Have you ever experienced standing in front of a house speechless with awe? Wouldn’t you love for someone to feel exactly the same when standing in front of your home? It takes a lot of effort to achieve a look that will make people stop and gape at the beauty of your home. It can cost a pretty penny, too, if you’re starting from scratch.
The good thing is you don’t need to do a complete home exterior makeover to improve your home’s curb appeal. An upgrade to your windows and siding can be a good start towards significantly boosting your home’s aesthetics.
Replace Damaged Windows and Siding
Windows and siding play a huge role in your home’s appearance. Apparent damage to siding and windows can really age a home’s looks, detracting from its beauty. Even modern-looking designer homes can lose their appeal if the siding and windows are worn out.
If your home has a great design but has lost its appeal due to damage and age, then it’s a no-brainer to have your most immediate problems fixed and restored. Often, a simple repair and restoration project can bring an amazingly improved appearance of your home.
Getting your windows and siding repaired is a quick and cheap way to give your exterior a facelift. Sometimes, however, irreparable damage may have set in, or you may simply have gotten tired of their appearance — in which case, you’d be better off having them replaced. Just remember that when replacing your old windows and siding, you should pick out replacements that match the overall architectural design of the home.
If your home has a traditional design, then look for traditional window designs such as double hung or casement. The same goes for siding. If the home has a modern architectural design, then veer away from traditional siding or windows that will look out of place. You’ll need to find windows and siding that enhance the home’s modern appearance.
A lot of homeowners have the misconception that their choices are limited to what’s readily available on the market. Not so: quite a number of manufacturers today provide customization options that you should take full advantage of. It’s always a good idea to decide on a basic design and customize it so that it’s perfect for your home. By customizing your windows and siding, you’ll be taking a step towards making your home look unique.
Use a Window as a Focal Point
Every home needs a focal point, something that attracts attention. Windows make a good focal point as long as you choose the right design. This is where customization exhibits its benefits. You can customize the window to make sure that it captures the fancy of your guests.
When converting a window into a focal point, remember that its entire purpose is to draw people’s attention to it. Therefore, you don’t need to be too concerned about functionality. This is where the picture and specialty windows come in handy.
Use Siding to Add Texture and Depth
When choosing siding for your home, you should always remember to take the time to look at all the different options available. While it may be a good idea to go for something similar to the old siding when choosing replacements, you don’t need to. If you can improve your home’s curb appeal by choosing different siding, then by all means, choose something different. Don’t limit your options by thinking that your home had a perfect design when it was built. Explore your options — there are a lot out on the market. Today’s siding products come in a wide range of textures, finishes, and profiles that you can make the most of to maximize your home’s curb appeal.
Don’t Forget Your Personal Style
If you played a role in your home’s design and construction, then there’s a good chance that a part of your personality went into its design. This is good because every home needs to show the personality of its owner.
If you bought the home already built, then don’t fret. It is still possible to customize the home’s design to reflect your personality. Think of what you’d really like your home to look like and run with it. People have a tendency to be drawn to something with personality.
Other Ways to Boost Curb Appeal
In boosting your home’s curb appeal, you set your own limits. You can use every bit of available space to convert your house into the beautiful home you’ve always desired. Consider adding something to the home, like a porch or a deck. Think of ways to accentuate the design of your front door or entryway.
Most of all, don’t hold back on the landscaping. A beautiful garden will work wonders; great landscapes are bound to make people stop and appreciate the effort you’ve exerted into making your home the best in the neighborhood.
If you’re still unsure of how to go about your exterior improvement project, do not hesitate to consult a remodeling and improvement professional in your area who has a good reputation for making homes and buildings more beautiful than they already are.
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About the Author:
Dave Becker is co-founder and co-owner at Mid America Exteriors. He has more than 25 years of industry experience serving homeowners of Wichita, Kansas and the surrounding area. To do a home improvement project right, Dave and his team believe that honesty, hard work, and dependability are an essential part of delivering expert home improvement services. Dave enjoys sharing what he has learned over his career by writing articles about home improvement.
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