The first impression of your home is based on how it looks from the outside. While many home improvement projects focus on interior design, we explore ways to enhance exterior colour schemes and kerb appeal.
Setting the Scene: The Street View of Your Property
We know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but we all do. It’s in our nature to form opinions based on a first glance. So, how can you enhance the street view of your property without spending a fortune on a full renovation?
Firstly, consider the style of your home and its location. Any work to improve the façade should take into account the period of the property and the materials it has been constructed from. What works on an urban street of Victorian terraces is different to a country cottage or contemporary self-build.
It is also worth noting the neighbourhood. Is this a street full of bright, bold front doors where a monochrome exterior looks out of place? Or will colour grate against the favoured muted tones? Equally, be aware that listed buildings and properties in conservation areas have restricted options and planning approval is likely for any changes.
Weekend Projects to Boost Kerb Appeal
You may want to replace windows and doors, but if you are looking for a weekend, budget-friendly project, we have five suggestions:
- Harmonise the exterior by cleaning sanding and painting the fence, gate, garage doors and/or wooden front door. Use the same colour or tonal variations to create a cohesive scheme or add points of contrast for visual impact.
- Add to your colour update with a new external post box that fits with the scheme. An external letter or parcel box provides another point of interest and offers a practical means of receiving mail.
- Build on your colour scheme by introducing plant pots and foliage. Opt for hardy plant species that look good throughout the year. If you have limited space by the front door, you could consider under the window planters.
- Weed and clean pavers, replacing broken slabs. Or, weed and add fresh gravel and/or border strips to pathways. Neat and even routes to the front door look good and avoid trip hazards.
- Update the front door ironmongery with a stylish knocker and handle, and a new number plate.
Most Popular Exterior Colour Options
Some streets are filled with bright exterior wall and door paints. Others feature impressive murals where creativity shines. However, across the UK the most common colours for windows, doors and other exterior features are:
White – providing a clean, light finish, white is a common option for window frames, front doors, garages and picket fences. Be aware that white finishes need regular cleaning, as dirt is visible. We offer a range of white letterboxes if you favour a minimalist look.
Anthracite Grey – RAL 7016 is a dark grey, which offers a stylish neutral finish that works on heritage and contemporary buildings. This colour is the first choice for most of our customers, so we have a wide range of anthracite parcel boxes and letterboxes.
Muted Grey-green – shades of light grey-green are widely used to add subtle colour to the exterior of cottages and heritage buildings as the colour compliments a wide range of building materials. Our post box collection includes muted green options including Wren.
Natural Wood – generally found on older properties, a solid wood front door and wooden window offer rustic charm. However, this option requires regular maintenance to retain a desirable finish. We don’t sell timber post boxes, however, we do have a few traditional styles that suit period properties including Bloomsbury.
Out of the Ordinary Home Exteriors
You may not want to stick with a popular choice. You might select a matt metallic entrance and aluminium windows for your home or go bold with a vibrant shade. Fortunately, you can pick up paints in any colour to reflect this choice across other exterior features. We can also supply coordinating post boxes for your house, check out the colour and finish options across our range.