Looking for home remodeling ideas to help with your next exterior project? Check out these easy exterior home remodel ideas to spruce up your home. This is perfect for those moving into their first home and wanting to give new life to the exterior of the home, or those who have been living in their home for quite some time but realized it’s starting to look “tired.”If you enjoy small diy projects, then stick around and check out these easy home remodeling ideas to transform your exterior.
Have you pulled into your driveway and realized it was time for a change? Or perhaps you visited the home several times with your realtor and thought to yourself,
“This is the perfect starter home!” But after purchasing, you came to the conclusion that yes, it has the perfect interior, but the exterior needs some attention.
You deserve to feel excited about the exterior as you do the interior.
Yes! I know it can seem daunting, and I know you’re thinking, “This is completely outside of my wheelhouse.”
However, these suggestions are simple suggestions you truly can handle, or your favorite handyman, whether it’s your partner or a contractor. Allow these easy home remodeling ideas to transform your exterior into the oasis it was truly meant to be.
This post is all about easy home remodeling ideas to transform your exterior.
Home Remodeling Ideas:
Updating Your Front Door With Paint
Whether you choose a bold, fiery red color or a subtle neutral color, remember this is your home and you can decide how you’d like to paint; unless you have to get it approved by your HOA.
Always remember that your exterior sets the tone for the interior.
Let’s take things a bit deeper.
When it comes to interior design, it should reflect a person’s style. Yes! Their fashion style and overall lifestyle.
Just think about it: You’re a girl from New York who’s moved to Tennessee for a slower pace of life. You still enjoy the hustle and bustle that your career offers, but you’ve been able to swap out the subway for a long drive on I-65.
You have a maximalist personality, when several different fashion choices and an eclectic interior design style that you’re trying to achieve. Upon arrival at your home, you may want to opt for the bright red front door.
Show Stopper by Sherwin-Williams does just that. Stops you in your tracks and commands attention. It lets the world know you have arrived from New York and you’re here to stay.
You know exactly who you are in this stage of your life, the mistakes you’ve made, and where you’d like to go moving forward.
I know what you’re thinking, “Your front door can say all of that about you?” Absolutely!
The same goes for the neutral painted door. You enjoy a slower-paced life.
You’re a farmer’s market girl, and you love a good stable outfit. You have a core set of friends that you’ve been with forever, or perhaps you’ve just recently met them, but they are your girls!
You enjoy stability, serenity, calmness, but most importantly, intentionality.
Swapping Out Your House Numbers
Switching out your older house numbers for modern ones is such a small detail that makes a big impact.
Those modern house numbers can update your exterior and mailbox in a matter of minutes.
Don’t overthink it, but put a little thought into your design.
You could add cedar wood to the back of the numbers, creating a platform, or contact your local welder for a custom piece.
Also, think about how the numbers show up at night. Consider adding lighting that specially displays the numbers.
It’s a small detail, but just think about that guest searching for your home for your dinner party. Or even the Uber Eats and Amazon delivery driver.
Just think about the human experience and try to put yourself in their shoes and see where you could improve or stand out from the neighbor next door.
Updating Outdated Outdoor Lighting
Lighting plays a pivotal role in the overall guest experience. Consider installing or updating your gas outdoor sconces to classic gas lantern sconces.
They have such a classic and timeless look.
However, before you get to the front door. Think about the walk from the driveway or curb to your front door.
Do you have a walkway or stepping stones that have path lights? Think about lighting on every plane.
The walkway will take care of the lower plane, the wall sconces take care of the middle plane, and lastly, uplighting will take care of the upper plane.
The goal is to create an ambience that feels cozy, warm, and welcoming.
Pops of Color With Landscaping
Introducing pops of color or even color-drenching your landscaping can bring so much life to your exterior.
Imagine for a second, you’re looking at a white sheet of paper (like a white brick home) and all of a sudden you see another white sheet of paper with a small pink dot.
Your eye will immediately be drawn to that speck.
Well, intensify that by even 1000 or just a few more specks of pink. Either way, the white sheet of paper now has some visual interest.
The same applies to your home (no matter the exterior color).
Speaking with a local landscaper could be the best fit for you, or you can check out your local nursery and speak with an attendant as well.
Don’t shy away from finding inspiration in real time, either. Drive around some desirable neighborhoods and check out their yards. Look for inspiration and small vignettes that can be incorporated into your home.
Saturday morning is the best time to do this. The morning dew is still on the plants, traffic is light, and the sun is casting a beautiful shadow in all of the right places, and in some places, the lawn guy has just completed mowing the grass.
Grab a cup of coffee and have fun!
Pressure Wash Everything
Pressure wash any and everything! This alone will transform your entire exterior. Leave no stone unturned.
Pressure wash the driveway, retaining walls, exterior (especially towards the bottom where the mud may be sitting), and the sidewalk.
Hire a local company or check out your local Home Depot or Lowe’s for renting instead.
By doing so, this will take decades off your home, leaving it looking good as ever.
Revamp Your Mailbox
Changing the mailing station is something you don’t think about.
However, as mentioned a few times before, think about the guest experience. Before you think to yourself, “My guests should not be opening up my mailbox,” it’s not about your guest using it, but rather visualizing it.
You see, imagine you’re having a dinner party and quite a few of your guests have never been to your home.
The mailing station is the first experience they have to not only confirm the address number with the invitation but also to see the style of the home.
The mailbox should be a representation of you, your family, and your home.
