When designing a home, many people tend to focus on the interior design. While the interior of your home is very important and where you’ll be spending the vast majority of your time, that does not mean that you should completely forsake your exterior. The exterior of your home will create a first impression for your guests, and you want them to enter your home with a positive mindset. That is why real estate agents preach the importance of curb appeal regardless of whether they are trying to flip Detroit homes for sale or Malibu beachfront property. The importance of your home’s exterior design is universal and is important regardless of location. So how exactly should you go about decorating the outside of your home? Here are the top five tips for decorating your home’s exterior.
Greenery
One of the best ways to decorate your exterior is to increase the amount of greenery outside your home. This is relatively cheap, and can add an explosion of color to your outside decorations. There are many ways you could go about this, as you could plant new trees or start a flower garden. Different trees and flowers blossom differently and bloom into different colors and at different times. All are beautiful, but there is some personal preference, and certain greenery may fit in better with the rest of your exterior. In the end, pick which ones you like best and make you the happiest. Be warned though, although greenery may be relatively inexpensive, it still takes a lot of work to plant and grow. Be prepared for a commitment, but the end result will be well worth it.
Decks and Patios
The biggest part of your exterior design is going to be your deck or patio. In a sense, your deck and patio area is almost like another room and should be designed as such. This means that it should be complete with furniture and decorations, just like any other room in your home would be. In addition, your deck and patio has to be functional so it can host events. It is here where you will entertain guests during barbecues and cookouts. Your deck and patio has to have a lot of things going for them, as they need to be good looking, comfortable, and functional. If there’s one area that you absolutely have to invest in for exterior design, it should be this one. Sprucing up your deck and patio area can go a long way in improving your home’s exterior design.
Lighting
Believe it or not, exterior lighting can have a major effect on a variety of different features of your home’s exterior. For example, a home that lacks exterior lighting will be almost invisible at night, meaning many of your design choices will go unnoticed. This can be combated by different light fixtures such as lampposts or garden lights. However, design isn’t the only concern when it comes to exterior lighting. Safety is another thing that you should be considering when lighting your home. The darkness of the night can be dangerous, concealing different things or making it hard to see where you are walking. Falls could be common in the dark, something that can lead to a huge headache for you. Due to this, you should ensure that all your driveway and walkways are well lit at night not only as a design choice, but also for your safety and those who visit.
Driveways and Pathways
The driveways and pathways that lead to your home will likely be the first thing that people see when coming to your home. It is because of this that you should ensure that it is looking as good as possible. As mentioned before, you should ensure that it is adequately lit and bright enough at night. In addition, you should make sure that it’s clean and well kept. Finally you can add some finishing touches by adding some decorations or outside pieces that will really stand out and look nice. You want people to enter your home with a positive impression and feel welcome, and that should start the moment they drive onto your property.
Windows and Doors
Another big part of your exterior design are your windows and doors. Your front door is the gateway to your home’s interior, and as such should be clean and well designed. A good front door can go a long way in welcoming guests into the interior of your home. Windows play a different role as they hopefully won’t have people entering them, but they are still important nonetheless. Windows will dot your home’s exterior and could make up a decent chunk of the surface area. It is because of this that it is extremely important that they mesh with the rest of your exterior and are kept clean. If something seems off about your exterior and you’re looking for some subtle changes, try cleaning or replacing your doors and windows.
