zinc or wooden containers for a designer look, and fill them with a long-lasting bay or seasonal mixture of luscious greenery and flowers.
Check out a range of stylish metal planters