If you’ve purchased a brand new build, and you’re allowed to change things without having to get permission from the HOA, consider adding a modern mailbox with cedar wood.
If you have a traditional 1950s brick ranch that you’re looking to revamp, consider building out the mailbox with the same brick but add a modern flair to it.
This could look like an arch, kind of like a pizza oven, and instead of leaving the arch opening vacant, think about adding plants that are cascading down but not interfering with the mailbox door.
Update Your Shutters and Install Window Boxes
Back in the day, and specifically in the 90s, the colors of the shutters were mainly hunter green, black, or even that maroon color.
Those were the “IT” colors back in the day. However, now it’s time for something fresh, something classic and timeless.
When you think of classics and what colors stand the test of time, you have to look outward. This means checking out nature and seeing what colors are prevalent in your everyday walk with the great outdoors.
Those colors would be your greens, blues, creams, all shades of browns, and beiges. There are more, but those stand out the most.
You may think these colors are dull and boring, but in fact, they feel just the opposite. They are not so jarring on the eye, and they give you a place to rest when looking at the entire exterior elevation.
Consider softening up your exterior with one of those classic colors, and if your exterior allows the space, try adding some window flower boxes.
This is yet another spot to add those touches of color without being too overwhelmed with the upkeep.
Another idea, instead of flowers, consider incorporating herbs such as basil or oregano.
Beware if you’d like to try mint. It tends to become invasive and can take over your entire flower bed. I would stick with minted inside of its very own pot. This way, you can control and maintain the output.
Incorporate Cozy Seating
Incorporating some sort of cozy seating is not only inviting for your guests, but it’s the perfect opportunity for you to enjoy outdoors while people watching!
If you have a true front porch with an overhang, consider creating a porch swing for those lazy Sunday, after church, afternoons.
This is the best spot for hanging out while your partner is watching the game and the kids need to burn off a little fuel.
If you’ve decided to make your own porch swing or hire someone else, think about purchasing a twin mattress.
The depth of a twin mattress will have you falling asleep before you know it.
It’s the best hiding spot with a good book and the sounds of the neighborhood.
Contrasting Trim Color
Refreshing your trim color with a contrasting color will give your home a polished look. Most of the time, the trim is white, but if you have your trim painted 2 to 3 shades darker than your exterior color, it will give your home a complete look.
This applies to those with a white or off white/cream exterior paint.
Homes with a dark exterior paint, consider going 2 to 4 shades lighter than the existing exterior color.
Those homes with red brick and you don’t plan on painting, refresh the trim paint and have your painter touch up the paint, or think about an off white. The soft, subtle white color creates a timeless look.
Replacing Your Gutters
Replacing your gutters is such a small detail, but it will make a major impact.
Just as you notice above, the beautiful brick coupled with the patina brass shutters will never go out of style. The patina will only look better over time.
However, just like the contrasting trim color. Think about painting the gutters the same color as the trim. This will give your design a more intentional and cohesive look.
Add stepping Stones or Walkway to Your Entry
It’s only right to have some sort of pathway to the front door. There’s nothing worse than your guest creating the natural path for you with just dirt and a few rocks scattered on the ground.
Perhaps you only come into the house from the garage, carport entry, or back door, but your guest will experience something completely different.
Set the tone for the rest of the home, starting with the path.
Stepping stones can have a more eclectic look depending on how the stones are placed. Whereas the stones that are similar in size have a more tailored look.
What will your path say about you and your home? There is no right answer, by the way! Have fun and make this your own.
Update Your Garage
The garage from an older home is one of the last items someone thinks about updating. It becomes an afterthought because you’re typically the only one to see it, and with the busy schedule of the modern world, it gets pushed to the back burner.
Especially when the garage is on the side elevation.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade to wood-like vinyl, aluminum, or wood composite, just to name a few, consider a design that gives it a wood finish look.
This gives your home a traditional cottagecore aesthetic that will be hard to get tired of seeing.
Perhaps, you’d like to paint a contrasting color or something similar to the front door. Whichever you choose, just remember you want to decorate in 3s. Therefore, if the trim and gutters are the same color, then think about painting the garage the same color.
Or maybe you have wood posts on your front elevation to support your front porch. I would then consider adding the same color wood to the garage.
What if you have wood posts on your front porch but an aluminum door? Well, if you have the option to pick a color before the install, choose a color that is similar to the stain color of the wooden posts.
Keeping Seasonal Decor Classy
If you’re looking to spruce up your exterior, then don’t forget to decorate for the holidays. This is the perfect opportunity to change things up a bit.
You can go full-on haunted house, or you can simply just change out the doormat and add a wreath with the holiday colors.
Keeping things simpler has a classic look. Remember Home Alone? Wreaths were on the windows of the exterior, and indoor lighting was behind each window. This was timeless and classic.
Unless you have children or you’re up for the challenge of going over the top, stick with the lighting for ambience, doormat, wreath, and maybe add decor down the steps if you’re up to it.
Conclusion
Remember, you don’t have to knock down walls or extend the footprint in order to spruce up your exterior.
Keep in mind, small changes = Big Impact!
Once you finish everything, pretend you’re a guest arriving at your home. Try this during the day and in the early evening, and see if you enjoy the guest experience.
If your answer is no, then you already know where to fill in the gaps.
Have fun and enjoy these Easy Home Remodeling Ideas To Transform Your Exterior.
This post was all about Easy Home Remodeling Ideas to Elevate Your Exterior.
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