5 Ways to add curb appeal to your home

Your home deserves to look its best – all the time. We often think of curb appeal in terms of selling a home and enticing potential buyers. But the way your home looks impacts you every day.

Coming home to a dwelling that’s drab and boring is kind of a bummer. But your home’s appearance can be inspiring and help energize your space – and your life.

Enhancing your home’s curb appeal doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Here are a few simple ways to give your home a fresh look.

Not all fountains can run year round. And larger fountains may be better off with professional installation. But no matter what fountain you choose, you’ll have a striking focal point that will give your home a unique flair.

Most people have mulch or gravel in their front beds. Usually mulch beds have a line cut with a spade to create the separation between yard and bed. And gravel beds often have steel edging. But these edges are a great curb appeal opportunity.

You can use rectangular pieces of stone to keep the mulch or gravel in place. Stones that are eight to 15 inches in length will give the yard a clean look and add character to the home. Your local landscaping supply store probably carries several color tones. Pick something that will work well with your house color.

One of the tricks of beautiful landscaping is different elevations. When everything is on the same plane, it can be boring.

A raised bed breaks up that monotony and adds interest to your landscaping. You can incorporate the berm into an existing planting bed or create one from scratch. Replant existing plants or add color to your yard with new additions.

A recipe for a beautiful berm includes a few shrubs, plus some perennials and grasses. You can also incorporate stone on the sides of your berm. That leads us to our next tip.

Stone in landscaping contrasts well with plantings and mulch. And if you find an interesting piece of granite or fieldstone with moss, it can make a nice addition to your landscaping. We recommend clustering the stones to create a natural effect.

Large stones can be heavy. Really heavy. So, you may want to get professional help with boulders unless you have access to some strong backs. It will usually take a little playing around with the stones to get the right look. The good thing is that a 600-pound rock can be maneuvered by rolling and leveraging back and forth. It will give two or three strong people a good workout.

Miniature Japanese maples with lacy leaves fit in this category and their bright red foliage is a showstopper. Weeping evergreens also have interesting looks. And plants that are variegated or have a nice bloom are great options, too.

Some nurseries cater more to this type of plant than others. In Kansas City, Family Tree Nursery is a good place to try. No matter where you get your plants, be aware of how big the plant will get and what kind of sun and shade it needs.

Don’t forget about interesting flower combinations, too. Using lots of color will give your home a bright, cheerful look. But remember that most flower pots will need daily watering in hot weather.

Take an objective look at your home. Do you see any of these often-overlooked basics?

Neatness is the key to curb appeal!

No matter your starting point, a better-looking home is within reach. Landscaping is a popular DIY activity, but experts are always available to help.