Win a 1-night stay for 2 at The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences in London’s Mayfair

6 ways to bring charm to your home’s exterior

By Adrianna Johns   |  

Revamping the outside of your home — regardless of the budget — is an essential part of improving the overall look, saleability and value of your property.

Whilst deciding the changes to your home’s exterior can be relatively challenging, the key is to maintain a similar style throughout the inside of your home to the outside — by keeping the same sort of look, the newly revamped exterior will not appear out of place.

Choosing the right exterior enhancements can significantly improve the look of your home’s curb appeal, which is why making the correct choices are extremely important before starting the process of revamping.

A detached house with garage in England
Revamping the outside of your home — regardless of the budget — is an essential part of improving the overall look, saleability and value of your property

Improve your windows

A quick way of bringing a sense of change is simply by updating your choice of windows as it can dramatically transform the overall look, especially if you believe that they are outdated and in need of change.

Considered as the eyes of the house, windows can alter the personality of your home and you don’t need planning permission to make any alterations as there are permitted development rights you can choose in order to make necessary changes.

Although you could find many shapes and sizes that appeal to you, finding a replacement that protects the inside of your home from the changing climates is an essential element to consider, which is why we suggest traditional sash windows as they are all sorts of weatherproof, as well as elegant and secure.

Change the finish

There are several reasons why you may desire a new exterior finish and whilst the most affordable option is to simply paint the walls, it may not give you the same dramatic difference that cladding would potentially offer.

To choose the correct cladding, or paint, ask to have a range of samples and ensure that you analyse them at different times of the day, as changes in light can alter the appearance of the look — before choosing your final cladding, remember to make sure that it is suitable for your property as some materials tend to be heavier than others.

Traditional sash windows are an attractive period feature common to many Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian properties. Image credit: Sunlux Sash Windows

Add some shade

Whether you are the type of person that enjoys spending time outdoors or not, having a place to sit for some fresh air can add a sense of luxury that will enhance the look of your home’s exterior.

Whilst you may have a porch which needs an update or you may be wanting to build one to add character, you should consider how it can be more practical for you — an enclosed porch can have an impact on the natural light that flows through your door so why not modernise it by introducing a sun canopy for your house?

Not only will a sun canopy bring you shade on warmer days and protection from the rain and snow during winter, but it can be retractable so that you decide when you want your porch to be enclosed or not.

Replace your door

Change the style of your door for an immediate impact — you can paint and refurbish the one you already have or choose an entirely new door for a quick change.

When it comes to door styles, there are an endless array of options to choose from, although this can seem like a very daunting and intimating task when you’re not sure exactly what you want.

You could look for inspiration around your neighbourhood to see what could match or you could be contemporary and choose a door that stands out to brighten the look of your home’s exterior — regardless of what you choose, you need to consider the safety by choosing a secure door.

Perhaps the easiest way to create a fabulous front door space is to add greenery

Lighting is key

When bringing charm to your home’s exterior, lighting is essential as it can bring definition to the front of the building.

Once again, think about the style of your home. If you have a traditional-style home then you could hang a traditional gas lantern, whereas a modern home can be lit up beautifully with motion-censored wall lights.

Transform your driveway

If you are lucky enough to have your own driveway, then an ideal — albeit pricier — way of changing the look of your home exterior is to give it a makeover.

Gravel is a staple favourite amongst many for several understandable reasons — it is more affordable than other landscaping options, the noise can be heard easily which can be a deterrent for intruders and it works well as a drainage system when preventing flooding issues from happening.