Great Idea

Improve Your DC Home's Curb Appeal

Make a good first impression by improving your home's curb appeal with these tips!

START BY TIDYING UP

Overgrown greenery, peeling paint, dirty light fixtures and walkways make a home look uncared for. Freshen it up with these steps:

  • Sweep it clean: Take a broom to walkways, steps, porch, rails and eaves
  • Clean windows, shutters, canopies and sills
  • Wash rails, doors and hardware
  • Remove clutter from your porch and front yard
  • Trim grass, bushes, hedges
  • Trim vegetation along walkways
  • Trim trees to a pleasing shape and size proportionate to the structure, don't block the home's façade and windows
  • Rake leaves, remove dead plants, weed garden beds and refresh mulch
  • Clean and repair storm and security doors as needed, touch up paint as needed
  • Repair fences and gates if needed
  • Repair porch, deck, stoop boards or concrete if needed
  • Have gutters and downspouts checked, clean and make repairs and improvements as needed
  • Check paint: Is it peeling, chipping or faded? Consider repainting, and be sure to follow DC Lead Paint guidelines

BEAUTIFYING

  • Paint: Carrying over from the first section, paint can make the biggest difference in the appearance of a home's façade. Choosing exterior paint and trim colors can be tricky, though. Refer to this guide by BHG for tips. Remember to compliment your exterior colors with interior colors and, if it's painted, choose a front door color that "pops."
  • Create a garden plan and implement it. For the basics on garden design, see this article by The Spruce, and lift some inspiration from their page on garden styles. It's likely you can make a few changes to your existing design and achieve great results! Use your exterior/interior color palettes to choose complimentary colors for your garden. The main color should match/compliment your front door color if it is painted.
  • Turn a critical eye to your house numbers and porch light. Are they dated and worn? Replace them with new versions that compliment your home's architecture. Here are some great house number and light suggestions from My Domaine. Replace the porch light bulb with a 3000k LED of approx. 40W

DON'T FORGET THE BACK

Your deck, patio, rear/side yard and other private outdoor spaces are super important to DC home buyers. Create an urban oasis and they'll never want to leave!

Rowhouses: Rear yards in DC have to cram a lot of practical and recreational use into tight spaces. Here's some inspo to beautify and increase efficiency at the same time:
Condos:  There are many ways to make your balcony into an inviting space: