15 Ways to Easily and Affordably Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal

Want to change the facade of your home? Expensive. Want to paint your siding? Expensive. But want to boost your curb appeal with some easy DIY fixes? Doable and affordable.

Giving your home a curb appeal makeover is a smart homeowner money move that doesn’t need to be a major undertaking. There are small changes in terms of maintenance and styling that can give your home a charming new look. 

All it takes is a quick trip to your local big-box home improvement store and some elbow grease.

Whether you’re looking to sell your home or simply want to make it look nicer for your own enjoyment, here are 15 easy and affordable ways to boost your curb appeal.

Annual flowers are typically inexpensive and easy to grow. If you create a garden bed, you can swap out the flowers with the seasons. Add agreeable, fast-spreading flowers like vincas, snapdragons, or pansies.

A green, lush yard makes any home look more polished. With a well-maintained lawn, you don’t need to worry about switching flowers out with the season or spending time pruning hedges. 

You just have to mow the lawn on a regular cadence — or hire a neighborhood kid to take care of it.

You can pick up a power washer for under $50 and use it to deep clean your home’s exterior every few months. You can also use it on the sidewalk, walkway, and even your front porch.

It might not be on the top of your list when you think of curb appeal, but a tired mailbox sets the tone for your yard. Spend less than $100 on a brand new post mailbox, and give your front yard a fresh new look.

A pack of solar lights costs about $30, and they give your yard a sophisticated feel at night. They’ll switch on as soon as the sun goes down, giving your home a glowy appeal from the street.

House numbers cost just a few dollars, but they make a big impact in a small size. A more updated set of house numbers gives your home a modern look, and it’s something people notice from the curb — particularly when they’re looking for your address.

Depending on your DIY skills, painting your front door could be one of the easiest and most high-impact ways to boost your curb appeal. You’ll only pay for a quart of paint and a paintbrush, which shouldn’t cost more than $30 or $40. The biggest commitment is time.

You can find light fixtures for your front entryway for less than $100 and, in many cases, less than $50. If your old light fixture looks tired, chipped, or rusted, this is a quick fix to freshen things up.

Flank your doorway with planters for a sophisticated, symmetrical look. You can get two for under $40, then fill them with evergreens for a low-maintenance option or swap out seasonal flowers with the season.

Nothing welcomes people to your home like a seasonal wreath. To make it easy on yourself, get a faux wreath for around $50, then add ribbons and decor to keep it feeling festive with each holiday and season.

Front door hardware can get tarnished and worn over time, so spend about $50 to give yours a new look. Anyone who walks up to your front door will notice the fresh hardware — and you can’t beat that first impression.

Whether it’s a broken railing, a cracked sidewalk, or a broken front door light, now’s the time to make repairs. 

Many of these are DIY projects that you can knock out in a weekend (with a little help from YouTube tutorials!), and they’ll make a world of difference in giving your home a well-maintained appearance.

You don’t need to add an entire outdoor seating area, but a perfectly chosen chair near a garden or a bench by the front door gives your home a welcoming, warm look. Search on Facebook Marketplace to get a deal on outdoor furniture. 

(Hint: Search at the end of summer when people are clearing out their outdoor spaces.)

Want a low-maintenance curb appeal option that goes beyond grass? Evergreen hedges require pruning, but you’ll never have to worry about them dying back in the off-season. Look for holly if you’d like to add vibrant seasonal color.

The easiest curb appeal is a rock garden. There’s no maintenance, no watering, no pruning, and no worrying about replacing flowers at the end of each season. 

You don’t have to do the entire yard in rocks, but you can create a small rock garden in place of a garden bed.

Investing in curb appeal can yield an ROI of over 200%. If you’re looking to sell and build wealth, the time and energy are well worth the effort.

And, if you’re just looking for a more inviting appearance for yourself and your guests, it’s worth the pride you’ll feel each time you stroll up to your home.