4 Home Exterior Decoration Ideas for Savvy Homeowners

Creating a welcoming home starts with the exterior. Creating curb appeal has been trending online for years, but some of the ideas are so stale and mainstream that they’re hardly worth mentioning. There are, however, some ideas that you might not have heard about, so here are some of the savviest exterior decoration ideas that are twists on the tried and true.

Lighting

The right lighting can improve the look of your whole yard. You’ve probably seen the flood lights that are used to light up a large area and keep intruders away as well as the decorative landscape pathways lights that add ambiance and make it easier to find your way to the front porch. What you might have seen less of are up-light canisters used to illuminate the tops of trees. They’re sometimes used in downtown squares, but they also add ambiance to residential properties. This technique is great for illuminating the tops of tall trees or simply your street numbers at night.

Photo by Buffington Homes South Carolina

Water Features

Streams, ponds, and waterfalls are beautiful and calming additions to any yard. Koi ponds are a fun and have become increasingly popular in recent years. For a savvy and elegant twist on one of the most popular water features, you could create a stream under a bridge that leads up to the front of your door, instead. These will collect rain water, and you can add a pump to keep the water fresh and to create a small waterfall, too.

Photo by All Oregon Landscaping

Landscaping

You know that trees and bushes add dimension to both front yards and backyards, but you might not think you have much room for those additions if you have a large concrete patio for entertaining. However, concrete cutting crews can create holes in your concrete you can use to plant trees and bushes.

Photo by Sander Design Landscape Architecture

Fencing

While it’s rarely the first thing considered, the style of fencing you choose can set the tone for your whole yard. A white picket fence is a classic because of its clean yet inviting appearance, but you can also have a metal fence, which has a solid and secure tone. You can dress these up as well. For instance, you can combine natural stone with weathering steel, which forms a patina that has a rust-like appearance even though the material is actually very stable. The metal gives properties an urban look, and the stone adds texture.

Photo by SCJ Studio Landscape Architecture

There are many ways that you can decorate the exterior of your house. While these projects have functional purposes and are more expensive than painting your front door, they also add charm and uniqueness that will make you look like the savviest homeowner on the block.

Author Bio

Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.