It’s no surprise when people are doing spring home improvements to welcome in the new season. The motivation to make some home renovations is oftentimes a result to adapt to the climate. But of course, these modifications can maintain the sturdiness and provide a refreshing look at your home.

Your home exterior is the one the people see on a regular basis. Oftentimes, your home is criticized by what they see in your exterior. This is why your home exterior should be on top priority for modification especially this spring season. Here are some great ideas on adding spring touches to your exterior home:

Images via: Siemasko + Verbridge

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Take some time to plan for your spring home exterior design. Make it look like an extension of your character or personality.

Get your garage updated

Your garage is obviously making the scenery on your exterior. This is an area of your home wherein renovations are easily noticed by people outside. You can have it repainted to give a brand new look in an instant. Also, you can change the materials used on your roof. This will be a noticeable change to your exterior.

Customize decorative items

This is something that will capture their attention. It’s a decorative fill in a plain view. For instance, if you have a plain and wide wall, you can add a parapet or a molding to enhance its look. You can also hang on customized planters of lighting fixtures to make it look lively and interesting.

Image via: Domain Design Architects

Broaden your entrance

One of the best ways to make your home exterior look elegant is to enlarge your entrance. As you see it in luxurious hotels or mansions, entrance door is commonly wide and huge. This will provide a decent illusion of the majestic view from the outside. A nice two door opening is something that you might want to consider.

For more exterior home ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Home improvement is always so exciting. You can feel the pressure and thrill all throughout the process. From the creation of the blueprint until the construction, you just can’t take your eyes on looking into the details. Everything should be in accordance with your specification and meet your expectations.

More often than not, improvements are done by portion or section of your home. This is an advantage on your part since you can easily supervise the whole construction. Just like when you’re planning to improve curb appeal on your historic home, everything should be done perfectly to highlight the change.

Here are simple ideas to improve curb appeal of your home:

Choose the best color combination

Paint color does the magic. Whether it’s for interior or exterior, you can always count on the colors. So, if you plan to improve the curb appeal of your home, choose the best color. This can be achieved by combining colors to highlight the edges. It is best to highlight lines and curves with dark color shades and have the background with lighter ones.

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Hang antique lanterns and brackets

This is basically a must if you plan for curb improvements. Lanterns and brackets are great decorative items especially when you match them with your theme. For instance, a historic home setting can be well compensated with antiques lanterns and brackets. It’s like icing on the cake.

Image via: Meyer & Meyer, Inc.

Have a show-stopping window

Your windows can make the best of your enhancement. Explore on having a thick molding that surrounds your window to provide accent. This brings highlight to the window frames and commands the attention to any passerby. Also, try different window styles you desire.

These are great ideas that you can use for your curb appeal and definitely worth a try.

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Did you know that your main door may provide a clue to your personality? Let your impeccable taste show through your choice of entry door worthy of representing you and your family.

So what does your main door say about you?

Image via: Wilson & Company Ltd

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Wood-stained Main Door

If you prefer main doors that are stained rather than painted, there’s a big chance that you’re a nature lover. You appreciate the rustic beauty of wood finishes and feel the rustic appeal of wood-stained door best suit your personality. When people see that you have this kind of front door, they may have an initial impression that you’re someone who’s big on outdoor adventures.

Main Door with Glass Panels

Wooden doors with glass panels are more inviting than those without. This allows your guests to get a glimpse of the inside of your house without entering the house. It makes people see you as a transparent person and they will be more comfortable around you because they believe you don’t have anything to hide. Such doors give an impression of warmth and hospitality.

Image via: Green by Design

Main Door With Intricate Designs

Most people are aware that made to order wooden doors with intricate designs are quite expensive. Ornately designed wooden doors give off the impression of luxury, of well-maintained household and wealth.

Worn-Down Main Door

This gives off the impression of an ill-maintained home. Doors that are worn down have to be replaced. Depending on the damage, adding a fresh coat of paint should give your main door an updated look.

Bright-Colored Main Door

Bright colors indicate happiness, youth and vigor. It also makes that statement for you that you want to stand out. Your house may look similar to those who live in your neighborhood but you can still make your house look livelier with a brightly colored front door. A bright red door or a lemon yellow door will do great for a vibrant home.

If you choose to go with a colored door, you should also know about what the color you choose can say about your personality. Here are some of the most popular colors used for main doors and their meanings:

Brown

Main doors can be brown in color either through paint or wood stains. This color emulates someone who loves the environment. According to psychologists, brown has contrasting meanings. Their positive attributes include stability, reliability and warmth. However, darker shades of brown may express that a person does not function well in a large group so he or she would prefer to be left alone.

