Color Themes

Having a beautifully designed landscape and architecture all the way to the front door creates a positive mindset for visitors and homeowners. If the outside looks healthy, the odds are the people inside are well.

Run-down properties represent lack of time, energy, interest, values and money. Below I’ve listed a few things to create a happy home without spending thousands. Take one step at a time and feel the depression lift.

Paint:
If your budget allows for exterior painting, let that be your focus because nothing gives more bang for your curb appeal buck than a fresh paint job. Recently, I painted my own home and it looks so nice. The downside is my rusty wrought iron gate now sticks out like a sore thumb. My quick fix will be to sand it, take the same color paint as the house and spray it. The eye will ignore it rather than be directed to it.

Doorway Entry:
How does your front door look? If it’s a little worn from the weather, consider purchasing a new door. If a new door isn’t in the budget, paint it. Try using a contrasting color the house, or pick up on one of the accent colors. A hot trend in our area is to paint the door red, it’s supposed to be good luck, but it doesn’t work for every home, so consider it carefully before committing. Also, if your door has any details to it, like mine with it’s square overlays, try using two tones of paint to bring out the detail.

Doorknob Hardware:
Scrub it up or take it off and spray it. We have a brass handle. It does not match the rustic entry pendant, so I’m going to remove the handles this week and paint them. If you do this, make sure you sand the knobs with some light grade sandpaper so the spray paint will adhere to the metal surface.

Landscape:
Design your landscape with colors that are in contrast to the exterior paint colors. Colorful flowers and greenery always add a WOW factor. Against darker palettes choose white roses, bright fuschia, orange, yellow and light greenery. If you do not have a green thumb, have a gardening expert assist you in picking the floral fauna. If your dirt is rock hard, make sure to prepare the ground with mulch and top soil. This helps absorb water rather than it draining off. It also provides nutrients to the soil. Feed your plants every two weeks and water appropriately. You want to protect your investment.

Outdoor Accessories:
Stay away from adding little pots and garden sculptures. No cheap waterfalls, they generally look tacky. Do not place accessories on your exterior walls unless it is in your courtyard or back patio. If you don’t believe me, drive around your neighborhood and look at what really bugs you. It will most likely be the miscellaneous junk people have strewn about their yard. Keep it clean and simple. Let the landscape do the job.

Inconsiderate Neighbor:
Neighbors with trashy homes just need a wake-up call, but bringing up the fact that the condition of the home is bringing down the value of your home can be a very touchy subject. It is best to talk to them in a proactive way. Try to negotiate with them first. Painters and other contractors will lower their estimates if they work a neighborhood. Ask other neighbors to agree to it. In our block, we all contribute to the tree trimming so that we can maintain our mountain views.

We have one neighbor who has decided he wants a cactus garden. It appears as if he wants to keep people out. The window treatments are old brown shutters that have been there for a thousand years. What to do? Sometimes instead of starting a neighborhood fued, it’s best to just turn the other cheek. Add beauty to your home and then turn your head. Hopefully, buyers will also do the same. The nicer your home appears from the outside, the better

Interior Entrance:
Your home’s entry area is the second impression. Create a foyer or entry that welcomes someone like a red carpet. Make it stunning with simple and clean items to match the design theory of the home. Try to avoid jacket racks, key trays, shoe clutter and rugs. Keep it clean and mean. If you cannot afford an entryway overhaul, concentrate on a simple focal point. It can be one piece of art, a decorative mirror or a table with a floral, vase or candle arrangement, but don’ go overboard.

So now your guests are impressed until they see the rest of your decor may not be finished. You can always say it is a work in progress.