Cool Weather Curb Appeal

The kids head back to school, the leaves begin to turn, and the days get shorter and shorter. Fall is right around the corner, and with it comes the familiar procession of football parties, autumn gatherings, and holiday entertaining. Now is the best opportunity before the holidays to take care of last-minute curb appeal tweaks. Because winter gives your home a different appearance, we’ve put together a few tips on ways to improve a house’s off-season curb appeal.

Following the foliage

We often talk about how painting your front door a bold color can improve the appearance of the entire home, but it’s worth considering how it will look at night.

Curb appeal is all about making a great first impression when guests visit, but the summertime view – with leafed out deciduous trees and colorful flower beds – isn’t what your fall and winter visitors will see. When checking for spots on your house in need of touch up, be sure to closely examine eaves, windows, and porches that may be partially obscured in the summer by tree branches or plantings. Frequently, these areas on your home are subjected to more moisture and shade, which can over time cause damage to siding and trim.

Take a close look at your porches, steps, and railings. As the weather cools and – for some of us, at least – snow and ice arrive, your guests will be utilizing those railings for stability. Make sure they’re in good condition and that paint finishes still feel smooth to the touch. Garage doors are another hard-working area of your home’s exterior. Wood doors can be repainted, and aluminum doors can be power washed and painted for a fresher appearance.

Shorter days mean nighttime visits

As the sun begins setting earlier in the evening, it becomes more likely that your house parties will start at dusk. That means after-dark curb appeal – not to mention ease of finding the home and navigating your front walk – becomes more important in the winter months.

Step outside in the evening to see how your home presents itself once the streetlights are on. Is there adequate lighting around the front door and near walkways? Are house numbers legible from the street? If you aren’t ready to commit to wired yard lighting, solar-powered LED spotlights are an easy way to brighten up dark walkways or selectively illuminate trees and features of the house.

We often talk about how painting your front door a bold color can improve the appearance of the entire home, but it’s worth considering how it will look at night. Some strong colors represent themselves well when lit by incandescent bulbs, while others can turn a less-pleasing shade. If you’re considering changing your door’s color, be sure to test paint chips under the light of your stoop. If you’ve already done so but are unhappy with the color of your door beneath an incandescent bulb, try swapping it for an LED bulb with a brighter white output.