When your property is among hundreds of others on sale in your area, kerb appeal couldn’t be more important. Small damages, skipping repairs, and an unkempt-looking property can mean the difference between a sea of buyers and an empty barrel of offers. While many buyers are happy to make adjustments to a property if it means that they can knock off a few thousand pounds to their offer, most buyers are less willing to make investments in a property that looks as though it requires a lot of work. Additionally, many homeowners will look at the exterior of the property and the structure of the home to imagine what it could look like, meaning that an outdated kitchen is the least of their concerns. However, an unappealing exterior is certainly going to stop them from swiping through the rest of your property images, let alone booking a viewing.
So, if the exterior of your home is one of the most important aspects when selling up, then it is wise to think about your range of options to improve the exterior of your home. Luckily our uPVC suppliers know that there is an abundance of modern house exterior ideas that can help you achieve this, some on a budget and others that can increase the value of your home significantly!
Improve The Kerb Appeal With Our 8 Modern House Exterior Ideas
With hundreds of properties on the market, it is important to ensure that yours stands out from the crowd and with a few changes here and there and a touch of TLC, you can completely transform your property into a stunning and modern home. To lend you a helping hand, we have come up with our top eight home improvements for the exterior of your home:
- Front Door Makeover
- Revamp Your Windows
- Update Your Exterior House Colours
- Go Big And Get An Extension
- Enhance Your Front Garden
- Using Lighting To Your Advantage
- Hide Your Bins
- Maintain Fences
1. Front Door Makeover
The front door acts as more than just a security feature and provides the whole family with that “I’m home” feeling as soon as the car gets onto the driveway. This makes it one of the most important features of your property and can turn an outdated home into a modern design. There are numerous designs, styles, security features and colours that you are able to choose from, making it easier than ever to find a door that not only functions well but also enhances the features of the home. For example, you could either opt for a dark-coloured door on a modern home for a more contemporary feel or choose to match your door with your windows for a coherent look. It is important to take a few things into consideration when choosing your door, such as the style of your home, your personal preferences and whether you are planning to put your property on the market. These considerations are important because they can determine which door you choose. For example, if you are choosing to sell up, then it is wise to think about neutral colours that most homeowners would like.
Once you have decided on whether your property just needs a new lease of life or you would like to improve your chances of selling, then it’s time to think about the type of door you wish to install. There are many elements of a door that you will need to consider, such as the design, the colour and even the material. To help you make an informed decision and provide a host of front-door ideas, let’s break down each element of the door:
The Material
There are two types of materials that we would highly recommend for a front door; uPVC doors and aluminium doors. The reason for this is that they boast exceptional durability and reliability and offer a long life span. Just some of the many other benefits of these two materials include the following:
- Energy efficient
- Fire safe
- Reduces condensation
- Lowers energy bills
- Reduces noise pollution
- Improves security
- Elevates aesthetics
- Easy to maintain
- Adds value to your home
Unlike uPVC and aluminium, other materials, such as wood, are less likely to provide you with the necessary improvements that you are hoping for. For example, wood will require you to keep up with maintenance to ensure that the property is kept looking pristine, which will involve painting the door regularly. Not only is this time-consuming, but it can also become extremely expensive over time. Wood is also more likely to crack and warp with adverse weather conditions, quickly deteriorating the quality of the door, its efficiency and safety.
The Colour
When opting for a uPVC door, you have the benefit of a wide selection of colours, making it exceptionally easy for you to pair your door with your home as well as your preferences. Choose from vibrant colours such as bright red, pastel tones such as a dove blue or go modern with a black or dark grey finish. You are also able to choose from colours that mimic other materials, such as wood, providing you with your desired finish while reaping the benefits of the high-quality uPVC design door. You can find a host of ideas and inspiration for your front door colour over on Good Housekeeping!
The Style
As you can imagine, with a host of colours to choose from, means there is also a wide selection of designs for you to find your perfect door. Again, the style of your property and your personal style will have a significant impact on what door design will best suit your property and your preferences. The size of your door’s frame will also determine the style, as you may or may not be able to install a decorative window beside the door with ease. There are two main things which you will need to consider when it comes to the design of your door; do you go for a block look with a small detail, or do you incorporate a touch of glass?
Glass can be incorporated into the door in many ways, whether that be on the top section, a small window or most of the door. You can choose to have your window with patterns and intricate designs if you wish to add another level of character. This aspect of the door is most commonly used on houses with smaller hallways as you enter the property, as it allows some light to enter the home, giving a bright and spacious feel. Love Property has a beautiful selection of front door design ideas to give you an insight into how you can piece together your front door.
2. Revamp Your Windows
The windows are often referred to as the eyes of the home and provide you with an abundance of natural lighting which can instantly make the room feel bigger and brighter. Much like the front door, there are now an array of window ideas you can consider, from colours to styles and accessories. This makes it easy to not only find a window that suits your home and preference but also matches your front door. You can reap the same benefits as those listed above for doors, including a choice of uPVC windows and aluminium windows. The main decision you will need to make when it comes to choosing your windows is what style you opt for. These styles include the following:
- Casement – A window that is attached with one or more hinges on the side and opens either inwards or outwards from the centre of the window.
- Flush Fit – A more modern design, the flush fit window fits seamlessly with the frame for effortless elegance.
