22 Curb Appeal Ideas for Every Budget

What’s the first thing a prospective buyer will notice as they walk up to the front door? First impressions matter, especially when selling your house. This is backed by data — homeowners who invested time, effort, and a bit of money in improving the property’s curb appeal saw a 7% increase in home value.

We’ll cover a range of ideas on boosting your home’s curb appeal, from budget DIY projects that take as little as an hour to high-impact, high-ROI renovations.

Quick wins under $100

Improving your curb appeal doesn’t have to be a costly affair. Here are some upgrades you can do for $100 or less.

Paint the front door

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for the overall impression it leaves on potential buyers. And if you choose the color correctly, it can significantly increase your home’s value.

Zillow discovered that a light blue-gray color is a crowd-pleaser, which can bump the value up by $1,537, on average.[1] Surprisingly, a black front door gives the highest pay-off — $6,449 on average, although some buyers say that it “doesn’t give positive vibes.”

The choice of color is yours, but there’s no question it’s a worthy investment.

Clean and declutter

Sometimes, you don’t need to spend any money at all to make your front yard and entryway look nicer. Organize trash bins, hoses, toys, and any other items randomly lying around into deck boxes, and you’ll see the difference.

Pressure wash

Pressure wash machine rentals run $90 per day[2] on average, which is enough to clean windows, walkways, and siding of dirt, grime, and other buildup. Clean hardscapes (e.g., patios, walls) will immediately seem more well-maintained.

Add planters

Front door planters are a wonderful way to make your entryway more inviting and instantly boost curb appeal. You can choose from flowers, evergreens, vines, and seasonal plants (pro tip: keep things symmetrical for an even grander effect).

Reassess your seasonal decor

Not all decorations are created equal — an old, beat-up wreath can hurt a first impression instead of putting visitors in a festive mood. While you don’t need to buy all new decor every season, knowing when to retire older items is a great skill.

Refreshing hardscaping & entryways

Missing stones in your walkway or burnt-out lightbulbs can happen to anyone. However, little things like these can immediately signal to visitors a homeowner’s neglect. Here’s what you can do to give your entryway some TLC.

Walkway inspection

Take a look at your front walkway and see if it needs any rehab. Depending on the material, you might see the need to patch cracks in concrete, replenish the gravel, or replace a few pavers.

Spruce up the threshold

Sand and repaint the porch steps, if needed, and consider getting a new doormat if your old one has seen better days.

Upgrade your lighting

Consider switching to LED light bulbs if you haven’t done so already — while it is a bigger investment upfront, they are more energy-efficient and have a significantly longer lifespan.

While you’re at it, take a look at your outdoor sconces and see if they need an upgrade as well.

Assess your landscaping

Rejoice, fans of low-maintenance, natural shapes — “lived-in gardens” are in vogue these days!

What does that mean for homeowners? You can replace perfectly manicured lawns and straight lines with a more relaxed approach to your space.

Landscaping on a budget & small yards

Here are some front yard landscaping ideas to boost the curb appeal of your home.

Look into native plants

Recently, many landscape designers and gardeners have been advocating for the usage of native plants in your backyard — think flowers and shrubs that would grow in your area without human intervention.

These plants require less upkeep and resources, and they provide habitat for pollinators. And, let’s admit that it looks incredibly cute. It’s a win-win for homeowners and Mother Nature.

Add more privacy with hedges

Flowering hedges can be a beautiful and functional addition to your garden. Use them to add a pop of color, as a privacy screen, or both.

Luckily, there are many options to choose from — hydrangeas, camellias, and bougainvilleas are a few examples. Some seasoned gardeners recommend using tea olive shrubs or even fruit trees, such as figs or elderberries.

Ideas for small spaces

Even if your backyard is the tiniest outdoor space to ever exist, it’s possible to turn it into a miniature oasis.

Think vertically — add window boxes with flowers or hanging planters, which don’t require any yard space. Also, consider planting a container garden, a flexible and space-conscious way to add greenery to any environment.

Paint & trim for modern style

If you want to update your paint job, start by determining why you want to make the change.

If you want to add some curb appeal before selling your house, some colors will work much better than others.

The latest paint trends[3] focus on sage and earthy greens, rich grays, multiple shades of blue, and universal greiges.

All these can boost perceived value and appeal to a broad buyer demographic. However, another popular color of the year — soft orange — is something to be taken with more caution, as it may not appeal to the average buyer.

Pro tip: Balance bold and neutral elements to create visual interest without overwhelming the eyes. Consider using darker accent colors on shutters or front doors, or paint trim in crisp white to highlight architectural details.

