Your house has solid bones and a lot of heart, but you can’t necessarily see that from the road. For a lot of us, buying a home means balancing logistics with design and price point. You’re not one to pass up a good deal, and that might mean compromising on the outward appearance of your new abode.
But fear not! This just means that your house—that, admittedly, looks just like all the other houses in the neighborhood right now—has a ton of potential for improvements. Without completely renovating your home, you can take your run-of-the-mill home and make it the crown jewel of your block.
And while you’re working on revamping your home’s design, protect it with the best homeowners insurance for your needs. Whether you own a cozy split-level, an imposing colonial or any home in between, security and longevity are the best looks of all.
Here are three tips for personalizing your cookie-cutter home from the outside in:
Switch Up the Siding
Sure, that brown vinyl siding might hide dirt, but it may also be the reason you accidentally turned into your neighbor’s driveway last week thinking it was your house. If everyone in your neighborhood is rocking the same neutral-toned siding, why not be the bold homeowner to spice things up? You can stick with vinyl siding in a more vivid color, or try a new material altogether.
Here are a few exterior siding options from HGTV, each with their own advantages and drawbacks:
Update the Openings
How can you breathe new life into your home without gutting it? Give it a facelift with new doors, windows and shutters! As SF Gate points out, "shutters update even the plainest, boring façade of a home into something that looks more inviting and cozy."
Ditch the white, scuffed-up garage door in favor of something more attention-grabbing, and update your front door for a more memorable entryway. Don’t be afraid to play with bold colors and geometric styles here—skimping on the façade of your house will only make every homecoming lackluster.
Spruce Up the Yard
Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can work wonders in your yard and create a landscape that complements your beloved home. When you look out your windows, what do you see? If your idea of nature is the two or three skinny trees that came planted with the house, it’s time to spruce up your outdoor space.
One major way to differentiate your home is to build a modern walkway complete with differently sized plants, a stone path and landscape lighting that makes it pop after the sun goes down. Then add flower beds, decorative trees, hedges, gardens and more to your taste.
Your home is a palette for your vision, personality and soul. You want a living space that’s just as unique as you are—inside and out. Don’t be afraid to shake up the status quo with some much-needed updates!
The final step of any redesign is updating your homeowners insurance in case you made any modifications or additions that could concern your policy. Explore your unique coverage options with CoverHound.
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