Need kerb appeal? 25 ways to improve your house exterior

Create a great first impression with paint, planting, pathways and more

Looking to boost your home's kerb appeal? A few coats of paint, attractive porch accessories and a touch of greenery are all that’s needed to give your home a fresh new look. From coordinated front door colours with beautiful brass door knockers to perfect pathways framed with greenery, these home entrance and front garden ideas will be right up your street.

Read on for inspiration...

Go potty on steps

Potted plants are ideal for dressing front doorsteps because they’re flexible and affordable. Select a colour theme that picks out your front door hue and then choose various sizes to create a bright display of different heights. Dobbies' Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles says: "Celebrate the beauty of and fun of bold colour, combining the rich saturation of flowering plants with high impact colours for a burst of vibrancy."

Get a new doormat

Lift up the spirits with a fun doormat to wipe away dirt when entering your home. Small changes can make a transformative difference and a clean, fresh doormat is an appealing start. This colourful creation with a joyous message is best suited within a porch or under an overhung roof. For mats fully exposed to the elements, choose materials like durable rubber and coir, or opt for something different such as a steel boot scraper.

Change up your hardware

Door knockers are a practical piece of door furniture that every home needs. But gone are the days of a standard brass ring or urn-shaped varieties. To bring your door furniture up to date, think back to ornate Victorian brass lion heads or Dickensian gargoyles, and give the idea a 21st century twist. Quirky hardware such as winged bumble bees, funky foxes and cheeky squirrels are now widely available and can add character. Finish the look with a new letterbox, handles, hinges and keyhole furniture.

Replace your front door

The front door is probably one of the biggest factors in creating kerb appeal. If choosing a replacement, there are various materials to consider such as wood, uPVC, composite or aluminium. "It's important to choose a design that suits the character of your property or the style of the one you are looking to build," says Ryan Schofield, MD of Thames Valley Window Company. Alternatively, a new lick of paint will make a huge difference. Front door colours reflect your style and there are many websites that offer advice on what hue to choose.

Paint a uPVC front door

It's not only wooden doors that can benefit from a makeover. uPVC front doors can be totally transformed to increase the kerb appeal of a home, too. Becky Pink, owner of the PinksCharming.com blog, made her tired plastic front door look like new with a few coats of speciality paint in glorious bubblegum pink. She then sprayed the existing handles with gold Rust-Oleum paint, added a bumblebee door knocker and personalised the update with cute 'hello' and 'goodbye' vinyl stickers.

Relay the pathway

A smart walkway leading up to your entrance will certainly enhance your kerb appeal. From classic and cost-effective gravel to long-lasting tiles, the attention you give an otherwise mundane passage will leave a lasting impression. If choosing tiles, statement floors have been having a moment indoors so why not extend the wow-factor to the front yard with a Victorian chequerboard path or colour-coordinated herringbone pattern?

Update the mailbox

Even the smallest homes with very little front space can stand out with a little creativity. This idyllic terraced cottage exits straight out onto the pavement, but a vintage-style blue post-box injects a huge amount of personality. The colour-coordinating front door, painted in French Gray by Farrow & Ball topped off with an endearing hare door knocker, makes The Burrow Escape a highlight of its postcode.

Freshen up windows and frames

Cleaning windows is an essential household job that will instantly add kerb appeal with very little money. Clean, streak-free glazing will sparkle and will allow natural light to flood indoors too. If time is on your side, cleaning and repainting window and door frames will be hugely beneficial, too. Lisa Parker, Mortgage Expert at L&C explains: "Improving your home's kerb appeal can increase its value by as much as 10% according to a study by the RICS. Consider adding a fresh coat of paint to windows, doors or other painted surfaces where possible."

Carve out a route

If a new pathway is beyond budget, a cheaper way to make walking to the front door pleasant is to frame the passage with fragrant and colourful bedding plants. The Royal Horticultural Society suggests lavender, pansies and petunia to add pretty summer colour, while primroses, snowdrops and winter heather will withstand chillier months.

Add a house number

With home deliveries for every item becoming more popular, it's wise to clearly display your home's name or number. From classic brass numbers to modern personalised and illuminated house signs, it's easy to find an address placard that suits any home entrance. It doesn't have to cost a fortune to look impressive – this vibrant and decorative stained glass house number is in fact made of cost-effective sticky film.