Image via: Hallmark Interior Design

Red

Psychologists have proven that the color red signals passion. If your main door is painted red, you give the impression that you are a very outgoing person who loves having fun and going on adventures.

Green

This color is well-loved by most people for one very obvious reason. Green exudes the color of good health and peace of mind. In psychology, green means harmony, safety and tranquility. Anyone would love to have these in one’s home.

Black

Main doors painted black express professionalism, sophistication, and strength. Black indicates authority and tells others that the person who owns that house treats his home seriously.

Blue

Studies show that blue is the most popular color chosen by many for their main doors. According to psychologists blue shows serenity, calmness and comfort. People love the color blue because it makes them forget all their problems once they enter the front door.

Everyone should be aware of the fact that main doors give others a hint of the homeowner’s personality. Wooden main doors create a big impact on the first impression people get when they visit your house for the first time. Choose the color and design which would best describe what you want your visitors to think about you.

Jove Arthur is a very detail-oriented carpenter. He also works as a sales manager at Door Emporium, an NJ-based company which offers a fantastic selection of wood entry doors, solid wood doors, and other equally beautiful interior doors.

For more exterior door ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Today’s project? Give your front door a facelift with easy ideas and inspiration. Whether you remove your existing door and give it a new finish like this You Tube video from DIY Network, or you choose paint colors that are inviting to guests and compliment the architecture and exterior of your home, you will love these ideas.

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Also don’t forget about simple accessories – door numbers, door hardware, and even porch lighting can make a huge difference! Here’s to a new look for your front door.

You Tube Video – DIY Network – How to Give your Front Door a Facelift

Tips to give your front door a facelift

Whether you want to revamp the entire door or just change up some key elements, here are some tips from resources around the web.

Refinishing

One of the best ways to update the look of your door is to refinish it. Select a location that is out of direct sunlight and be sure the weather is decent enough to leave the door open for a while. You will need to remove the door from the hinge. Scour off or strip off the peeling paint on the door. Sand down the surface. Next, apply two coats of an oil-based primer that is slow drying. You can then use an oil based pain or a latex topcoat. Try a different color or change up the stain color.

Changing Out The Hardware

If you like the color of your exterior doors, or if you still want to add something more to the look, change out the door locks and other hardware. Switching from silver to gold, for example, seems like a very simple change but it will make a dramatic difference.

Exterior doors are often forgotten. Yet, a simple change or facelift for the door will make a significant difference in the look of your home. Take into consideration the way your home looks from the street. Could your front door use a facelift? If so, exterior doors may be a good way to get started. – tips via

Paint your front door

Paint your front door. Brighten it with a new paint coat of its current color, or use a new hue. Paint the door trim white for a clean, fresh look, or choose a color that complements the door’s shade. Take the time to do the job correctly: Sand off the old paint, apply a primer, let the primer dry and apply the top coat of paint.

Remove old, damaged, outdated trim and surround your door with new, updated trim. Choose a style that goes well with the overall style of your home.

Add a faceplate and doormat

Add a faceplate or replace the existing faceplate. Replace the doormat with a new one. – tips via

Your front door is on its way to looking fabulous! You just may want to enter your home from the front door now instead of the garage!   (Or is that just at my home?)

Watch Stagetecture’s You Tube Channel for more DIY ideas

They say that first impressions last, and nothing gives the best first impression of your home than your entryway. Though neighbors and visitors can judge your place of residence based on the overall appearance of the house from the outside, the entryway is what gives them an idea of what to really expect in your home before they even step inside. This is why it is very important for you to pay attention to what your entryway looks like. Does it look bright and inviting? If it does not, it is time for you to make changes that will refresh the space. You will be surprised with how easy it will be.

Image via: Houzz

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Update your front door

One easy but very effective way to refresh the entryway is to get a new front door. Homeowners often find the time to update the rest of the house with paint, but usually forget to include the doors in the paint job. If your front door came with the house which you purchased several years ago, it is possible that it may already look outdated. Believe it or not, something as simple as your door can negatively affect the look of your entryway, if not your home. Consider the possibility that it may be time to shop for a new front door soon.

If you are short on cash and cannot afford to purchase a new front door right now, do not worry. You can still refresh your entryway—this time, with a fresh coat of paint. A fresh coat of paint can do wonders even for an old front door. To make the paint job easier, why not drive nails both on the top and bottom ends of the door? With the nails in place, you can easily flip the door, allowing you to paint one side while the other one dries. It saves you a lot of time too.

Now that you have a newly painted front door, complete the look with new hardware. Surely the old hardware would not look good with the new paint. You would want to shop around for new locks and knobs to complement the paint color. If you want better security for your updated front door, go for deadbolt locks. If you decide to change your door’s hardware, you might also consider getting a new doorbell that will match the locks and knobs.

