Does your house need a little pick me up? Sometimes we put projects off because they seem overwhelming or we are worried it will cost a lot of money. But adding some curb appeal and freshening things up doesn't have to break the bank. Here's how to add curb appeal on a budget!
This post is sponsored by Wagner but all ideas and opinions are 100% my own.
Curb Appeal On A Budget
Sometimes when something shiny and new gets added to your house, you start to notice that other things around it look a bit shabby and could use some freshening up. My brother and sister-in-law didn't have a covering over their front porch and it was causing issues with water when it rained. They recently had an addition built over their porch to solve the problem. It really upped their curb appeal! But it made it even more obvious that the door needed a paint job. And if you ask me to paint your front door, odds are I'm going to do more than just that.
Freshening Up The Front Door
The door before was painted a dark brown. My sister-in-law's favorite color is purple. I am a firm believer in painting your front door whatever color you want. It is a fun way to show your personality. But if you want it to look the best, pick a shade of that color that compliments the house instead of one that fights against it. The brick has burgundy and plum colors in it so we decided to work with those tones when choosing a color.
The prep work always takes the longest. There was a lot of sanding involved! I scraped and sanded the trim around the door and then sanded the door itself.
I always take a door off the hinges and remove the hardware before I paint it. It is easier to work with it on a flat surface VS when it is vertical. Plus it makes the painting process so much easier.
Once the door was sanded down well with a 120 (you can also use 220) grit sandpaper, I wiped it down with damp rags to get rid of all the dust.
I filled my Flexio 3500 with the paint. You don't need to thin the paint down but I like to add a little bit of water if the paint seems a bit thick. Each brand of paint tends to be a different viscosity so it is a judgment call.
Always, always, always test the spray before you start painting your project. I usually have some scrap cardboard on hand but since I wasn't at my house, I tested it on the tarp.
I love how much control you have with the Flexio 3500. You can adjust the spray pattern and direction as well as how much paint comes out. I used the detail finish nozzle to get a super fine finish.
The color we chose is called Aubergine by Behr and is a beautifully rich plum color. In the sun it comes off more purple-y and in the shade it looks more burgundy. It suits the color of the bricks perfectly.
Fixing Any Cracks
There were some cracks in the mortar in the brick work around the door that happened due to settling over time. I filled those and the gap around the door with the mortar caulk. I even went around the window. It is a small detail most won't notice, but helps the house look fresh and new. I tried 3 different brands and DAP Premium Textured Mortar Advanced Latex Concrete and Mortar Sealant was hands down my favorite.
Ladscaping
The front beds got weeded and I filled their planters with some beautiful coleus that were a very similar color to the new front door. The purple potato vine with grow big and spill over the sides.
Adding Shutters
Many years ago I built some basic shutters for our house and I was blown away by how adding something so simple made such a huge impact. I knew I wanted to make some for this house as well. They are made of 1x4 boards. I screwed them other from the back so the screws were not visible from the front. We were able to make it so that the screws to attach them to the house went through the mortar instead of the brick.
Little Details Add Curb Appeal
Using the same stain color as the shutters, I used a scrap piece of wood the make a house numbers sign. I cut out vinyl but you could also easily used house numbers that screw on.
I also added a little bush for some greenery on the porch.
Overall I didn't really didn't do a whole lot (and I definitely didn't spend very much) but I think it made a BIG difference with the overall curb appeal. The photos don't really do it justice, but it looks so fresh and more complete!
If you are looking to refresh your home in a weekend and are on a budget, save this for later!
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