Five Cheap Ways to Make Your House Look More Expensive

Turning your house into the home of your dreams can be expensive and time-consuming, especially if your goals include changing the way it looks from the outside. If a full-on exterior remodel is still years away—or not in the cards at all—here are a few easy ways to make your house look expensive.

Deep-clean everything

Grungy siding and dirty windows hurt your home’s curb appeal more than you may think. If it’s been a few years (or decades) since you’ve done a thorough exterior deep-cleaning, it’s the perfect place to start. Renting a power washer is a lot cheaper than getting your house repainted (and besides, it’s fun). Make sure to hit your walkways and driveway, too—concrete looks much nicer when it’s not coated with gunk.

Make the right fixes

It may not seem like much, but simply taking care of minor repairs will make a huge difference in the way your house looks from the outside. Cracked walkways with weeds, damaged window and door screens, loose hinges, dead lightbulbs, and any number of other little things are quick and cheap to fix. You may also consider repainting your door and window trim for a fresher look, especially if it’s already peeling or cracked.

Update or replace your outdoor lighting

When it comes to aesthetics, lighting is everything. Changing the intensity and temperature of your outdoor lighting will change the way people see your house. This could be as simple as replacing harsh bulbs with softer, warmer ones, or as elaborate as designing an entirely new lighting system from scratch.

Change your front door

Repainting or replacing your front door is one of the easiest ways to change the look of your home without completely remodeling it. If you have a specific look in mind and enjoy a bit of DIY, try stripping and repainting your existing door (or one that’s new to you). It’s a relatively straightforward project that gives you complete creative control over the finished product. You don’t have to go the full DIY route if you don’t want to, though; just swapping your doorknob and adding a knocker will change the look of your front door for a fraction of the effort (and cost). Here’s a guide on the best and worst colors to paint your front door.

Spruce up your front garden

A colorful, well-tended front garden is guaranteed to make your home look more attractive. And don’t worry if professional landscapers aren’t in the budget—anyone, anywhere can plant a beautiful garden. Perennials are a great place to start because they keep coming back year after year; small trees, shrubs, succulents, and ground cover plants like clover or creeping thyme are also great. When in doubt, consult your state university’s extension program for region-specific planting and gardening tips.