How to Update Your Home Exterior

An old exterior can make a home look much older than it is — not to mention less appealing. While you can’t be responsible for past owners’ architectural mishaps, you can do something about the ratty aesthetic of a bygone era. It doesn’t have to cost very much to update your home exterior : a lot can improve just by freshening up some details !

The exterior of your home is what will first catch your eye and that of every other passerby. Even though you spend most of your time inside the house, there is nothing quite as satisfying as driving up to your gorgeous home and realizing, “This is mine. I did that.” 

Here are some tips on how to improve the outside appearance of your home.

Replace Old Materials

If your home is rather old, chances are its exterior consists of a less-than-sturdy material such as wood clapboarding. While there is nothing wrong with wood, without proper sealing and upkeep, it can deteriorate and rot over time due to weather and wear. 

Consider revamping your exterior with new material such as vinyl siding, brick, stone, fake stone, etc. 

If you want to tackle the project yourself, you can find the tools for any material you wish to use online. For example, a quick search for vinyl siding tools will tell you everything you need to know. 

Fresh Coat of Paint

Sometimes, all you need is a new color or a fresh coat of paint. Paint can erode over time and look dingy and dirty, especially lighter colors such as white or beige. It can especially wear off in the crevices between pieces of wood and borders of windows. 

Even if the paint is looking ok, it can be fun to experiment with an accent color or little splashes of color. Try painting your door blue and shutters red. If your house is light-colored currently, try going for a darker shade for a more solemn look. 

Fix Your Landscaping

If you can’t think of anything you want to change about your house’s appearance, but you still want to change something, it could be the landscaping that needs some work. 

Spotty grass, unruly shrubbery, dingy furniture, exposed trash, a messy lawn, etc., can all take away from the grandeur of your house, even if your home is gorgeous! 

Take a weekend to tidy up the space and then see what you can add: a simple garden, walkway, and stone bench can go a long way. 

Blend the Roof and Garage 

If your home is a lovely natural brick color, but your garage door is a stark contrasting white, the eyes will immediately go to the garage door. Aim for necessities such as the garage door and roof blending with the rest of your home. At the very least, the exterior should follow a color scheme that you’ve chosen and look uniform.

Replacing roof shingles is a bit of a larger undertaking, but painting your garage door is an easy weekend project that will improve the overall aesthetic of your home. 

Update Your Home Exterior : Devil’s In The Details 

Small changes can make the most significant difference sometimes, and often, small improvements to an existing foundation can change the whole look. Take some time to peruse Instagram or Pinterest and pinpoint your desired look. Then, assess your home exterior and note what it would take to emulate your favorite home aesthetic. 

It’s easiest to start with small things like painting, tidying up, and adding landscaping. If that’s not enough of a change for you, then you can consider revamping materials.