Easy ways to upgrade your home exterior

From the inherent appeal of a period home to the wow factor of a well-crafted contemporary build, some homes look inviting and some… well, don’t. If your home is a bit of a blank box, there’s plenty you can do to add character without having to resort to a wrecking ball. Check out these visual tricks for adding inviting details to your home exterior.

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Key overview: What are the easiest ways to refresh your home exterior?

• Fresh paint: Swap out white paint for a more striking colour on windowsills or trims, or repaint your front door in a bold hue.
• Update the porch: Refresh your porch by giving old pavers a fresh coat of paint or adding new tiling.
• Add new lighting: New lights and planters can refresh outdoor spaces and be used to conceal or add appeal to bland areas.
• Update the windows by adding classic shutters or awnings.
• Add simple accessories like a bench or an egg chair.

Refresh your home exterior painting

A fresh coat of paint looks great, but the same colour used all over can make even the cutest cottage look dull. Instead, consider using contrasting colours to draw an expressive face over your home’s facade – try inverting the usual colour scheme by substituting white for a deeper hue on windows and trims.

A contrasting front door colour is an easy and cost-effective way to create a fascinating focal point. Dulux colour expert Davina Harper believes an interesting front door can be one of the warmest ways to greet guests arriving at your home. “But it is entirely up to you how bold or subtle you choose to go with this colour,” says Davina. “It can reflect the homeowner’s personality and really add to the overall street appeal.”

How to makeover your front porch

Give guests interesting features to attract their attention as they approach the entrance. Make the most of the front porch by tiling it with beautiful pavers, repainting or staining timber decking, or adding life to old pavers with a coat of paving paint – add a pretty stencil for extra flair!

Dress the entrance for success with accessories. Frame a formless front door with tall planters or a duo of charming carriage lights. Create a playful moment on the porch with a bench or hanging egg chair.

Update your window features

Like eyes in a face, windows are often the most expressive part of a home’s exterior. But if your windows are featureless rectangles, flush with the facade, there’s plenty you can do to add that missing layer of interest. Depending on the size and shape of your windows, hinged exterior shutters can be an achievable addition, bringing a new level of personality to a home while also helping to control light, heat and privacy. Fabric awnings are another easy retrofit – for example, a black-and-white striped awning that offers practical charm.

On the inside of windows, consider plantation shutters, which give a home Hamptons style and, when used on all front-facing windows, can transform the look of the exterior.

How to use plants to add kerb appeal

• Don’t underestimate the power of landscaping. Plants can hide all manner of architectural sins! Self-clinging climbers create a ‘seamless living wall’ directly on your home’s exterior, says garden designer Claire Talbot of Sculpt Gardens. “They attach themselves to a surface using aerial roots or small adhesive pads,” she explains. “However, they are best suited to structurally sound masonry or concrete exteriors. On painted or plastered surfaces, they may lift and damage the finish.”
• Consider training climbers up support structures. “Using tension wire, trellising or mesh held slightly off the facade protects the building fabric entirely,” says Claire. “Just ensure fixings are installed in a way to preserve the weathertightness of the exterior.” Star jasmine is an enduringly elegant choice that’s easily trained up wire or trellis, or in warmer, frost-free climates, Claire suggests the fast-climbing akapukaea – a New Zealand native otherwise known as the Three Kings Vine. Woody vines like wisteria or grape need a sturdier support, but could be grown up a pergola or similar structure – positioned to draw attention from the street. Check with your local authority if you need planning or building approval before erecting any new structure.
• Use plants for distraction. “When concealing less appealing parts of a building, evergreen shrubs are your strongest tool,” says Claire. “In morning sun or shadier positions, camellia is a refined choice. In sunnier, frost-free climates, hibiscus can work well. And Horokea (aka lancewood) is a great native option with sculptural foliage and year-round structure.
• Use greenery to add beauty. Plants can also add life to a bland building. “Fine-textured foliage ebbs and flows beautifully, even in a gentle breeze,” says Claire. “Cluster palms are a dynamic choice with slender fronds that elegantly catch the wind. For a specimen tree with similar movement, jacaranda offers fine, feathery foliage that shifts and dances – along with a spectacular flower display from late October to early December.”

Keep in mind…

• Take care when selecting your plants as some can be poisonous to children and pets, and check their suitability for your area, as some may be classified as weeds in certain regions.

Want to give your home exterior an easy upgrade?

Follow our step-by-step guide on how to paint a front door.

Photo credit: Dulux, Adobe Stock, Johnny Valiant, Gap Photos/Robert Mabic. 

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