Enhancing curb appeal – landscaping for beginners and dummies
Here’s a guide to enhancing curb appeal and landscaping for beginners and dummies. It’s no secret that a well-manicured lawn can attract future buyers in the event that you decide to put your house on the market. But what exactly does a ‘well-manicured lawn’ entail? Is it simply keeping the grass cut and the weeds from slithering onto the sidewalk? Well, yes and no. Adding curb appeal plants & flowers to your home improvement project is easy—if you know what you’re doing. Here we break down a few simple steps you can take to making your landscape all the more curb perfect to up your home’s market value. Our blog on enhancing curb appeal and landscaping for dummies will include starting points.
Install outdoor lighting
A lot of times, people will only see your home as they pass by on their way home from work, which often times is after dark. Adding outdoor lighting to your landscape design will emphasize your aesthetic and architectural detail and, not to mention, boost your home’s curb appeal. Also, outdoor lighting plays in a role in your home’s security factor, protecting against both unwanted guests and falls especially in the front yard.When installing outdoor lighting, it is important that you have a focus rather than just scattering a few lights here and there. For example, many people choose plants to feature the entryway to their residence with outdoor lighting, adding lights alongside the sidewalk to the front doorsteps.
Another suggestion is to incorporate some landscaping uplights to help highlight trees from below. Adding a fire pit can create additional light (when you have a fire) and add pizazz or a focal point in your landscape.
Give your planter beds a makeover
Give your planter beds a makeover with a few simple gardening tactics, like pruning, pulling weeds, spreading fresh mulch and planting new flowers. If you don’t have a border around your planters, or if your border is looking a little worn out, consider outlining the beds with stone, brick or decorative cast-concrete. Clean and precise edges give the appearance of an overall well-maintained and neat lawn.Adding a variety of colors like pink flowers or white flowers can do wonders to your flowerbeds. Flowers in the spring are a joy to see and perennial plants will come back year after year. Ground covers are a great option to cover a large area of space like in side yards. Some plants need full sun while others like shade so definitely do your research.
Enhance the entryway
Another way to add curb appeal to your residence is to incorporate simple garden gates of fence panels. They are as easy as putting a kit together, or if you’re feeling creative, you can even make then from scratch with a few pieces of wood and some gate latches.
Spice up your landscape
If you want to get a little artsy with your landscape, add some outdoor art! This can include birdbaths, sculptures, fountains, wind chimes and more. Be sure to select weather-resistant products to avoid rusting or deterioration. A water feature like a waterfall or koi fish pond if you are feely truly extravagant.Obviously there are an array of other tricks and tactics you can incorporate into your home and landscape to increase its overall market value, but these ideas are easy and should get you on the right foot when it comes to revamping your curb appeal! These landscaping tips should help you create a beautiful landscape in no time! Start small with 1 or 2 landscaping ideas and before no time you will have a beautiful design to share with your friends, family, and neighbors.
Check out our other blog post of increasing home value for curb appeal
References: www.bhg.com