Budget-Minded Curb Appeal Projects – Mind the Porch

Improving your home’s curb appeal does not always need an expensive outlay or hiring a contractor. Highlighting and enhancing your home’s best architectural details with a few added features can garner that second look you want. Here is a quick rundown of some inexpensive upgrades to make your porch one of those standout features buyers look for in a home.

Hang a porch swing

Nothing says friendly neighborhood like a swing on your front porch. Installing a cozy swing gives you a place to relax and enjoy the view, chat with neighbors, and sip some lemonade on a hot summer’s day. Porch swings come in designs to fit any décor from traditional to modern. If your porch is large enough, look for a swinging porch bed or group swing so several people can socialize there at one time. Look for new swings at hardware and DIY stores or opt for an antique or farmhouse style from your local flea market. Paint your swing a cheery, glossy color to brighten up the outside or add a colorful cushion.

Set up a reading area

If you cannot hang a swing, consider setting up charming outdoor furniture as a place for children to read and while away a spring day. Benches, old church pews, or rush-seat wooden chairs painted to match add a delightful and cozy aspect to your front outdoor living space. Add a small side table for those early morning coffee cups and a potted plant to enhance the area.

Install Porch Curtains

An on-trend idea to add privacy and drama to your porch is to add outdoor drapes. These heavy-duty, sun-resistant curtains come in solids, bold stripes, floral, and other geometric patterns. Choose ones that complement your home’s colors and draw attention to the extended living space a front porch provides. Use them to block the sun or wind on any given day. Purchase only UV-protected fabrics with heavy-duty grommets that withstand the sun, wind, and rain. Install tie-backs to keep the curtains from blowing and catching on bushes or trees planted near the porch when the curtains are not in use. Your porch curtains can block the bright sun from heating your home on the hottest days of summer too.

Your porch is an integral part of your home’s appeal. Talk to your real estate professional about other ways to highlight its charms when preparing your home to show.