9 Ways to Boost Winter Curb Appeal
For those of us living in cold climates, our homes (at least the
outsides) tend to look a little sad once the trees have lost their
leaves. And if you are trying to sell your home in winter, it can be
especially challenging, because most of the usual curb appeal tricks
(add pots of fresh flowers; landscape)
don’t apply. That’s why I’ve rounded up nine elements to add to boost
curb appeal even when there is snow on the ground and not a flower in
sight.
1. Red trim or a red door.
When snow is covering the rooftops and walkways, nothing stands out
quite like a bright, clear red. Paint your trim, front door or both in
this bold hue, and your home will instantly stand out in a sea of bare
trees and white drifts.
2. A standout mailbox. The old-fashioned post mailbox gets a modern update here with sleek lines and a bright red hue. Attaching your house numbers right to the mailbox will make them easy to locate and add graphic punch.
3. Shiny garden ornaments.
Your greenery may die back in the winter months, but garden ornaments
will shine on. Choose something with a bit of gleam, like the silver
orbs shown here, for maximum impact.
4. Extra-large house numbers. Numbers
that are 6 inches high or higher make a big statement, and they work
especially well on facades with little other ornamentation. If the
numbers are placed away from the main lighting, consider installing a
downlight over them.
5. A Charlie Brown Christmas tree. While
you’re picking up your Christmas tree, consider also grabbing the
scrawniest tree in the lot — it would look adorable on the front porch with a simple burlap skirt and a strand or two of twinkle lights.
6. Neatly trimmed greenery.
Hedges that stay green through the winter are a godsend in cold
climates — they can lend your home some much-needed freshness when
everything else has withered. Even if you don’t have bushes planted in
the ground, you can still add big pots of boxwood for a dose of green on
your porch or front steps. Crisply trimmed shapes look especially
polished.
7. Lantern post. Reminiscent of old inns, a hanging lantern
on a post is as charming as can be. If you don’t want to bother with
having it wired, just use a battery-operated outdoor-rated candle
inside.
8. Statue atop a wall.
Have a wall at the edge of your property? Use it as a perch for a
tasteful statue. And if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow,
your sculpture can do double duty as a marker to let the snowplows know
where your fence line is. You could even adorn it with a wreath or
strand of bells for a festive touch.
