Many homeowners turn to landscaping to improve their home’s curb appeal and increase its resale value. Even if you aren’t trying to sell your house, boosting curb appeal can make your home safer, lighten your mood when you arrive home, and impress your friends and neighbors. Of course, the exact landscaping designs will vary by home, but there are many common factors that can boost the appearance of any home.
One of the easiest ways to improve the curb appeal of a home is by adding lights. In addition to making the home look more welcoming, adding outdoor lights can deter crime by reducing the number of possible hiding places for potential burglars. Solar lights are available in many different styles, and often give off six continuous hours of light without increasing the homeowner’s utility bill.
Edging a driveway is another way to make the yard look more structured and put-together. Many homeowners opt to edge the driveway with decorative landscaping stones or bricks, though others prefer making borders of decorative gravel. The landscaping stones and gravel borders can also be placed around flower beds or sidewalks to tie the overall design together.
The yard under trees is often bare due to the shade and tree roots blocking the sun and monopolizing nutrients from the soil. To make a visual impact on the lawn, homeowners can surround the tree with premium mulch. Using the same mulch as in flower beds will help keep the unified theme of the lawn, while insulating the soil and protecting the tree roots from the elements. It is important to not mulch too deeply, as deep mulch may smother the roots and attract pests. Two or three inches of ground cover should be sufficient.
Once the homeowners have completed the landscaping, they can update the mailbox and house numbers to complete the transformation. These simple changes can usually be completed in an afternoon, and the results will make the home look well-maintained and cared-for.