Sometimes it’s easy to become so wrapped up in interior home comforts that we forget about the exterior. With a few simple steps, however, you can make sure that your house always makes the right impression …
In this article we cover:
- Five ways to enhance the appearance of your home
- How to make a good first impression
Step 1: Kerb appeal
When it comes to the exterior of a house, attention to detail is vitally important. If, for example, your external walls are painted, then it’s essential to have them repainted annually, paying particular attention to the paintwork around windows, as this can often appear faded.
Step 2: Garden
The last thing you want to do when arriving home is to walk up a weed-infested path. Make sure that, regardless of the time of year, your front garden lifts your spirits and those of your visitors. A neat lawn, clean pat h and well-chosen planting can improve the appearance of any façade. In fact, research conducted by the Horticultural Trades Association shows that a well-maintained front garden can add as much as €5,000 to the value of your property.
Step 3: Windows
Are your windows adding maximum appeal to your house? Regardless of whether your house is modern or period, replacing PVC windows can instantly add both aesthetic appeal and value.
Step 4: Knock knock!
A stunning front door – particularly a painted one – really can make a statement about your domestic style! In fact, research has found that a fine front door can add as much as ten per cent to the value of a property.
The right coloured door can definitely add personality to an otherwise ordinary exterior and, if you coordinate it with painted plant pots sitting outside, you’ll easily create stylish uniformity!
Glossy black will look great on grand, stucco buildings, but can be rather foreboding next to red-brick or on smaller houses, where soft greys, regal reds or even sunny yellows will work best.
Regardless of which colour you choose, make sure the door is neatly painted (several coats) and is adorned with a smart letterbox and doorknob. (Chrome is apparently now more popular from traditional brass).
Step 5: Hallway
Once you’re through the front door, you’re into the area of the house which ‘greets’ your visitors, it’s so important to get the feel of it right. The problem is that the hallway also has a practical function so make sure you have adequate storage to ensure that muddy boots and raincoats are all kept out of sight.
The flooring you choose for the hallway needs to be durable and easy to clean. Genuine wood floors will look and feel wonderful to walk on, and will also stand the test of time, while natural stone flooring will look stylish in both modern and traditional homes.
It can be difficult to get natural light into a hallway, especially if there are no windows. A glazed door can be one way of ensuring that optimal light can get into the area, but otherwise use wall uplighters and downlighters as these will highlight the ceiling and floor and will distract the eye away from the fact that the space is confined.