Architectural accents & outdoor decor

Small details can make all the difference and become the first thing to catch the eye. So update door hardware, the mailbox, and house numbers for an immediate impact.

You can go even further and coordinate finishes to match door handles and light fixtures to create a cohesive and elevated look.

If your house has any decorative gems, such as shutters, columns, or carvings, make sure they are well-maintained and freshly painted (if they need paint).

Porch refreshes

Porch furniture can both improve quality of life and increase your exterior’s appeal on a budget. Usually, even small spaces have enough room for a bistro set to enjoy a morning coffee.

Alternatively, if you personally enjoy relaxing outside with a book or are trying to market your home to families, consider hanging a porch swing. Throw in a few outdoor pillows and a rug as a finishing touch.

Lighting for safety & style

Start with evaluating the lighting you already have — are you happy with it when you step outside after dark? Are there corners that could use an extra lantern or two to banish any menacing shadows?

Lighting is usually both functional and decorative — it creates a welcoming and warm atmosphere while also illuminating steps and entry points for safety.

If you’re on a tight budget, consider starting with solar-powered options that don’t require installation costs or new wiring.

If you already have porch and path lighting you’re happy with, consider adding accent lighting to highlight your favorite features (e.g., architectural, arboreal) for maximum impact.

Seasonal decor & finishing touches

Rotate decorations in a timely manner to maintain fresh appeal and reflect the season.

Pumpkins and warm-toned planters are perfect for autumn, and adding extra lights to the shrubs and incorporating evergreen wreaths will create a festive atmosphere during the winter holidays.

Keep it simple: cluttered or splashy arrangements can distract from architectural features and overwhelm prospective buyers.

When decorating, focus on maintaining symmetry — matching planters, window boxes, or identical porch lights will create visual harmony and immediately signal to visitors that you approach decorating intentionally.

High-impact updates: Siding, garage & large features

So far, we’ve mostly covered curb appeal ideas on a budget. Now let’s talk about projects that may require a more significant investment, but that can also dramatically improve your home’s appearance.

Garage door replacement

Did you know that replacing a garage door is the top-rated home improvement for increasing resale value?

According to data, it delivers an astounding 194% return on investment.[4]

Modern garage doors come in various forms, including side-sliding, sectional (the most common option), and hinged. Just be sure to find one that fits the style of your home.

Siding updates

Sometimes throwing a new coat of paint on the exterior walls isn’t enough to achieve a well-maintained look. This is when it may be time to replace your siding.

For homes that have it, vinyl siding replacement offers a wide variety of styles and is considered one of the more budget-friendly options. Alternatively, stone veneer can be used for dramatic accent walls or the lower part of the façade, delivering an average 153% ROI.

Large backyard additions

If you’re looking to introduce some new features to your backyard, consider ordering a prefab pergola kit. Are your neighbors a little bit too close? Installing privacy screens might be the answer.

Pro tip: If your main goal is to make your house look expensive from the outside for potential buyers, do your research before committing to large and expensive projects. While certain improvements yield a high return on investment and are appreciated by most buyers, others might not pay off as well as you expect.

Curb appeal trends for 2025

1. Wild natives

We mentioned it earlier, but native plants are the talk of the town. This year, layered and natural-looking flower beds that mimic meadows are helping attract pollinators and potential buyers alike.

2. Bold front doors

While realtors seem somewhat skeptical of the trend, homeowners want more colors. Many who opt for neutral exterior walls choose to add a pop of color by painting their front door a vibrant shade, such as teal, clay, or even pink.

3. Oversized glass 

This architectural trend has been popular for a few years, and it’s not going away anytime soon. If replacing windows is out of your reach, keeping them squeaky clean and trimming shrubs below the sill height will still nod to the trend.

4. Embracing what you own

Many homeowners strive to carve out a small outdoor space and create mini sanctuaries for themselves, even if they don’t have much space or a large budget.

Your existing front porch and $100 in new furniture and flowers could be enough to create a space to enjoy your morning coffee and welcome a new day.

Checklist & budget planning table

Next steps

Curb appeal is as important as your home’s interior — after all, it leads to the first impression of every visitor and shows how well the homeowner tends to their property. To create a curb that appeals, start with the easy things: Clean and refresh everything, move on to lighting and landscaping, and then tackle some larger projects if your budget allows.

Want one final pro tip? Take photos before and after to see the difference and get some personal satisfaction from your job well done.

And for further expert guidance on maximizing curb appeal and your home’s value, connect with a local agent through Clever. Clever’s network of agents includes experienced agents from big brokerages who are familiar with your neighborhood and can help you find the highest-ROI ways to improve your curb appeal.