Image via: Rebecca Schlau.Pinterest

Light your entryway

The next thing you must consider is the lighting of the entryway. Keep in mind that a well-lit entryway makes a huge impact on the safety and security of your home. What you want for your entryway’s lighting fixtures are high wattage bulbs, those that can keep the entryway bright. You probably can manage replacing lighting fixtures, but you will certainly need the help of a licensed electrician when installing new ones.

Other additions which can help you refresh your entryway are address numbers, potted plants, a welcome mat and a bench. The addition of these—especially the potted plants—is a great way to add color to the space.

The article was written by Robert Swan who runs Roofing Company in Scotland, providing their services throughout the UK. His roof coatings company also carry out a wall coatings service to customers all over the UK.

For more outdoor living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

If you’re trying to make the grounds, or exterior portions of your home look better, you need to focus on curb appeal boosting ideas. Especially when selling your home, your curb appeal can make or break the buyers opinion about your home, before they even step inside your home.

Whether you want to boost the curb appeal for yourself or just to compete with your neighbors fabulous lawn.. here are some tips from DIY Life.

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With all the effort we expend in making the interiors of our homes look passable, sometimes curb appeal — the way our homes look on the outside — falls by the wayside.

What if you don’t have the budget to revamp your entire facade? Don’t sweat it. There are a host of easy, inexpensive DIY fixes that can pump up the volume of an otherwise ho-hum exterior. Here are eight ideas to get you started. Even better? Each one of the following projects costs no more than $50.

1. Invest in some cool house numbers.

Switch out those tired old digits and give your address a makeover. House numbers can be screwed in or easily glued on with adhesive — and there’s a staggering array of styles and materials to choose from — check out the vast array of modern house numbers by Atlas Homewares (about $12 to $20 per number). For even more oomph, paint or stain a tall newel post ($25 to $50) the same color as your front door or shutters, then attach some new, stylized numbers and sink it into the ground either at the end of your driveway or near your home’s entry. (Best to expect some neighborly copycatting on that one.)

2. Upgrade the front door hardware.

Basic front door hardware is a cinch to replace. You’ll find a wide array of bells, doorknockers and escutcheons (plates surrounding bells, keyholes, knobs) at hardware stores and flea markets (from $5 to $30). A doorbell upgrade (under $30) is also easy, as there’s often no need to replace the actual chime — just the hardware surround. (But if you do want to switch out the entire doorbell, there’s only minor rewiring involved.) A kick plate (about $33) — typically made of polished metals like rustic pewter, aged bronze, or satin nickel — boosts a door’s “wow” factor while shielding it from stains and scuff marks. First, measure the width of your door — since most are 36 inches wide, you’ll need to screw in a plate that’s either 6 inches high by 34 inches wide, or 8 inches high by 34 inches wide. Buy one with a clear, rust- and corrosion-resistant finish. Understandably, switching the lockset (about $22 and up) is the most costly change you’ll make to the entry, as protection is priority. Sink screws into preexisting holes, or do some bush-league drilling. For a cohesive, stylized look, choose accents with the same finishes, and be sure they’re stylistically similar to your home’s design.

3. Repaint or stain a wood door.

If you’re not ready to spring for a new door, this is the way to go. There’s no excuse for the front door looking anything but shipshape because paint and stain are so inexpensive (around $32 per gallon of paint/primer; around $12 for 32 ounces of stain — or potentially free if you have some lying around). Door and hardware removal comes first (or you can tape around hinges and knobs if you’re feeling confident and have a steady hand). Next, surfaces need sanding (fine, 180-grit paper should suffice), dusting, priming and two to three coats of paint. Go with the grain; follow the same procedure with stain and varnish.

4. Tidy up the landscaping.

Has your home ever been referred to as Grey Gardens? Time to break out the pruners. It costs little to nothing (except for time clocked) to trim overgrown hedges, edge walkways, pull up weeds and cut out dead growth. Transplanting is free, too: Move those gorgeous dahlias to the front yard, where they’re sure to be noticed. Also, clip massive hedges that inhibit views from the inside out. Mulch is another winner: Spread a layer of grass clippings (free, collected from a lawnmower), straw (about $4 per bale at your local garden center or nursery) or tree bark-based mulch (about $12 for 2 cubic-feet at garden centers and nurseries, or sometimes offered for free by your town after it has chipped dead trees) at the bases of trees and flowerbeds. Doing so not only protects plantings and improves soil quality, but beautifies your yard, too. How much will you need? Use an online calculator: just plug in the area’s square footage and desired thickness.

