Your home’s exterior is the key to making a good first impression, especially when it comes to attracting potential homebuyers. Not sure how to make the front of your house look good? Focus on improving any features that can be seen from the street, especially your:

  • Front door
  • Porch
  • Landscaping

Below, we’ve compiled the best curb appeal ideas on a budget.

16 DIY Curb Appeal Ideas and Tips

Easy Ways to Add Curb Appeal to Your Front Door

Your front door is more important than you might think. According to Deb Cohen from the Front Door Project, the front door is the focal point of any home. It shows a bit of a homeowner’s personality and style, and is the first thing people notice when they pay you a visit. Use the following tips to upgrade your front door and improve curb appeal.

Small Front Porch With Couch and Potted Plants

1. Paint or Replace Your Front Door

Painting your front door in a bright, complementary color will freshen up your home’s look with just an hour of work. But if your door is damaged, outdated or made of low-quality material, installing a new door will be money well-spent. Choose a door with windows or molding to add character.

“Even the most traditional homes look fabulous with a bold splash of orange, yellow, purple or green and it can take a home that looks ordinary and turn it into something extraordinary. All for the cost of a quart of paint and a little elbow grease. Of course, some homes do look fabulous with the traditional black or classic red door.”

Deb Cohen | The Front Door Project

2. Create a Frame Around the Front Door

With a few pieces of framing lumber or molding and some paint, a DIY doorframe makes a plain entryway pop and instantly adds front porch curb appeal.

3. Decorate Your Door for the Season

Celebrate the season you’re in by hanging a festive wreath on your front door. While holiday wreaths are the most popular front door decoration, you can easily find spring, autumn and fall wreaths at your local craft store.

4. Update Your Hardware

If your door knocker, knob or hinges look a little worn, update them, especially if your door is hard to close or the hardware has missing parts. You can find what you need at your local hardware store. And with several styles to choose from, giving your home a more rustic or modern look is easy.

“If your front door has small nicks and dings, you can fix these minor repairs by either sanding over the area that needs fixing, filling the dings with wood filler or even painting over it. A low-effort improvement purchasing a welcome or greeting mat to show house guests or potential buyers a clean start to your home. This option is extremely cost-effective and can provide a more ‘homey’ and welcoming feel. Lastly, make sure that all of your hardware is cohesive and up to date. The last thing buyers want to see is outdated and unmatching knockers and door knobs once your front door has been freshened up with a new coat of paint or a new finish.”

Brittany Stewart, Real Estate Agent | HomeLight

Effective Ways to Boost Front Porch Curb Appeal

Your front porch welcomes guests into your home before you even answer the door. Boost curb appeal with these front porch projects.

Wicker Chairs and Hanging Basket on Front Porch

5. Add Furniture or a Swing

You can add curb appeal by turning your front porch or patio into an outdoor living space. Simply stage a few chairs and an end table, and put out a doormat to make your house feel more inviting. A hanging porch swing is another inexpensive perk that potential buyers will love. Don’t have any porch furniture? Shop around online for some affordable options.

6. Stain or Paint Your Porch

If you have a wooden porch, consider staining it a new color. Have a concrete porch? Paint it a different color to give the outside of your home a fresh look. Just make sure the stain or paint you choose is weather resistant.

7. Add a Railing

You can easily upgrade your front porch by installing a railing. Not only will this add a visual element to the front of your home, but it also makes your house more accessible. Guests will have something to hold on to as they climb your porch stairs and make their way through the door.

Potted Plants and White Mailbox on Wooden Front Porch

8. Build a Porch or a Patio

Don’t have a front porch or patio space? Build one to add curb appeal. Two columns and a small roof over your front door add an interesting architectural detail that emphasizes your entrance and welcomes visitors into your home.

“Sprucing up the front entry is a quick, high-impact and low-budget way to enhance the curb appeal of your home. Paint your door a bold or bright contrasting color, then add some small details like a unique door knocker or wreath.”

Deb Cohen | The Front Door Project

Simple Curb Appeal Landscaping Ideas

The condition of your yard has a major impact on how guests or potential buyers will feel about your home. Tame your landscaping to boost curb appeal.

Gardener Trimming Shrubs

9. Remove High-Maintenance Plants, Trees and Bushes

Trying to sell your home? Many buyers will see complicated landscaping as a con due to the upkeep or the cost of making changes. Strip out any plants or bushes that need regular attention, and replace them with lower-maintenance options. Also, cut down any trees that are dead or pose a safety risk and plant new trees that fit the space better.

“Cut back overgrown shrubs and trees, removing any branches that block your home’s façade, address numbers, walkways, or windows. Stand in the street and make sure your entry is visible and inviting. Remove any plantings that block drivers’ views at the end of your driveway, too.”

Scotts Lawn Care

10. Plant a Flower Bed

The easiest way to add curb appeal through your landscaping is planting native flowers that don’t need much attention or perennials that will add color for years to come. Clear out any overgrowth and plant flowers in your front yard. If you don’t have enough room for a flower bed in your yard, install a window box to give your home a pop of color.

“With spring just around the corner, be sure to pick out some flowers to bring some color and life to your yard. There’s nothing more appealing to house guests and potential buyers than brightly colored flowers such as hydrangeas, impatiens and petunias.”

Brittany Stewart, Real Estate Agent | HomeLight

11. Fertilize and Maintain Your Yard

Everyone can appreciate a green yard. Take care of your landscaping seasonally by raking leaves, watering flowers, trimming overgrown bushes and weeding. Make sure to fertilize your grass to avoid brown spots, and watch out for puddles, which could be a sign of yard drainage issues.

12. Edge Your Driveway

Lining your driveway with stones, pavers or even flowers is a great way to add simple curb appeal. Depending on the border you go with, you can elevate your home’s exterior with minimal effort and money. Check out our favorite driveway border ideas on a budget.

Last-Minute Ways to Boost Curb Appeal Before Selling Your Home

If you’re happy with your home’s front door, porch and landscaping and don’t have much free time, focus on the smaller details. Use the following curb appeal tips to upgrade the outside of your home in just a few minutes.

13. Add Potted Plants

Show some personality with potted plants and hanging baskets on your front porch. Colorful flowers with a pop of green can go a long way in catching a potential buyer’s eye.

Ranch-Style Home With Potted Plants

14. Update House Numbers

Give your home a modern look by trading your old stick-on house numbers for trendy metallic numbers or a wooden address sign. You can make your own, grab new numbers from your local hardware store or even find affordable custom signs on Etsy. This small update makes a big impact while also making your address easier to read from the street.

Man Cleaning Siding With Power Washer

15. Power Wash Your Home’s Exterior

Power wash your driveway, sidewalk, patio and siding to give your home a fresh look. Check the areas for cracks or weeds, and then use a pressure washer to clear away stubborn dirt and grime.

White Mailbox Surrounded by Flowers

16. Upgrade Your Mailbox

Whether it’s on the street or attached to your home, a worn-out mailbox can make a bad first impression. Add DIY curb appeal by switching out your old mailbox with a shiny new one. You can put decorative house numbers on the mailbox or plants around the post as a finishing touch.

“If your mailbox is old and worn out, replace it. I see a lot of homes for sale where I can tell the seller invested in sprucing up the place but forgot to replace the shabby mailbox.”

Tony Mariotti, Broker and CEO | RubyHome Luxury Real Estate

Keep Boosting Your Home’s Curb Appeal Year-Round

Home maintenance is a year-round job that makes it a lot easier to sell (and make a profit) when the time comes. Check out these resources for more tips on keeping up with your home and preparing to put it on the market.