Some homeowners are under the mistaken impression that curb appeal really only matters if they are planning to list their homes in the near future. This could not, however, be further from the truth. Curb appeal matters for a variety of reasons, only one of which is selling a home. For one thing, it is more pleasant to drive up to a house you love every day when you come home; aesthetically pleasing houses inherently bolster people’s moods. Secondarily, the better your property’s curb appeal is, the higher your property value is likely to be.
Figuring out how to boost your home’s curb appeal without spending an arm and a leg, though, can be tough. That’s where this guide comes in. As you read the next few sections, you will discover three things you can do to achieve better curb appeal through landscaping alone. It is truly amazing what the right landscaping can do for a property, as you’ll come to understand here.
Use appropriate foliage to hide eyesores
Nearly every homeowner has something he or she would like to change about his or her yard, even in naturally beautiful states like North Carolina and South Carolina. Maybe, for example, you have an unsightly electrical box on the front of your house or, perhaps, your neighbors have an unappealing fence that is an eyesore on an entire side of your property line. Cover these sorts of unsightly features with appropriate plants, such as hedges and large, green ferns. Do not, though, try to hide them with brightly colored blooms or eye-catching, tropical plants. That will only serve to draw attention to the problem, rather than detract from it.
Play-up your home’s best features
Even the most modest houses have at least one impressive feature. The right landscaping can be used to accentuate the very best things about your property without adding a great deal of maintenance. If, for example, you have large windows that line the front of your house, plant flowering shrubs that will only grow to the height of the windowsill. A row of these will instantly draw the eye. Or, if your house features a winding walkway to the front entry, play it up with stunning seasonal plants. Curved paths can add significant visual impact to a lawn.
Don’t over-complicate the design
If you’re looking to enhance your home’s curb appeal with landscaping, keeping things as simple as possible should be your goal. Not only will this make it easier for you to maintain the look of your front yard over time, but it will be more affordable both upfront and down the road. Remember, though, uncomplicated doesn’t have to mean boring! English gardens that are filled with colorful wildflowers native to your region, for instance, are colorful, aesthetically pleasing, and relatively low-maintenance.
Before you start doing any major projects to boost your home’s curb appeal, make a point of consulting with a landscape designer who works in your area of the Carolinas. He or she will have good ideas for how to update your yard without blowing your budget and will know precisely what plants are going to work best on your property. Many landscapers offer hourly consultation services, so you should be able to find someone who will work with you, even if you are on a tight budget.