Curb Appeal Ideas: How to Makeover an Outdated Porch
I helped homeowners, Zach and Erica, with their exterior design dilemma. They needed curb appeal ideas to update this family house. The outdated house needed a facelift but they didn’t know what to do with it.
In their own words, they thought their house looked the worst on their block. But I've come to fix that!
Curb appeal ideas
1. Before
The couple told me that they envisioned the space to be brighter and lighter, and I could see they loved the farmhouse style. I definitely agree the dark space should be lightened up. The front of the house sort of disappears because it’s so dark under the eaves.
2. Concept
I thought the porch could use wrapped cedar columns. Replacing the existing siding on the front of the house with board-and-batten siding would add so much light. I also suggested adding some beautiful window casings to add a custom look to the house. I also wanted to paint the front door a sage green.
Finally, adding farmhouse-style lights to the wall pulls together the rustic look. This design helps pull the eye all the way around the front from left to right and up.
3. Porch floor
Back when Erica was a little girl, her mom had a great idea to paint a brick look on the porch floor and it took weeks to finish. But now, Erica wants it gone so we covered it over with gray porch paint.
4. Cypress wrap
This is the cypress we wrapped the columns with and we decided to go with the rough side showing. We experimented with stains that would go with the three colors I’m using on the porch, which are sage, white, and gray. The wood would have more UV protection when it’s stained with a darker color.
5. Board and batten siding
We took off the old siding and installed the board and batten. The vertical lines of the board and batten break up the long front.
6. Original siding
We repainted the original siding with the same white paint used on the board and batten.
7. Window
The vinyl siding came right up to the edge of the window. We added framing to give the window special detailing.
8. Columns
The original columns were wrapped in aluminum and they were just dingy and nothing special. We took off the aluminum and rewrapped them with the cypress wood. The cypress wood wrapping is larger than the columns to give it some heft.
The columns are also detailed with simple molding at the top and bottom. I opted for a lighter stain because I know that the wood will change color and deepen over time.
9. Porch lights
The original lights were too high up and they were too small for the space. I lowered the new farmhouse lamps, which were also larger than the old lights.
10. The door
Brown and yellow together are not such a great combination. But that was the original door. The new, soft green flows with the other colors on the house.
11. Landscaping
The landscaping needed to be super, super simple. I decided to pull three simple plants across the front of the house.
12. Planters
I stained the planters for the front door just a little to contrast with the white backdrop. The ferns give the entrance a pop of green.
13. Accessories
We put in a mix of modern, traditional, texture, and color all in that one small area to draw your eye in. I love the modern chair set and traditional faux wood stump side tables.
Curb appeal ideas
In a week’s turnaround, the whole look of the house changed. Adding curb appeal does not have to be a major and disruptive renovation. What do you think of this curb appeal facelift? Let us know in the comments below!
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