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Ellen Shares Quick, Inexpensive Ways to Increase Your Home’s Springtime Feel

Ready to shake the cabin fever? Not only is updating your home’s exterior a great way to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, but it’s an excellent opportunity to boost your home’s curb appeal. Ellen has some great advice on making your home look welcoming for yourself, for your guests, and for any potential buyers!

Tidy Up Your Yard

Ellen says the fastest way to boost your curbside appeal is to clean the place up! Gather branches and twigs dropped during winter storms, toss away any broken pots, and prune those scraggy bushes. Don’t forget to neatly coil any yard hoses; Ellen suggests a garden hose reel from your local hardware store to make yard-tidying easier. If you have kids or pets, it’s likely you’ll discover a toy or two lost during the snowier days – go ahead and collect these before it’s time to start mowing!

Start With A Fresh Face

There’s nothing quite like a new look to cure the winter blues! Touch up your outdoor living space with these easy fixes.

  • Paint Your Front Door. Welcome yourself – and any guests – home with a brand-new front door. If your front door isn’t in need of repair, then consider a new coat of paint to brighten up the place.
  • Tackle the Garage Door. Forget what’s hiding inside – you can handle that later. For now, just give that garage door a clean coat of paint. After all, your garage takes up a large portion of the front view of your home!
  • Update Your House Numbers. Make your home appear more cheerful with refreshed house numbers. Repaint the ones you’ve got, or purchase and paint new ones – just make sure they’re easy to spot from the road. Not only will this make it easier for guests or buyers to find your home, but also for any delivery drivers. Say goodbye to lost packages and late DoorDash orders.
  • Clean the Windows. It’s hard to enjoy the springtime view when your windows are spotty or dusty from winter grime. Cleaning inside and outside your windows is a subtle touch that goes a long way towards refreshing the face of your home.
  • Paint Your Shutters. Again, a little paint can go a long way. A new color on your shutters can lift the wintry mood and complement your home’s exterior. 
  • Spray Paint the Patio Furniture. Let’s face it, patio furniture takes a beating. Exposed to all weather elements year-round, the tables and chairs you have outside are quick to scratch, fade, and peel. Spray painting your outdoor furniture every spring is a great way to boost your curb appeal. Plus, you can change the color every year as you please! It’s a quick, inexpensive way to shake things up!
  • Soften Your Outdoor Seating with New Outdoor Cushions. Pick something fun and seasonal or opt for something classy – just make sure the color schemes match your home’s paint and your plantings! And, don’t forget to opt for cushions with a durable fabric that will hold up to outdoor wear and tear!
  • Quick tip from Ellen: If you need to buy new patio furniture or outdoor cushions, do it during the later winter months while it’s on sale. Once the warm weather hits, the pieces will be sold and the prices will rise! Check your local hardware store for some great options!

Say Good Morning to Mother Nature!

What better way to welcome spring than by sprucing up your landscaping? You don’t have to go all out to feel like winter is on its way out. Here are Ellen’s tips for quick and easy spring plantings.

  • Add Potted Plants. Don’t worry about your flowers getting mowed over or about grass choking them out – just place a few lovely spring plantings in pots along your porch steps.
  • Try Your Hand at Window Boxes. These look fabulous from the outside of your home – and from the inside, too! Try common spring favorites like petunias, geraniums, zinnias nasturtiums and begonias – or opt for something a little more modern and plant ivy, sweet potato vine, succulents, or even herbs (think sage, chives, thyme or mint)!
  • Invite the Birds. Add a birdfeeder or two and expect a range of lovely little visitors. Ellen recommends hanging a hummingbird feeder near a window for close encounters; other bird feeders are better off a bit further away from the windows to avoid unwanted messes. Make sure any birdfeeder you purchase is squirrel-proof, however. Squirrels, raccoons and opossums aren’t quite the visitors you want.

Styling Your Home For Spring

A few final touches will do wonders for your curb appeal. Don’t go overboard with outdoor décor, Ellen warns – too much can make your space feel cluttered and small. But, switching out a few porch décor items each season can keep your home feeling fresh, clean and festive.

  • Say Hello with a New Doormat. Winter doormats are probably worn out! Find something fun that reflects your personality to put the right spring in your step.
  • Replace the Wreath. There are plenty of spring wreaths that can replace your wintry one. Look for florals, sweet pastels or bright colors; the choice is yours! If a wreath at all feels too much like the recent holidays, then try replacing it with a small chalkboard. A personal welcome is a great way to greet your visitors – and even your mailman!
  • Upgrade Your Lighting. A new lantern will help brighten the mornings and evenings until that summer sun lengthens the days. Looking to avoid a complicated installation? Find a solar-powered lighting option from your local hardware store for ease and convenience!

Whether you’re sprucing up the place for your own enjoyment or for potential buyers, these tips from Ellen can make your spring curb appeal quick, easy and effective! Looking for more tips on home maintenance? Ellen is more than a great realtor – she’s your friendly neighborhood expert on all things homeowning. Sign up for her monthly newsletter here!