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A lot of homeowners admit that they focus more on the interior design of their property, meaning the exterior often gets neglected. However, first impressions make a massive difference. The outside of your home sets the tone for what is inside. When you are choosing how to make the exterior of your home look good, you have a lot to consider. From hiring James Hardie siding contractor to redoing the walls and doors on the outside with an extra lick of paint, you can really change the way that you do things in your home exterior. You can make this as big or as small a job as you would like! A neglected garden and a faded wooden door won’t be doing your house any justice. If the exterior of your property is in need of a bit of TLC, consider some of the following DIY suggestions to make your home the standout property in the area.
Paint your front door – Simply painting your front door can make a big difference. Choose a color carefully; it should go well with the building’s paintwork, brickwork, and any other exterior work, as well as the style and age of the architecture. You could opt for a classic color, such a dark blue, black, or red. But if you are looking for something more modern, consider various shades of green or grey, or why not opt for a stunning duck-egg blue?
Change your roof tiles – One way to dramatically change the look of your home, giving it a sleek and striking appearance, is to change your roof tiles. There are many different options to select from. If your budget will allow it, you should consider a natural slate. If not, you can find plenty of great fiber cement slate alternatives. Other natural options include concrete tiles and wood.
Spruce up tired woodwork – The exterior of your home will never boast the X-Factor if your woodwork looks tatty. Use exterior wood filler and paint to spruce up wooden doors and windows. Of course, if you have uPVC or metal windows, you can also breathe life into these with a fresh coat of paint. If your windows are beyond saving, it’s a good idea to change them. Make sure you don’t decrease the value of your home by choosing inappropriate replacements. For example, putting casement uPVC windows in place of original wooden sash windows could decrease your property’s value.
Brighten up your home with window boxes – One of the easiest and most effective ways of adding color to your home is with window boxes. You can also use tubs and hanging baskets, which are filled with colorful bedding plants. This will revitalize your home’s exterior, give it a burst of personality, and put smiles on people’s faces whenever they approach your house.
Landscape your garden – Finally, it is worth allocating a portion of your budget to landscaping your garden if you are serious about giving your home the wow factor. You can take a look at these classy backyard ideas for inspiration. When landscaping your garden, you need to give thought to how the finished result is going to work with the rest of the improvements you are making. There are plenty of different options to choose from. Artificial grass has become a popular choice in recent years due to the surge in quality and ease of care. Low maintenance planting and bonded-aggregate driveways are also favorites at present.
These are some of the different ways you can give your outdoor space a beautiful makeover that will have a big impact on the rest of your home, enabling you to get more enjoyment from it. However, no matter how stunning your property is, one thing that we all crave is some privacy. When you are relaxing outdoors, whether on your own or with friends or family, you want to feel that you are doing so in peace and that you do not have people looking into your garden all of the time. So, let’s take a look at some of the different ways you can make your outside space more private.
How to make your outside space more private
Are you getting tired of the neighbors looking into your garden whenever you are enjoying a bit of relaxation in the afternoon? Perhaps you don’t have the problem of nosey neighbors, but your garden is located in such a place that makes it feel like you don’t have any privacy at all? If this sounds familiar, don’t fret, as we have some top tips to help you bring some privacy to your property’s outdoor area.
Put a fence up – Let’s start with the most obvious tip of them all, putting a fence up. A fence can give your garden a more polished appearance while also enabling you to benefit from more privacy. There are many different styles of fences on the market, and if there is only one part of your garden that makes you feel exposed, you may want to consider a chain link fence in the yard. This is a good option because it is a transparent fence, ensuring the sun still comes through. You can simply plant climbing plants up the fence at the part you want to be covered, adding beauty and giving you the privacy you need without making your garden feel dark and too enclosed.
Put up a pergola – Create your very own outdoor living room with a pergola. This is an investment that is definitely worth making. You can create your very own private destination within the garden for those sparkly summer evenings. This is a great way to add the wow factor to your garden while also creating a space for barbecues and entertaining friends.
Hang drapes – This is an elegant garden addition that will also give you the privacy you are aiming for. By strategically placing swaths of fabric over your outdoor area you can create a breezy coastal vibe and lots more privacy. This is also a budget friendly solution, especially if you already have an arbor or patio.
Grow a hedge – If you are looking for a natural solution to your privacy problems, why not plant a hedge? This may take a little bit more effort, but it will be worth it in the end. When choosing the right type of plant for your garden, make sure you consider the important factors, i.e. how often it needs to be pruned and watered, what type of light it requires, and how high it will grow. Classic choices for hedges include the likes or privet and boxwood. However, flowering bushes like laurel and rhododendron are beautiful and they can grow up to eight-feet tall.
Make a potted screen – A final suggestion for adding more privacy to your garden is to create a potted screen. Almost every type of plant can be grown in a pot, and this is a much more flexible solution than some of the options mentioned above, making it an excellent solution for rental accommodation. For maximum privacy, plant varieties of fruit trees, tall grasses, and bamboo.
If you use one of the five suggestions that have been mentioned above, you can make sure your garden looks beautiful while also benefitting from the added privacy you need. This will make a massive difference to your garden, ensuring you are able to relax and enjoy yourself in peace, which is something we all deserve, isn’t it? If you combine the privacy recommendations with the improvements that we have suggested above, you will be able to create an amazing and relaxing outdoor space that you can your family can enjoy. Plus, it is likely that you will improve the value of your property in the process as well, as improvements like this can make a big difference when it comes to home prices and property value.