So, where do you start?<\/p>\n
Improving your home’s appeal is as simple as giving your yard a little makeover, fixing the fence or simply slapping some paint on it or adding a stone veneer or wall cladding<\/a> to liven an exterior wall. Of course if you want to make bigger changes, you can opt for a more more drastic makeover – all this depends on your budget, time and lifestyle.<\/p>\n We decided to put together an article outlining a few simple (and nifty) ideas on how you can quickly improve your front yard and create a better first impression for all those who pass by.<\/p>\n The easiest place to start sprucing up your front yard is actually the most obvious: i.e. doing a bit of spring cleaning. You see, regardless of how recently you\u2019ve tidied up your front garden, there is always something more that can be done to beautify it.<\/p>\n Here are some simple checkpoints: Are your windows spotless? Have the weeds been pulled? How’s the grass looking: dry, too long, patchy? Does your furniture need to be cleaned or replaced? Take a good look at everything and make some executive decisions.<\/p>\n You can also transform your front yard by doing a few simple things like: Sweeping the pathways, fixing torn screens, trimming hedges, cleaning the gutters, throwing away any junk that has accumulated in the front yard and mowing the lawn. Take a good look at the actual house: Does it need a touchup paint job? If so, get it done. If you’re on a budget, a trick of the trade is to spruce up the trimmings with fresh paint: it might not seem like much, but it makes a huge difference!<\/p>\n Yes, cleaning up your front yard requires work. However, you can do most of it yourself by applying some elbow grease and taking the time to get it done. The best thing is that most of these tasks won\u2019t cost you a cent and if you want to be extra productive, get the whole family involved!<\/p>\n Another simple way to spruce up your front yard is to look at your pathways: are any of them cracked or broken? If yes, then either fix them or replace them. Alternatively (if you don\u2019t have any pathways) perhaps it\u2019s time to install one? A pathway is an excellent way to divide your outdoor space<\/a> and guide your guests around your garden, not to mention a perfect way to protect the natural vegetation from trampling foot traffic.<\/p>\n A pathway can provide a clean entrance to your front door and you can use pavers or cobblestones, stepping stones<\/a> or pebbles<\/a> to easily create one. Pathways have a way of drawing a person’s attention to a focal point which means that if other parts of the front yard still need to be tidied, people will focus on the pathway rather than those unsightly parts buying you more time to fix them. In essence, a pathway is a quick fix that adds another dimension to your yard.<\/p>\n As your pathway leads to your front door, if your doorsteps are tiled and in need for some TLC and re-tiling, make sure you get onto this quick-smart. The landing to your home sets the tone for your entire yard. You can even get creative and design the tiling to contrast against the path to make a point of difference. Finally, replace the old mulch surrounding the pathway with a fresh batch. This can make a huge difference to flower beds and allow the bright flowers to pop against the earthy backdrop.<\/p>\n The fences you have installed may do<\/em> the job, but do they look<\/em> the part? If the fence seems a bit haphazard and disjointed from the rest of your home’s aesthetic and design, we strongly recommend replacing it. A timber picket fence can give your home a more traditional “Australian Dream” backyard look. Alternatively, if your home has a more modern or contemporary aesthetic, use stone or wall cladding to give your home’s parameter a rustic look. Either way, the fence is generally the first thing people see so if it looks shabby, chances are that your visitor will also have a shabby first impression of your home. While you\u2019re at it, do you need to replace or update your letterbox and\/or house numbers? These features may seem only insignificant details compared to the big stuff, however, they can really change a person\u2019s perspective and first impression of your home. Just think about how many times you’ve stopped to appreciate a beautiful letterbox or easy to see house numbers?<\/p>\n Though you might predominantly have visitors call on your home during the day, let’s consider everyone who drives or walks past your home at night (not to mention all the guests who visit after hours or when daylight savings ends and it’s dark at 5:30pm at night). There\u2019s nothing worse than a dark, dingy-looking home where you can’t see the next step in front of you – wouldn’t you agree? Luckily, fixing this is as simple as investing in some outdoor lighting. Whether it\u2019s lighting the pathway with landscape lighting, fixing the porch down-lights or adding some sconces to the front fa\u00e7ade: these little changes can make powerful statements. Lighting your front yard will add another magical dimension to your home and also make your passers by and visitors feel safe. If you have some trees or plants in the front yard you can also accent these with fairy lights. If there\u2019s no electrical points nearby, don\u2019t be discouraged, you can always install solar lighting: their light is a bit more subdued and they’re excellent for the environment so it’s a win-win-win solution!<\/p>\n Now that your front yard has the main features set and spruced up, let’s review your garden: is there enough greenery or foliage to create an earthy and welcoming space? If you don\u2019t have a lot of garden space, that’s okay! Adding potted plants can accentuate spaces and even make a statement. On the other hand, if you do have the garden space, add some garden beds with flowers or shrubs. This is where your creativity can really shine. Picking and choosing the types of plants you want, designing your garden and purchasing matching feature pots is an exciting and fun task. Before you get too carried away with the fun and creativity of it all, remember that the function of your front garden is to give a good impression and frame your house as the focal point. To achieve this, make sure that the elements you choose always complement your home and match its overall aesthetic and design. So if you have a modern home, choose greenery that is as elegant and contemporary as your exterior. If you have a traditional designed home, you can spruce up the space with older trees and romantic rose gardens. If you really want to make your front yard pop, add a water feature! You can buy these in a store and they are fairly easy to install. Water features give your garden a delightful focal point and add a point of difference from neighbouring front yards.<\/p>\nClean it up<\/h2>\n
Fix the pathways<\/h2>\n
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Stepping Stones<\/a> Create a Clean Entrance to Your Home<\/em><\/p>\nLook at the parameter<\/h2>\n
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\nWall Cladding<\/a> is an excellent way to tidy up your front yard fence<\/em><\/p>\nSpruce up the lighting<\/h2>\n
Add some greenery<\/h2>\n
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