In decades past (the 1950s immediately come to mind), homeowners took a great deal of pride in maintaining the exteriors of their homes and making them as welcoming as possible. With today’s busy schedules, this has somewhat fallen by the wayside, but having a welcoming, approachable home is still important! If you would like to get back to basics in this regard, you’re in the right place. As you read on, you’ll see five great ways to make your home’s outside entry the perfect focal point once again.
- Design a courtyard – Even a tiny courtyard area can make a big difference in the appearance of your house. You don’t have to have a great deal of space to make this happen in your front yard. Even just planting a few hedges and adding a small, rounded path with a casual water feature will give the look of a courtyard, no matter where you live. If you do have the room to create a large, airy courtyard outside your home, of course, there’s no reason you shouldn’t take full advantage of this option!
- Add a basement garage – If you have an unfinished basement you never use, one relatively affordable option is to convert it into a garage. This hides the garage under your primary living space, reducing the clutter that could pile-up in your driveway, and making your home look more welcoming overall. It may also give you additional square footage on your main floor, depending on how your house is laid out right now.
- Build your garage away from your house – This is an especially good option for people who live in the rural Carolinas and own quite a bit of acreage. If you have space to, consider constructing a garage that sits away from your home. Not only will this bring the focus back to your porch area, but it will give you the opportunity to build a large garage that has plenty of room for storage in addition to parking your family’s vehicles.
- Have plenty of lighting – Porch, walkway, and driveway lighting are all absolutely crucial when it comes to making people feel welcome on your property. If you currently lack proper lighting, adding it can make a massive difference in how your home looks and feels. Consider choosing light fixtures that fit with your personal style. This way, the aesthetic of your house will be seamless from exterior areas to interior spaces.
- Add decorative details – If the main problem with your house is that it has a bland, cookie-cutter appearance, adding some decorative detailing is likely to change its look completely. Depending on the style of your residence, you may want to consider adding modern elements, like pallet wood planters, or traditional accents, such as gingerbread detailing, around your porch and garage.
No matter what ideas you have to elevate the look of your North Carolina or South Carolina home, the team at Hatch Homes is here for you. We love working on exterior projects of all kinds, and we are excited about hearing what you’d like to do to make your house fit your vision. Give our office a call to schedule your initial appointment.