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Outdoors: 10 Ways to Boost Your Home’s Kerb Appeal
Never judge a book by its cover? Nonsense! Make sure your home looks as good on the outside as it does on the inside...
Natalie Wain
30 May 2014
UK-based Houzz contributor.
I've been writing for the national press in Britain for almost 10 years and my most recent post was as the News Editor at Housetohome.co.uk.
These days I can usually be found hunched over my dining room table (which I've commandeered as my office) where I scribble away for a number of UK-based publications, including Homes & Gardens, The Telegraph, metro.co.uk and This is Money, among others.
I'm a bit of a jack of all trades but hopefully master of some.
And, in case you're wondering, I'd describe my interior style is brave, bold and eclectic. That's not to say I don't love a gleaming white wall... but I can't resist an accessory or two.
As the glorious Vivienne Westwood once said, 'when in doubt, overdress...'
UK-based Houzz contributor.
I've been writing for the national press in Britain... More
First impressions count, right? So why not give your home’s exterior a bit of a makeover in time for summer and ensure your neighbours’ curtains are twitching for all the right reasons. From a few carefully placed planters to bigger jobs like painting the front door, check out these tips and tricks to give your home the impact it deserves.
Make an impact with a statement gate
Where first impressions are concerned, your front gate is up there on the list of key features. If yours has flaking paint or rust, then half a day is all you need to give it a quick overhaul. Better still, invest in a new one. This design oozes country-style charm and the rose trellis is guaranteed to impress visiting dignitaries (or the postman, anyway…).
Where first impressions are concerned, your front gate is up there on the list of key features. If yours has flaking paint or rust, then half a day is all you need to give it a quick overhaul. Better still, invest in a new one. This design oozes country-style charm and the rose trellis is guaranteed to impress visiting dignitaries (or the postman, anyway…).
Accessorise with plant pots
If you’re after a quick and easy way to add homespun charm to your exterior, you can’t go far wrong with some artlessly arranged planters. This cluster has the country garden look nailed – classic terracotta pots planted with pretty, colourful flowers.
See creative ways to disguise your bins
If you’re after a quick and easy way to add homespun charm to your exterior, you can’t go far wrong with some artlessly arranged planters. This cluster has the country garden look nailed – classic terracotta pots planted with pretty, colourful flowers.
See creative ways to disguise your bins
Decorate your door with stained glass
If you have a front door with glass panels, then don’t miss a trick – invest in some stained glass. Apart from the obvious benefits (preventing nosy visitors sizing up your hallway), this is a great way to add personality and colour to the front of your home.
If you have a front door with glass panels, then don’t miss a trick – invest in some stained glass. Apart from the obvious benefits (preventing nosy visitors sizing up your hallway), this is a great way to add personality and colour to the front of your home.
Invest in a pretty doormat
Not all doormats are created equally, you know… Yes, I realise you wipe your feet all over them, but that’s no reason to neglect this household essential. A brightly coloured or intricately woven design will add instant doorstep appeal. A cute dog also helps…
Not all doormats are created equally, you know… Yes, I realise you wipe your feet all over them, but that’s no reason to neglect this household essential. A brightly coloured or intricately woven design will add instant doorstep appeal. A cute dog also helps…
Display a sundial
Go on, admit it, you thought sundials were old fashioned and a relic of the past, didn’t you? Not so this time-telling lovely. OK, so it’s more objet d’art than useful, but it’ll certainly lend the front of your home a certain je ne sais quoi.
Check out water features for your garden
Go on, admit it, you thought sundials were old fashioned and a relic of the past, didn’t you? Not so this time-telling lovely. OK, so it’s more objet d’art than useful, but it’ll certainly lend the front of your home a certain je ne sais quoi.
Check out water features for your garden
Let your door do the talking
This front door had us at ‘hello’. You don’t have to go crazy with the stencils to make an impact, but choosing a bright colour, such as pink or yellow, is a great, and relatively easy, way to add instant cheer to your exterior.
This front door had us at ‘hello’. You don’t have to go crazy with the stencils to make an impact, but choosing a bright colour, such as pink or yellow, is a great, and relatively easy, way to add instant cheer to your exterior.
Plant a path of pretty flowers
It’s the little things that count: the lavender lining the walkway to this house says the owner has given some thought to visitors’ first impressions. And we all know how important first impressions are…
It’s the little things that count: the lavender lining the walkway to this house says the owner has given some thought to visitors’ first impressions. And we all know how important first impressions are…
Add a quirky door knocker
There’s somebody at the door… and chances are they’ll be admiring your smart door knocker, if you put a bit of time and effort into it. This handsome horse says a lot about the owner and suggests they’ve given a bit of thought to external appearances.
There’s somebody at the door… and chances are they’ll be admiring your smart door knocker, if you put a bit of time and effort into it. This handsome horse says a lot about the owner and suggests they’ve given a bit of thought to external appearances.
Frame your door with roses
Ah, it’s hard to beat a cloud of pretty roses around your front door. Granted, this particular look may take a few years to establish, but, in the meantime, you can cheat by placing rose bushes in planters either side of the entrance.
Ah, it’s hard to beat a cloud of pretty roses around your front door. Granted, this particular look may take a few years to establish, but, in the meantime, you can cheat by placing rose bushes in planters either side of the entrance.
Trim that topiary
Nothing says ‘welcome to my lovely home’ better than well-tended topiary! If your hedges look like they’ve, well, been dragged through a hedge backwards, now’s the time to sharpen those shears and get trimming.
Nothing says ‘welcome to my lovely home’ better than well-tended topiary! If your hedges look like they’ve, well, been dragged through a hedge backwards, now’s the time to sharpen those shears and get trimming.
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