Upgrade Your Home For The New Year: Budget-Friendly Home Exterior Makeover Ideas

New year, new you, right? While you may be focusing on self-care or self-improvement, the start of a new year is also a good time to take stock of the state of your home and plan for any improvements you’d like to make. Maybe one of your goals is to spend less this year–no worries! We’re here with a variety of ideas for easy, budget-friendly home exterior improvement ideas that won’t break the bank or ruin your resolutions.

Why Update Your Home’s Exterior?

Anyone who is looking to sell their home knows how important curb appeal can be. And it’s true–an exterior makeover can attract buyers’ eyes and can even increase the value of your home. Those are great reasons to invest a little time, effort and money in your home’s exterior. But we think that everyone should love the home they’re with, and if you’ve fallen a little out of love lately, there’s nothing like a minor change in what you see everyday to spark joy and excitement again. Yes, we’re still talking about home remodels! You’d be surprised how much a little tweak or change can boost your mood, too. 

Now is the time to plan–let’s get to the suggestions! First off, even if a project doesn’t spring to mind, take a little stroll around your property to assess the state of your home. Note anything that looks old, dated, rundown, or otherwise displeasing. This could be an off color, style or texture, misplaced emphasis, or just basic upkeep and maintenance needs. It can help to walk around your neighborhood too, so you have something to compare your home to. Really look at the homes around you and note what you love, and what you don’t. Then, with fresh eyes, look a little more critically at your own home. But don’t get us wrong–this isn’t about keeping up with anyone, it’s about making your home the best it can be, but on a budget. Even small changes make a big difference. Here we go!

Clean, Repair, Maintain

All year long, the sun, wind, rain and snow do a number on exterior surfaces. Your home’s siding, roofing, entry doors, or gutters and downspouts could be left looking worse for wear. Oftentimes, you can do a quick repair or touch up to clean these surfaces and get them back to their original glory. Using a pressure washer is a great way to get rid of layers of dust, grime, and mildew. If you don’t already own one, you can easily rent or borrow a pressure washer and release that cleansing power on patios, walkways, the driveway, and other hard surfaces. Depending on your siding, you may also be able to use it (at an appropriate PSI, of course) to remove buildup and accumulated dirt. 

Once everything is clean and dry, you will likely start to see where peeling paint can be scraped and repainted, or where faded stain could use a fresh coat. You might also realize that you don’t love the color of your porch, trim or railing anymore, and take the initiative to repaint or refinish them. These are projects that take more elbow grease than cash on hand, and they’re so satisfying when they’re done.

Update Your Entryway

You can only do so much to the exterior surfaces of your home to jazz them up–you’re really sort of limited to vinyl siding, trim, and replacement windows. But the entryway is where you can really get creative. Decor items, pops of color, potted plants, a new door mat and more can all do wonders to beautify your space and show off your personality. Whether you opt for timeless or seasonal, a renovated entryway can be a little bright spot in your day. 

Once the area is looking just right, you’ll want to spend more time there. Consider adding seating and lighting options, and maybe even splurge for that teak, rattan, or wicker set you’ve had your eye on. Make room for a porch swing and occasional furniture. While clutter isn’t inviting, if you have the space, you can make a luxurious lounge zone, right on your front porch. If privacy is a concern out front, take the party to the back and focus on your patio.

You might also realize that you could use a railing, or an update to the existing setup. Beautiful wrought iron railings have a vintage feel, and traditional carved wooden balustrades are always a win. Whatever you choose to incorporate, just make sure it can put up with the weather conditions you typically experience, that it works well with your home’s architecture, and that it improves accessibility. This is also a great time to paint or replace an old mailbox and add a more visible and stylish house number plaque–make it easy to see and attractive.

Of course the highlight of updating your entryway is painting your entry door! Now you’re wondering “how to pick a front door color” and “what color should I paint my front door”–don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In fact, we wrote a whole article about it! Yes, it’s that important. The color you choose can go far to setting the mood and style of your home, and gives you a foundation to build off of in your ongoing improvements. If your entry door is looking less than ideal these days, and a paint job won’t really make up for it, then look to the experts at Fairview Home Improvement for the perfect entry door installation in Cleveland. While you’re at it, new hardware, like door handles, trim, and other metal accents can add flair and polish to the finished look. Just keep the style consistent across the board for best effect.

Landscaping Overhaul

There are countless changes and updates you can make to your home’s landscaping, even when working within a budget. The first thing to do is to check for any plants, shrubs or trees that are in less-than-ideal condition, that you don’t like, or that are posing a danger to your home or other structures. Then those either need to be pruned or removed–consult an expert like a local master gardener or certified arborist for this one. You can then focus on more general maintenance, like pulling weeds, mowing, string trimming, and edging.

Once you have a fresh palette to work with, look for places to add plants that can serve a purpose, whether it’s improving privacy, adding perennial flower power, or attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators to your yard. Consider using native species to add biodiversity and support your local birds, bees, and butterflies. This is a great time to plan to add new garden beds or expand existing ones–who needs that much lawn anyway? Adding an organically shaped planting border next to a walkway or driveway softens the overall look and can really go far to adding that curb appeal we’re all chasing. If you’re limited on space or aren’t able to change much, adding large statement pots on hardscaping, patio areas, porches or even dropped right into existing landscaping can provide those pops of spring and summer color you’re missing. Hanging baskets and window boxes are also great options for seasonal blooms that can help to accentuate your home’s architectural style and bring some whimsy.

This is also a great opportunity to add to your property’s hardscaping with a patio or porch update. If you have a space that isn’t used as much as it could be, maybe a patio cover or patio enclosure is just what you need to get out there, regardless of weather. A new set of patio doors can also make the space you already have more appealing and accessible while helping you to make better use of your property. And if landscaping leaves you lost and confused, you can always work with a landscaper or get help from your local nursery professionals.

Brighten Up Your Lighting

When was the last time you updated your home’s exterior lighting? Has it seen better days? Are finishes tarnished? Maybe the fixtures don’t even work properly anymore. Whatever the case, choose a theme and run with it. Coordinate new exterior lighting with door hardware and your house number for a cohesive look. A large, oversized fixture adds a warm and welcoming glow to your entry way, while also providing more safety for you and your guests. And adding a motion sensor or automatic timer means improved convenience and safety for you, while also reducing energy use–that’s a win all around. 

It’s small changes like this that can make your property feel new and exciting again, and give you the motivation you need to do larger projects this coming year. New lighting can also modernize or add vintage flair to your home, and you can position landscape lighting to accentuate the outdoor work you’ve done.

Swap Out Shutters

Modern homes often use shutters simply for ornament, not for functionality. But the right shutters can really make a statement and compliment your home’s exterior. Choose from designs like open louver, raised panel, board and batten and a louver/panel combo, and add an array of accessories to make them truly one of a kind. Shutters can play up your home’s existing features and bring a whole new vibe to your property. From Victorian or Arts and Crafts, to a Colonial or Farmhouse style and even Greek revival, you can find a decorative shutter that’s perfect for your home.

Your Cleveland Home Improvement Specialists

Well, there you have it! A wide range of options to help you upgrade your home for the new year! At Fairview Home Improvement in Cleveland, our goal is to help homeowners love their property and make the most of it. To that end we offer an array of services to add to your enjoyment of the space you already have. From patio enclosures and replacement windows to new vinyl siding and entry door installation in Cleveland, we can help you fall back in love with your home. Get in touch with our team of experts to set up an appointment to discuss your next home project!