How to Boost Your Home’s Kerb Appeal

Whether you want a low-key cottage or a sparkling modernist jewel, the techniques for creating a frontage that will dazzle and charm are essentially the same. Ensure that the design is consistent and harmonious right down to the smallest construction details.

If you want to create a striking impression by using contemporary architecture, pick a designer who knows how to deploy the right bold, innovative features.

Equally as valid is the traditional approach but the same attention to proportion, balance and the construction is necessary if you want your house to stand out from the crowd.

Front garden kerb appeal

Before you reach the actual building there is usually a garden to cross, which should complement and frame the front elevation.

The boundary treatment on the edge of the pavement presents an opportunity for some design flair and whether hedge, wall or fence it should be well-maintained and inviting.

Though they may give you a feeling of security, full height steel railings are best avoided because they appear unfriendly and institutional.

With a striking traditional frontage, a clear driveway and green landscaping, this property oozes kerb appeal. The renovation of this period residence was headed up by Concept Eight Architects

Often the garden gate is the first physical contact with the property so it should be well-made, easily opened, in tune with the character of the house and pleasing to the touch.

Where possible, pedestrian and vehicle routes should be separated so that the landscape design around the garden path is the right scale for people.

The footpath should lead directly to the front door which, depending on the context could be a rectilinear straight line or have a gentle meander.

Flowerbeds, changes in paving and features such as an arbor – an arched framework with climbing plants – can help to mark the route. Waste bins should be out of site, either by locating them elsewhere or putting them in a walled compound or box to hide them from view.

Learn more: Products and Services for your Garden Space

If space is tight it is still possible to introduce some colour and greenery with window boxes and potted plants to contrast with essential hard landscaping. If you are no fan of gardening there are plenty of alternatives.

But if you want to keep things interesting, large swathes of one paving type should be avoided, especially featureless tarmac. Materials such as pavers and gravel can be arranged in geometric patterns with more expensive products such as natural stone incorporated to add a touch of class.

A good way to express your personality is to pick some sculptures or ornaments.

Invest in quality materials

It is worth spending a bit more to put better quality window, doors and materials on display where they will be most visible. If this stretches your budget, money can be saved by using cheaper versions for more private elevations on the side or rear of house.

If an oversized door isn’t quite right for your home, try pairing a feature unit with matching panels and glazing, like this wow-factor entrance by Urban Front

The blend between materials and finishes will also play a role in the success of the design. Bricks tend to have a very strong character and texture, so they work well with more neutral window and door frames.

Renders can be used in bright colours to make a splash, or given subtle colours toned in with the openings, gutters and facias.

Add dramatic features

Design decisions must be made with conviction and followed through if you want to make a dramatic statement. A symmetrical facade can look classic and spectacular provided the positioning of all the openings and proportions is spot on, with the rooms behind windows adjusted accordingly.

If there is a risk that the two sides will be slightly different and make the house look skewwhiff, it is better to go for a bold but well-balanced asymmetry.

Stairwells and galleried spaces make a wow-factor point of entry into a house, but can also be used to provide a focal point on the outside. They provide an opportunity to add tall vertical glazing which can be taken up beyond the eaves of the roof.

It’s an excellent way to signpost the location of the main entrance, as well as making the building stand out.

Choosing a front entrance

The front door is one of the most important features of house design and hints at the tone of the interior design. Its scale and proportion should be appropriate to the rest of the elevation, but also impressive – perhaps by being wider and taller than the surrounding windows.

If you don’t want the door leaf itself to be large, it can be surrounded with side and top lights to increase the size of the opening.

In a similar way if there is to be a porch it should be consistent with the rest of the front elevation, with cupboards to hide clutter such as shoes and coats. Bespoke ironmongery such as letterplates, handles and door knockers can be used to add a touch of elegance and panache.

Consider lighting

Many designers concentrate so much on how a house looks in daylight that they forget how it can be made to sparkle at night-time, or when the weather is overcast.