Display hanging baskets

Hanging baskets are probably one of the most popular floral additions in front gardens. Hung up by front doors or on corners, the suspended container arrangments lift the eye up, increasing the illusion of height. Great for both shady and sunny entrances and paired with the right plants, they can potentially bloom all year long.

Plant a tree

A front garden tree makes a pretty statement and is a practical idea if you’re looking for a touch of impressive greenery. Planting in pots will keep a tree manageable as well as protect house foundations from destructive and fast-growing roots. When planting into the ground, be sure to choose a variety that’s suited to the soil, light exposure and space. Magnolia, dogwood and small fruit trees are just some varieties that will bloom.

Paint exterior walls

Go one step further than painting the front door with a painted exterior wall that will make the building stand out from the crowd. This soft blue looks subtle yet fresh paired with white windows and a picket fence. The similar-toned front door and painted window box marries the visage with charming attention to detail.

Light up the entrance

As well as security lighting, consider ambient additions that will not only guide you up the garden path but inject a delightful touch of colour, too. These solar-powered lights on a stake create a dandelion effect at dusk that's stylish, subtle and enchanting.

Hide ugly bins

Bins are unfortunately a necessity but are also eyesores that clutter up front yards and driveways. However, there are ways to camouflage wheelie bins from view that could add some kerb appeal in the process. Privacy screens, wooden enclosures and raised planters filled with fragrant shrubs will hide unsightly rubbish containers and maybe even mask some smells.

Opt for topiary

Give your front garden an ornamental look by turning your hand to topiary. Shrubs and bushes neatly trimmed into curvaceous balls, twisting spirals or even interesting creatures will conjure up kerb appeal fit for Bridgerton's Mayfair streets.

Tidy it up

A tidy entrance will not only increase saleability if you're looking to list your home on the market but offer an organised and smart visage to visitors and passersby. Remove any clutter, sweep and clean doorsteps and paths, then ensure exterior entrance walls are free from cracks or signs of decay.

Smarten the driveway

If you’re lucky enough to own a driveway, there are lots of ways to ensure it looks its best. With various surface options to choose from, including loose gravel, concrete, bricks or paving, you should keep it all clean with regular de-weeding or pressure washing. Soften the harsh exterior by adding a floral border or installing decorative spot lighting.

Add elegant cladding

Not only does cladding add a protective element to your home, it can greatly affect your kerb appeal for the better. Treated wood is the classic choice, but now thanks to new technologies, composite versions are said to require less maintenance. Colour and mounting direction come down to personal preference – country cottages tend to stick with classic white, while coastal properties look the part in calming blues and greys and contemporary or Scandinavian-style buildings look ultra chic adorned in smart black.

Brighten up security lighting

Taking steps to make sure your home is secure and protected against unwanted visitors is vital, but who says you have to install a harsh and unattractive security light? Contemporary LED lighting will ensure your house is protected while offering ambient and attractive highlights. Pair the effect with motion sensors to conserve energy.

Mount decorative shutters

Exterior shutters make an attractive asset to homes with large facades or those inspired by certain eras when such window dressings were a necessity. These days they’re less used for protection and more for decoration. Elegant outdoor shutters will instantly lift the look of a property when painted with a complementary tone.

Use natural assets

If you want to soften your exterior with natural colour, there’s no doubt climbers will complement your kerb appeal with trails of charm. Wisteria, clematis, passionflower and honeysuckle are all colourful plant species that love to climb sun-drenched walls, gates and trellises. It's important, however, to do your homework. Some climbers, if gone unchecked can seriously damage the structure of a house. Complete the look by painting your front door or fence in matching hues.

Celebrate the seasons

Wreaths on the front door at Christmas to celebrate Advent are a common sight, but what about hanging wreaths filled with eggs at Easter or pumpkins during Halloween time? Celebrate the seasons with beautiful adornments to add some bling to your home like this beautiful arch.

Makeover the porch

A porch can be of huge benefit to a home by creating extra space, reducing heat loss and adding some extra security. Whether you have a wrap-around veranda or a small but enclosed design, an orderly and well-decorated enclosure will make an attractive asset and extension of the home. Thanks to the roof overhang, you can decorate your porch with cosy accessories, textiles and even seating that will be protected from the elements.

Invest in durable lighting

Choose external lighting made from materials that can withstand outdoor elements while complementing the period of your house. It should direct visitors to the front door with a welcome glow. Adding lights with built-in sensors will ensure you save energy, too.