Exterior Paint Projects That Boost Curb Appeal

If you are looking to improve the outside look of your house, that classic idea of curb appeal, there are few projects as simple as painting that makes as much of an impact.

Not sure about how to paint exterior features, or what kind of paint you need? Don’t worry, any of these projects can be done with the standard exterior paint you can get at the hardware store. Most are likely for wood, but some may require a paint formulated for metal. It’s not like you’re going to need a specialized fluoropolymer coating to get the job done.

Exterior Walls

Of course, this is the obvious one. Actually repainting the outside of your house can create a completely new curb appeal look. It’s a relatively straight-forward (though large) job if you have wooden siding on the house, but it’s still an option if you are dealing with various other forms of cladding, siding, stone or even brick.

Your Front Door

Well, painting your entire house may not fit with your time frame or your budget. Surprisingly, you can really make an impact by just painting the front door.

While you’re at it, you may want to update the handles or lock sets to something more stylish to create a sophisticated entry to the house.

Shutters

Another way to add a pop of fresh color to the facade of your house is to paint the window shutters. Actually, doing the front door and the shutters together presents a great look. You can either go with a shade that blends in with the wall coloring, or pick something with a bolder contrast for some added interest.

Don’t have shutters? You can get a similar update by just giving the window frames a touch up instead.

Decks

For a deck in the backyard, this isn’t going to be a great help for curb appeal but any patio or deck in the front of the house is going to look fabulous with a new coat of paint or stain. Choose a color that contrasts with the house to make your woodwork stand out.

Lights

People often overlook the light fixtures outside their house when considering a painting project. Whether they are wall-mounted fixtures next to your door, or a lamp post out at the end of the driveway, you can freshen up worn metal fixtures with paint. Even if you just stick with classic black, a new coat of paint will make everything look new again.

Outside Painting Tips

Before you crack open your can of paint, you should make sure you’re ready to tackle your job. First, give all the surfaces to be painted a thorough cleaning, and sand down and really rough patches (if you are dealing with wood). Metal surfaces should be free of rust too. Have a proper ladder if necessary too. Trying to get the top of the porch painted while balancing on the edge of the picnic table is a risky plan.

So there is nothing stopping you from choosing your favorite colors and giving your home a face-lift.