- Vertical Sliding Slash – Made up of two sashes and opens by pushing the window up or down depending on your choosing.
- Tilt & Turn – This is one of the most functional window types as you can pull the handle down to open the window at the top, or pull the window towards you to push the window out or in.
Once you have decided on the best window type and colour, it is then important to think about the glazing of the windows. In contrast, this is the second thought of all homeowners when window shopping; it can actually be one of the most important. Buyers are more willing to purchase a property and deal with a window style or colour for a few years before renovating as long as it has double glazing. The reason for this is that it can significantly reduce your energy bills, provide you with a warm home, reduce noise pollution and are extremely easy to maintain. Not only this, but double glazing can actually add an incredible 10% to your property’s value, according to Build Review. Double glazing can fit into all window types, and it is one of the most popular glazing options as it can impact the energy rating of your home. Energy rating goes from G (least efficient) to A+++ (most efficient), and the higher the rating, the more value it can add to your home. You can find out more information about energy rating and how it can save you money on Energy Rating Trust.
You can find a host of ideas and inspiration for the best window types on Homebuilding & Renovating, or you can find information on double glazing by heading over to Which? Take a look at our previous article for all the information you need to help you decide the material and colour of your windows!
3. Update Your Exterior House Colours
Perhaps you want to revamp the exterior of your house considerably; however, do not want anything out of your budget or significantly challenging, we recommend opting for updating the colour of your home! Updating and redecorating it by adding a lick of paint can incredibly change the value and aesthetic of your home, helping you either sell the house or feel like it is the right one for you.
It’s a quick, easy, cost-effective process that can completely transform how you and others see your home. You can either just add a touch of paint to areas of your home like your door, as we have already mentioned, or go full out and redesign the house of the exterior of your house! The cost will depend on the size and shape of your house but will always result in your happiness being lifted along with your home enhanced; try talking to your local house painting expert to get a whole idea of how much the process will cost.
4. Go Big And Get An Extension
Suppose you’re looking for something to change and enhance your home significantly. How about extending your house upwards or outwards to enhance the space, look and aesthetic of the exterior and interior of your home? You will need to check out the planning permissions for this type of project, as certain limitations may prohibit your plans from going ahead; the planning portal can give you all the information you need.
If you go through the planning application and get accepted, or don’t need to go through it at all, then you can get started on your new, modified home! You can either totally remodel the exterior of your home or just amplify the aesthetics of your existing home; for example, ensure you match the materials to the original house or go for a completely different look and material! For the finishing touches, make sure you contact our experts in uPVC doors and uPVC windows to completely transform your new extension and take it from 10 to 100!
5. Enhance Your Front Garden
While it is not a key selling point, front garden designs can have a significant impact on how your home looks and feels. For example, adding a few flowers to the front of the house can make it feel bright and welcoming. This project can be completed on a relatively small budget, and what you wish to complete will depend on how long it takes and how much you will have to spend. You can choose to add a few flowers to the front, create a masterpiece of sculptures or add a stone fence and pathway leading up to the home. We love some of the stunning front garden ideas on DIY Garden, and we highly recommend taking a look to get a feel of what you can achieve with very little.
6. Using Lighting To Your Advantage
Lighting has the ability to highlight areas of the home that need it the most. This allows you to highlight areas of interest, such as ivory crawling up the walls or lighting up your front porch. Not only can it make your property look modern and stand as a masterpiece at night time, but it can also function as a safety measure. This is a feature that many home buyers are looking for, and they are often willing to pay a little bit extra for that safety element of the home. While it can add a lot to the asking price, it can actually be completed on a relatively low budget, costing very little to install lighting and even security cameras if you wish. For some stunning exterior house lighting ideas, why not take a look at Love Property’s handy article?
7. Hide Your Bins
Bins can be an unsightly part of any home, and no one wants to turn up after a long day of work to see rubbish bins lying beside the home. Not only does this look unattractive and messy, but it can also cause other problems, such as foul smells or attracting rodents. One of the easiest and cheapest wheelie bin storage ideas to resolve this issue is to purchase a bin storage container or make one yourself using wood. You can find a host of bin storage over on Screwfix, which can also hold your wheelie bins for a smart and clutter-free front, or you can make your own by following Bunnings’ handy guide.
8. Maintain Fences
Whether it is at the front of the home or in the garden, fence maintenance will mean that potential buyers will not have to completely replace the fences when moving in. This will require you to wash and paint the fences to ensure that they have thorough protection from adverse weather conditions or mould growth. To maintain your fences, all you will need to do is head over to a local hardware store and purchase some wood cleaning solutions. Wash down the fence and then allow it to fully dry before moving on to the next step – if it has not dried, then any paint applied will crack or bubble. Sand down the fence if need be, and then wash again. Find your desired paint and paint over the fences allowing each layer to thoroughly dry before applying another for the best results.
Transform Your Home With A Stunning Exterior House Design
As you can see, there are multiple ways in which you can dramatically transform your house’s exterior design. Not only can this make your home feel more welcoming, but it can also help to increase your property value as well as attract potential buyers. Whether you have a small budget or would like to make major changes to your home, there is nothing a bit of planning can’t fix. If you are thinking of making an investment in your property, then please feel free to take a look at our uPVC supplies, including stunning windows, doors and even uPVC conservatories, or contact the team for more information if required.
