Make Your Home Stand Out From its Neighbours With These Genius DIY Ideas

We all want our front yards and entryways to feel special and inviting, but don’t always have the time (or money) for a major overhaul. As the weather warms up and we turn our attention to outside, try any of these easy DIY upgrades – they’ll take less than a day to do, but the payoff will be huge.

Flower boxes filled with purple lavender sit in front of four windows on the front of grey building

Getty Images

1 / 10

Boxed In

Installing window boxes along the front of the house instantly brightens the façade. Buy ready-made ones or tackle constructing your own – either way, add a bonus for the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, and plant with pollinator-attracting flowers such as lavender or echinacea.

Flowers decorating the steps in front of a red door with brass 21 numerals on it in a grand white house

Getty Images

2 / 10

Numbers Up

Replace weather worn house numbers with a brand-new set made from stainless steel, brass or aluminum – metal numbers withstand all the elements and give an entryway an added touch of polish and curb appeal.

Sidewalk lined by a beautiful wooden fence stained with BEHR PREMIUM® Solid Colour Waterproofing Stain & Sealer in Redwood Naturaltone SC-122

Behr: Redwood Naturaltone SC-122

3 / 10

Stain Gain

To prolong the life of your front-yard fence or gate, restaining it at the beginning of the season is a smart move. Go with a high-quality product such as BEHR PREMIUM® Solid Colour Waterproofing Stain & Sealer, which protects wooden fences for up to 25 years. From traditional exterior wood-stain colours such as cedar and Redwood Naturaltone SC-122 (pictured here) to more contemporary light greys and forest greens, there are more than 1,600 custom fence stain colours available, so options are not an issue.

Exterior of a cute blue cottage painted in BERH Dayflower MQ3-54 with two window boxes painted in BEHR Voyage PPU13-07 and filled with yellow pansies below two small square windows with white shutters

Behr: Dayflower MQ3-54, Voyage PPU13-07

4 / 10

Shut it Out

While the most labour-intensive option on this list, shutters (either faux or, if you’re up for it, working) add depth, colour and interest to the front of the house. Go for a cottage feel with decorative cutouts or stay more traditional; either way, your house will stand out on the street – in the best way possible.

Garden lamps light up a brick path winding passed garden beds to a wooden gazebo

Getty Images

5 / 10

In the Glowing

Adding elements to up your home’s curb appeal doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Installing a set of warm glow, solar-powered garden lights (or a wired set, if you have the electrical skills) along garden beds, the front path and parking area creates a welcoming atmosphere well into the evening.

Front porch of a beautiful craftsman house with light grey shingles, a blue porch ceiling, a dark blue door with a core welcome mat, dark stained wooden porch floor, and modern light fixture in front of the door

Getty Images

6 / 10

Lamp Lighter

If you’re looking for little pain for big design gain when it comes to front-porch ideas, consider replacing the front-entry light fixture with an updated modern model. The entryway becomes a stylish feature of the house rather than a functional afterthought. Tip: For extra safety and security, seek out one with a built-in motion sensor.

Pretty new white house with landscaped front yard features a rock lined garden bed and two young trees

Getty Images

7 / 10

Deep Roots

Planting a young tree in the front yard definitely qualifies as a valuable long-term investment. It may be small now but soon it’ll provide shade, attract wildlife, and add some serious ROI to your home. Tip: Before digging, call 811 to check with local utilities companies about the location of their underground lines.

Behr: Weathered Moss N380-3, Ultra Pure White® PPU18-06,...

8 / 10

Come on In

Painting your front door in a bright and cheerful exterior paint colour – such as BEHR Buzz-In P300-6 – is a fun way to bring energy to the entryway. Since doors get a lot of wear and tear, always opt for a premium product such as BEHR MARQUEE Exterior Paint & Primer – its tough stain-blocking surface resists mildew and dirt buildup, and it’s water resistant only an hour after application.

Classic two story stone house with four white columns on the front porch, a black double front door, a landscaped front yard, and a stone paver front path and entryway steps

Getty Images

9 / 10

Walk the Walk

Making sure your walkway is in good shape will instantly up your home’s curb appeal. Don’t worry, you likely don’t need to update the whole thing – adding a line of new pavers to the edge of an existing path is oftentimes enough to give it a bit of design oomph.

Beautiful conversation nook with two black metal chairs, cream and tan cushions, a white vase with a large green branch sitting on a black side table, on the front porch of a heritage home that was featured on HGTV’s Home to Win TV program

hometowin.ca

10 / 10

Inside Out

For those of us who live for home decor, this front porch idea will be a joy to pull together; think about how you’d decorate inside but bring it outside. Create a comfortable seating nook next to the front door, with throw pillows, fresh flowers and chic, modern (and weather resistant) furniture, and catch up with (envious) neighbours.