20 Smart Curb Appeal Ideas for Your Most Welcoming Home Yet

Paint Your Front Door

First on your to-do list should be the front door—use it (with the right front door colors) to greet any potential buyers. "Let your front door speak to your home's style with a new coat of paint," says Kelly. "A beautiful front door color can completely refresh your home." You can go with a tried-and-true classic like black or charcoal, or pick a bold hue like bright red or yellow.

Replace Your Mailbox

It's all about the details, so if your mailbox is rusty or looks like it's going to topple over, it might be time to bring a new one in. Go with a color scheme that matches your house, and remember that your mailbox should be placed 6 - 8 inches back from the curb.

Update Street Numbers and Door Hardware

"Replace your street numbers," says Christina Salway of 11211 Interior Design. "Don't underestimate the impact of little details like swapping out junky old street numbers for something fresh and modern. It can be transformative and only takes about $15 and 15 minutes!" The same can be said for door hardware (doorknobs and door knockers).

Give Garage Doors a Lift

In many neighborhoods, garage doors dominate what you see from the street, but they often lack the detail or depth of the rest of the home. One fix that requires zero commitment (and almost as little effort) is temporary or magnetic decorative hardware. Accessories like handles, hasps, and faux window panels add interest and remain secure, says DIY expert Jenna Shaughnessy, creator of the blog Jenna Kate at Home. Try some magnetic hinges and handles ($14, homedepot.com).

Garage doors are also paintable, and shifting away from basic white (or worse, dingy whitish) can have a huge impact. Paint the garage to match your siding so it blends in (it can help that sometimes-eyesore disappear), or opt for the same contrasting shade as your front door.

This can be a weekend project if you use fast-drying exterior semigloss paint, like Sherwin-Williams SnapDry Door & Trim Paint. ($91, sherwinwilliams.com). Some door finishes may require a coat of primer first; ask at the store if you're not sure. Save this project for mild, dry weather—not humid or rainy—so the paint can dry properly.

Create a Grand Entrance

Want to go big on the curb appeal? Add structures at the beginning of the path to your front door—an arbor, a trellis, a gate, or even a pair of columns with planters—to frame your front entrance. This fresh and verdant display of hydrangeas gives this home a brimming-with-life feel that makes you want to step inside and explore.

Add Potted Plants

Plants can breathe some life into a space and make it seem lived-in and well-cared for. "Varying heights of annuals or perennials grouped together at either side of the walkway can make a huge statement for your curb appeal," says Thee. And adding flowers can be a cost-effective way to bring a burst of color to your entrance.

Do a Thorough Cleaning

Cleaning your home's outdoor living space, like the porch and patio, can also do wonders for your curb appeal. "Power-wash or hose down your exterior, driveway, and sidewalk," says Leslie Ebersole, a real estate agent for Baird & Warner in Illinois's Fox Valley region. Sponge down your porch furniture with warm water and a little dish soap.

Create a Cohesive Color Scheme

Consider your home's paint colors when you're choosing plantings (or vice versa). Choosing flowers or bushes that coordinate or match your paint colors (and each other) can give your home a polished, sophisticated look.

Refresh Your Outdoor Furniture

Any outdoor furniture that's old and in need of repair should be tossed out or updated. "Try a quick coat of spray paint on front porch benches or outdoor seating to freshen it up," Thee says.

Illuminate the Front Path

Don't rely on a single post lamp or garage-mounted floodlight. "A clear path to your front door adds warmth and provides security," says Gena Kirk, vice president of design for the development company KB Home. Rather than flanking the path runway-style, tuck solar-powered spotlights into garden beds and aim them along the walkway.

Change Out Your Light Fixtures

This can instantly improve the look of your home, both day and night. "Exterior lights are worth a little extra investment since they get quite a bit of abuse from the elements," Cohen notes. "Inexpensive fixtures and hardware may show wear more quickly and need to be replaced much sooner."

Choose brass or copper fixtures, which are typically more resistant to corrosion than aluminum ones; Hubbardton Forge and Rejuvenation offer sturdy picks trusted by architects and designers.

Add Lighting to Parts of the Yard or House

Think of a specimen tree, the front porch, or a neat row of shrubs. Angle a spotlight or "bullet" light toward the canopy of a tree to add depth to your lighting scheme.

Or try moonlighting. "This is the opposite of uplighting," says Blythe Yost, cofounder and head designer at Tilly, an online landscape-design company. "Place fixtures in trees so they shine down on the pathway and lawn for a soft, natural glow."

Bring in New Bark or Stone

Mulch or pebbles doesn't just give beds color and contrast—it also helps prevent the spread of weeds and keeps the soil moist. Avoid dyed mulches, which can contain contaminants, and go for simple materials native to your region, like tree bark or wood chips in the Northeast or crushed shells in Florida.

"Layer about 2 inches of fresh mulch onto your beds each spring; it'll break down throughout the year and provide vital organic fertilizer for your plants," Yost says.

Spruce Up Your Shrubs

As for pruning, if your shrubs look "leggy," or show more branches than greenery, they likely need some extra snipping. "You want to bring light and air to the plant so it grows on the inside as well as the outside," Yost says. "This will make it denser and fuller." It's best to prune manually, using very sharp tools; motorized pruners simply skim the surface, which can lead to blocked light and poor air circulation.

Granted, not every shrub in your yard has to be pruned. Popular hedge plants, like boxwood, holly, taxus, privet, and cherry laurel, do become lush and neat with regular pruning, but other favorites—like junipers, spruces, and cedars—generally don't respond well to it. Talk to an expert at your nursery or do a quick internet search to find out how much maintenance your plants require.

Balance the Garden Beds

The prettiest gardens are full of layers. Ideally, find a mix of evergreen and deciduous plants of different heights and textures. Put the tallest in the back and the lowest in the front.

"Consider plants with a vibrant impact, long-lasting blooms, or interesting foliage," says Missy Henriksen of the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Daylily, hydrangea, and lavender are some of the easy-to-grow, flowering plants to elevate your home's curb appeal.

Plant Around Eyesores

If you have a street sign, a curbside mailbox, or just want to hide your garbage cans on the side of your house, create plantings that can help disguise or draw the eyes away from them.

Make the Path to Your Door More Interesting

Rather than a straight path to your front door, let your bath meander through your yard—and add decorative rocks or statues to add variety to your plantings.

Put Out a (Stylish) Welcome Mat

When it comes to making your home more inviting, putting out a welcome mat is a no-brainer. It can add a little extra panache to the entranceway—and help keep dirt out of your house, too.

Add Window Boxes

Pretty window boxes can add an extra dash of color and style to your house—and add plenty of curb appeal to your house. They come in colors and designs that suit different house styles.

Deck Out Your Front Door

A seasonal wreath or other decorative element freshens up your doorway—and is an easy and inexpensive way to change up the look of your home. There are many front-door decor ideas that can make a big difference even if you're on a tight budget.