Now that winter is over and the sun is really beginning to shine, you want your house to shine just as brightly. There are several ways to spruce up your home’s exterior. As March is coming to a close, you might want to start planning your projects for spring so that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor all summer long.

How to Spruce Up Your Home’s Exterior

Paint A New Exterior Color

A coat of paint on the exterior of your house can make a huge difference, even if you don’t change the color. Simply adding two coats of paint to your siding can cover up those scuff marks, clean up the paneling, and brighten the faded colors of your home. The little details that are either covered or enhanced by a new coat of paint can really add a fresh feeling to the whole place.

If you do decide to change the color, that can change the entire feel of your home. On top of that, it’s the perfect way to give your house that extra bit of character to make it stand out from the rest on your block. As long as you don’t pick something too garish, it’s hard to go wrong. The cookie-cutter look is out. Let your personality shine!

An important thing to remember is to use high-quality paint. Certain consumer brands can be a lot cheaper, but it will show in the final product. Springing a bit on a commercial-brand paint like Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams may cost a bit extra, but the coats you put on will look one-hundred times better, you may even save money because it will take less paint to cover properly. If you don’t have the time, hire a painter. The rates are reasonable, and professional job is worth it. Your house will look and feel great afterwards, and you’ll never even have to climb a ladder.

Next, Make The Trim Color Pop!

If you do paint the walls, having the trim painted around the exterior of your house is a good way to update your home’s exterior. This includes window frames, shutters, door frames, gutters, and pillars. This is a great way to really make your house pop from the curb, especially if you go with a bright paint like bright white gloss. This adds a depth and detail to your house that will really make it stand out. Painting the door, especially, can make a huge difference. Because they’re used a lot, doors tend to get dirty and scuffed over time in ways you don’t even notice. A simple coat of paint can make your door look brand-new. This can really enhance the “finished” look of your home, and make the work you did on the walls stand out even more. If you decide to also get the gutters painted in addition to the trim, consider cleaning them out if it’s been awhile since this has tackled. Cleaning the gutters of your home will also prevent water damage to your newly painted home!

Give Life to Your Garden

While a full-scale landscaping project can be a huge expense and take a lot of time, even if you’re hiring contractors to help, there’s a lot that you can do yourself to make the front of your home the envy of the block. Making sure any hedges you have are trimmed is a great start. Just like on your head, clean-cut, kempt look can make a huge difference in improving your home’s exterior.

Additionally, putting down mulch is something just about anyone can do, and it doesn’t cost much at all. Generally, a dark mulch or a red mahogany will look fantastic in any garden. It depends on your house though. Pick one to match, and lay it down. Pull up any weeds that stick out, and you’ll be amazed at the transformation that occurs.

Petunias are a flower that every garden center will carry. This is for good reason. They last all summer, and they come in almost every color you can think of — and probably some you can’t. The best part is they’re heat-resistant. For the average summer, you can get away with watering them once a week. If it’s looking to be particularly hot and dry, however, you may want to opt for two to three times a week. If you want to add some shocks of color to your garden, they’re the perfect flower to get. Bring home a few trays and lay them in along the edge. They’ll shine in front of your home, and draw the attention of every passerby.

Learn more about ways to improve curb appeal and selling your house.