I bought my house when I was only 23 years old and have worked very hard to update and maintain it both inside and out. In a short few years, I have built a new shed, changed the landscaping across the yard, updated gardens, and planted a lot of new grass.

Having a neat and tidy yard and entrance is important for a welcoming curb appeal and can add to the value of your home. Some easy ways to add curb appeal include:

1. Gardens: plant neat and colorful flowers that bloom different parts of the year. Tulips are great for spring, hydrangeas for summer, and mums for fall. I like hostas to add a pop of green the entire season. Use mulch to keep the weeds down.
2. Planted flowers in pots or buckets: flowers can be purchased cheap and are easy to maintain. The downside is that you must replace them each year.
3. Outdoor lights: solar lanterns and stake lights add interest and security at night.
4. Doormats: a cute doormat is welcoming and functional. I recommend going for the larger estate-sized doormats to look more elevated.
5. Lawn maintenance: the hardest and most important part of creating curb appeal. It took a few years of weed killing, seeding, and watering to get my lawn nice. Maintenance now includes fertilizing, weed spraying, and watering. I mow in alternating diagonals to create the golf course look. I also trim bushes and hedges once or twice each summer to keep them looking neat.
6. General house maintenance: it seems like being a homeowner is a constant list of things that need paint touch ups or cleaning. A pressure washer is great for cleaning stone and sidewalks. Every few years I wipe down the gutters and garage door with a bleach cleaner to get rid of discoloration and mildew. I keep extra paint for my house and trim colors on hand for those little touch ups. These little details make a difference!
7. Finish with seasonally appropriate decor: I like to keep holiday decor simple but love to add a seasonal wreath to the front door and add other decorations depending on the season. I like to use pairs of items on my front step to create a symmetrical and clean look.