5 Ways to Preserve Your Cold Weather Curb Appeal | CBE Blog

As much as we may not want to admit it, our curb appeal in the fall and winter can sometimes be lacking. Particularly when the weather turns bitterly cold, brown grass, dull skies, and a dirty mess of snow and ice can cheapen the appearance of an otherwise beautiful home.

Are you looking to spruce up your home’s first impression? Here are some of our best tips to freshen up your curb appeal in the fall and winter months, whether you’re prepping to sell or settling in for the long-haul.

1. Clear Off Your Driveway

Whether it’s covered in leaves, cracked, or stained, you’ll want to address your driveway first when looking to level up your home’s curb appeal. Also, if it’s been snowing, we always recommend shoveling the driveway along with any walkways up to the house. 

2. Clean Gutters

Gutters are one of those things – if they’re clean and clear, your potential buyers don’t notice them. If they’re full of junk and leaves, however, they’ll make quite a negative impact on your home’s presentation. 

Remove the possibility of a less-than-incredible first impression of your home by clearing your gutters. While you’re up there and making sure they’re in good condition, consider that your gutters will also be a signal to your potential buyers of how well the rest of the home is taken care of. Keep them clean and in good repair, and you’ll be in great shape!

3. Add Outdoor Lighting

Lighting can make all the difference. Even if your home is in excellent shape with a beautifully manicured lawn, lighting takes the impact of your curb appeal to a whole new level. 

Add path lighting along walkways, driveways, uplighting on the house itself, and lights on your porch or mailbox to create a dramatic first impression when potential buyers drive up to your home. Even if you aren’t planning to sell your home, updated lighting can take a winter home from “meh” to magical for your winter holidays and festivities!

4. Include Cold-Weather Plants

Adding greenery makes any time of year feel more fresh and full of life – even in the winter! Any type of evergreen plant that is hardy enough to brave the low temperatures is a great way to add extra curb appeal to your home in the cold weather months. 

One of our favorites is when we see folks use evergreen trees or bushes on their porch or patio, and then they can add lights to them around the holidays for an especially festive look. 

5. Decorate Your Door

No matter the season, door decorations are a great way to showcase your personality and style. Particularly in the fall and winter, use your front door to celebrate the holidays, and add a touch of flair to the front of your home. 

If you’re looking to sell your home, we do recommend sticking with neutral or natural colors to decorate with to allow your potential buyers to envision that it’s their home. If you’re in your home to stay, however, you can use your door to express the personality of you and your family members – feel free to go wild! 

Make Your Winter Curb Appeal More Welcoming

However you choose to maintain and decorate your home in the cooler weather, the most important thing is that it appears well-maintained and welcoming to the passerby. 

Incorporate these tips into your home selling plan for an excellent first impression or simply to enjoy a more beautiful home for the holidays.