Pillar lights can lead the way to the front door, which in turn can be illuminated with a hanging lantern above it, plus down and uplighters either side. Curtains and blinds can allow the interior light to shine through and create a variety of effects and colours.

Don’t overdo it

There are one or two features that could undermine your attempts to compose a frontage with maximum kerb appeal. Large double or triple garage doors spoil the proportions of an elevation, because they are of such a different scale to the other openings and so will only look acceptable on a very large house.

To avoid this effect either split them into single doors with pillars between or place the garage at 90 degrees to the road with the doors facing towards the side.

As you approach a house a small, obscured glass toilet window right next to the front door is unsightly and is better to locate these facilities out of view. There usually has to be space for cars on site but if you want to show the house off at its best all the time avoid putting parking spaces right by the front door.

Having created a house with striking kerb appeal ensure that it stays that way with regular maintenance, weeding and cleaning.

Ensure your roof looks immaculate, with uniform tiles or a tasteful blend. These slates are from Cupa Pizarras and fit well with the character of this stone abode

You’ll walk through your front garden, or down your driveway, almost every day of the year, so ensuring these areas are as well-presented as possible makes sense if you want to enjoy your home to the full.

It’s also a great way to increase the value of a property (not to mention make the neighbours jealous).

Clean, repair & declutter

Take an objective look around to identify jobs that need doing. Blocked, overflowing  guttering not only looks bad but can lead to water ingress and maintenance issues, so clear it out and replace broken sections if necessary.

Cracked or missing roof tiles should also be replaced to prevent bigger problems further down the line.

Wiping down dirty fascias and soffits can give a house an overnight facelift (many larger window cleaning firms offer this service). Your home’s main facade can also be washed, but be as gentle as possible as high-pressure water can damage certain materials; loosening mortar, for example.

What’s more, the patina of age is a desirable feature, especially on period houses, so think twice about removing it if it’s not doing any damage.

Declutter by pulling out weeds and removing fallen leaves, and consider concealing your wheelie bins behind a willow screen or in a timber hide.

And don’t forget the driveway and paving – give them a wash to blast off algae and other grime that could make the surface slippery underfoot.

Finishing touches for the front door area include replacing or polishing the ironmongery; adding decorative window film to side lights and over-door lights; and replacing door names and numbers with modern versions.

Paint, render & masonry

Timber window frames and front doors (as well as elements such as metal railings and wooden fencing) benefit from a new coat of paint every few years. This isn’t simply to make them look better but also to offer a coating to protect against the elements.

Keep an eye out for cracked or damaged masonry, which could lead to damp problems inside.

Repoint brickwork where necessary (the rule of thumb is, if the mortar has recessed to more than its height, then it needs attention), and use masonry filler to repair minor cracks and holes in render before finishing with a coat of masonry paint.

Always apply products that are suited to the age of your property – older homes were built with porous lime render and mortar, so they’re not a good match for non-breathable cement.

Larger projects

Replacing dated front and/or garage doors can have a transformative effect. Look for companies offering matching products to create a neat, unified look – try Urban Front for its contemporary oak ranges, for example.

While modern units can refresh the look of some older properties, houses with a very definite period feel (a 1930s semi or rural barn, for example) tend to look better when paired with styles that match their original features.

A new driveway is a serious investment, but one that can make a profound difference to your home’s exterior. However, large amounts of paving can have an effect on drainage if it’s non-permeable.

“Look at how to create a balanced front garden, with sufficient beds for drainage or a soakaway,” says Claire Blake, head of domestic product management at Marshalls.

Clever design can make a uniform driveway less boring. “There’s a trend for using different products together to break up the space, such as natural stone setts in small areas combined with concrete – for example, a pathway can be done in an unusual material,” says Claire. “Walling, edging and even a water feature can all make a space flow properly.”

From a quick lick of paint to more involved projects, these ideas will boost kerb appeal.