9 Ways to Improve Curb Appeal on a Budget    

Do you ever swoon over the perfect landscaping and elegant porch setups your neighbors have? Do you ever wish you had the extra time and money to increase your curb appeal? You’d love your house to be more welcoming, but unfortunately, your budget is needed elsewhere. 

We have a secret for you. Front yard curb appeal is entirely doable, even if you don’t have a huge amount to spend. The key is to add little touches and use them to build up to the elegant display you want. It’s easier than you think.

Whether or not you’re trying to sell your home this summer, house curb appeal can help you make the right impression on visitors and neighbors. Here are some great curb appeal for front yard landscaping ideas on a budget.

1. Give Everything a Power Wash Treatment

Pressure washing your front walkway, steps, porch, patio, and siding can be a low-cost (but highly effective) way to add curb appeal. After a good pressure wash, the paint will gleam, and everything should be dirt-free. You can rent a pressure washer at your local hardware store.

2. Paint the Front Door

Painting your front door is a simple and inexpensive curb appeal idea, and it’s an easy way to change the look of your whole house. You can even find “oops” paint at most hardware stores to get even more of a discount. Painting your door is an easy weekend task that can make your whole house pop.

Are you tempted to go bold, but you’re not sure how the final result will look? Many paint supply stores have apps that allow you to upload a picture and see what your house will look like with the new color. It’s an easy way to try out different colors before you commit. 

3. Switch Out Door Hardware

Now that you’ve painted your front door, it’s time to switch out the hardware. With fresh paint and new doorknobs, your front door will look brand new. For a budget-friendly option, simply remove your current door hardware and spray paint it with a paint designed for metal. It’s a quick and easy curb appeal idea for your front porch.

4. Hang New House Numbers

Large house numbers that are visible from the street do more than make your home look good—they’re also a safety feature. Clear house numbers help emergency services, delivery people, and repair technicians (as well as family and friends) find your house easily. Place another set of numbers on your mailbox or a pole at the end of your driveway or walkway for added visibility.

5. Hide the Eyesores

Every home has eyesores like electrical and cable boxes or air conditioning units stuck to one or more of its walls. An excellent curb appeal idea is to paint electrical and cable boxes the same color as your siding to help them blend in. You can easily camouflage an air conditioner with some wooden latticework panels or by planting a few shrubs in front of it. Just make sure you leave enough clearance so that the shrubs don’t grow into the unit or clog it with leaves.

6. Add Pizzazz to Your Porch with Faux Tiles

Do you love the look of the tile but not the price tag? For curb appeal on a budget, create a version of tile with concrete stain. You’ll need to clean the concrete surface and prime it for staining with some Quikrete BondLok or muriatic acid—make sure you use protective gear and keep the kids and pets away during this step. Then, use tape or a stencil to create the tile pattern and apply concrete stain in the color of your choice. SFGate has a more detailed description of how to make faux tiles.

Not a fan of tiles? We have a variety of porch decorating ideas you can switch out every season. 

7. Invest in Some Light Landscaping

Add curb appeal with landscaping to make your home shine. Flower beds are a great way to add some color to your front door and porch. Put in some new beds or spruce up existing beds with a fresh layer of mulch and a flat or two of bright, cheerful annuals or perennials. 

You’ll be surprised at how much these simple landscaping ideas can improve the look of your home’s exterior. Landscaping is often a great DIY project, too. Here are helpful tips on landscaping for beginners.

Planters are an easy way to add low-maintenance, front yard curb appeal if installing flower beds seems like a lot. Here are a few cool DIY projects for container gardens, and you can find unique planters to fit every budget at your local hardware or home goods store.

8. Add Outdoor Lighting

A new porch light can be a cheap way to dress up your front porch, and it’s an easy DIY project. Looking for neat front porch ideas that cost even less? Refresh the look of your existing porch light with a little elbow grease (to scrub off the gunk and grime) and a can of spray paint to give it new life. Use the same paint you used on your door hardware for a more cohesive look.

Adding solar or LED lights can be surprisingly inexpensive as well. You can add curb appeal on a budget with some summer outdoor lighting ideas. 

9. Install a New Mailbox

A mailbox kit makes it easy to install a new, attractive mailbox post right over the top of your existing four-by-four post. Do you have one of those wall-mount mailboxes by the front door? Replace it with a locking model to keep your mail safe.

Your home only gets one chance to make a good first impression, so make the most of it. Whether you’re trying to sell or just want to show your pride in your house, beautifying your front porch and yard can increase your home’s curb appeal and boost your property value. 

For another great way to save beyond curb appeal ideas on a budget, get home warranty coverage through American Home Shield. The easiest way to keep your home protected, as well as your budget, is to plan ahead. We offer affordable plans that include electrical warranties and coverage that protects your plumbing system, heating and cooling system, appliances, and more.

AHS assumes no responsibility, and specifically disclaims all liability, for your use of any and all information contained herein.

AHS assumes no responsibility, and specifically disclaims all liability, for your use of any and all information contained herein.