Lookin’ good

Boost your home’s street appeal by giving the facade a facelift

the front of your home is like its face: it’s the thing your guests focus on when they first arrive, so you want it looking its best. It doesn’t matter if you’re planning a major renovation or just making a few tiny tweaks, there are loads of ways you can improve the street appeal of your home and wow the socks off your visitors.

1 What a transformation! Even if you’re not planning such a massive change, there are loads of tips and tricks to help you save on even minor improvements to your home.

Make your front door a beacon for your guests by painting it a vibrant colour, such as burnt orange. A deep colour on surrounding walls makes it stand out even more, while white trim on the architrave acts like a picture frame defining the two shades.

3 Contemporary homes with a neutral colour palette can seem a bit stark and uninviting. Soften the facade with a range of colourful foliage plants and flowering colour to add year-round interest. Centring a feature tree with an architectural element, such as the weatherboard wall here, ties the garden into the house, bringing the whole look together.

4 Kerb appeal starts at the street so make your front path part of the show. Break up the concrete with decorative pebble strips and, if you need steps up to the house, put a couple halfway up the path for a gentler transition from street to house. Border the path with strappy foliage plants, such as agapanthus and a couple of moderately sized palms.

You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression, so make yours count!

5 Improve your home inside and out by replacing old windows with Ecostar double-glazed units. The UPVC frames come in a range of colours and finishes that are very low maintenance, while the double glazing reduces heat transfer through the windows, saving on energy. It also provides a barrier to noise – perfect if your home is on a busy road!

GUTTERS Choose gutters that harmonise with your colour palette. Colorbond Windspray works well with the beachy theme. CHIMNEY CLADDING Sandstone cladding hides the ugly old chimney, creating a visual feature and saving on the cost of demolition. VERANDAH Create a more welcoming entry and an extra outdoor space by extending and covering the verandah. ROOF While you can refurbish an old tile roof, a new Colorbond roof in Shale Grey sets the style and will last a lifetime. WALL CLADDING Add contemporary lines by replacing old wall cladding. Given the time, and expense, of preparing to paint, it might not cost as much as you think. WINDOW Updating your windows? Order the new ones so they will fit in the old openings, reducing installation costs.