 5. Replace light fixtures.

Strategically placed lighting always goes a long way. It highlights lovely landscaping and all the other wonderful things you’ve done to your home. Size and scale matter here, as does general attractiveness and brightness. (NASA shouldn’t be able to see your home from space.) Match the style and finish of the new lights to other elements in your entry and you’re generally good to go. Expect to pay about $25 each for brushed copper Flemish-style lights and around $30 for a slick, industrial stainless-steel lantern. You can also opt for solar-powered lights, which have three significant advantages over their hard-wired electric counterparts: There’s no assembly required, they save energy and you can move them around with little effort. Sink a few attractive lantern-style lights ($18 for six) into the soil that flanks walkways and the driveway. You’ll be amazed at how good this actually makes a home look.

6. Upgrade the mailbox.

Wobbly, dented mailboxes are unsightly. (Everyone would rather forget about last season’s nasty snowplow incident.) Changing the box is a great way to add personality. Installation of a bold door-side mailbox (about $50) requires only some simple drilling. A good-looking, durable freestanding mailbox ($40 to $50) just needs a hole dug for the post.

7. Dress up (and clean!) those windows.

Good-looking architectural details are no longer prohibitively expensive, or difficult to add on. Mullions, moldings and decorative brackets can really make your exterior pop, and installation is as easy as clicking in a PVC grid (a sample mullion kit costs $22 and covers 12 square-feet of glass) over existing windows, or screwing wooden brackets (about $21 each) into existing structures. Sometimes, the act of simply cleaning the windows — inside and out — is all you’ll need to massively improve the view. Dish detergent (or plain old vinegar) and a microfiber rag (or a piece of newspaper!) should do the trick. For hard-to-reach windows, use a cleaner formulated for outdoor use (about $10 for 32 ounces at hardware stores) that attaches to your hose. It should dry to a smudge-free finish, and there’s no need to remove screens. Just wash on a cloudy, non-windy day, as breezes and sunlight dry panes too quickly, leaving unsightly streaks behind.

8. Wash dirty siding and dingy decking.

You could pressure wash any type of siding (save for wood shingles), but you’ll pay upwards of $100 to rent or buy a machine — and possibly do some major damage in the process. Instead, use some good old elbow grease, your garden hose (on a medium-spray setting), a long-handled scrub brush and a bucketful of water mixed with a few squirts of dish soap. For wood porches and decks, oxygen bleach (about $13 for 56 per container, at supermarkets) is the way to go. Plus, it’s nontoxic to you, and to pets and vegetation. Mix a few scoops into a bucketful of water, dip the brush and scrub away.

For more outdoor living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Happy DIY Saturday! Welcome to the first weekend in April and the front of your home has seen better days! The harsh winter has been rough on your lawn, plant beds, driveway and walkways, and it’s time to start thinking how you are going to improve your curb appeal. The good news? Your curb appeal is one of the easiest and least expensive upgrades you can make on your home. It actually requires more manual labor than “money” labor!

The beauty of improving your home’s curb appeal is once it is done, all you have to do is maintain it throughout the year with regular de-weeding, watering the lawn, and light maintenance. Today, we dedicate to ways to improve your outdoor home and show you 10 tips to better curb appeal that will instantly revive the exterior of your home.

Look at this video from DIY Network – Curb Appeal Upgrades:

These 10 curb appeal tips will help: Courtesy of  Tinman Inspections

1.) Tame planter beds and landscaping:

If your beds are overrun with weeds and unsightly growth, you’ll need to get them under control to give your home a well-manicured look. Prune, pull weeds and plant flowers to add color. Add a fresh layer of mulch and your yard will look as good as new.

2.) Replace old hardware:

It’s the little things that make a big difference. Update your dated or dingy house numbers, entry door lockset and overhead light fixture. Each of these elements can add style and interest to your home’s exterior, especially if you incorporate a great finish option like oil-rubbed bronze or brushed nickel.

3.) Make over your mailbox:

Your mailbox should complement the style and color of your house. Restore your existing mailbox with a fresh coat of paint or stain that matches the trim, color and woodwork of your house.

4.) Illuminate your walkway:

Adding low-voltage solar lighting to your front walkway can have a big impact on your home’s curb appeal. It also provides added safety and security. If you don’t have a walkway, string accent lighting in the trees for a whimsical-looking effect.

5.) Freshen up the front door:

The front entry is the focal point of your home’s curb appeal. To keep it looking free of abuse from the elements and use, clean off any dirty spots and remove any loose paint. If your door is beyond repair, install a new version that reflects the design of your house. Once you’re all set, be sure to add a piece of decorative flair, like a wreath or door knocker that showcases your personality to the outside world.

6.) Add shutters or accent trim:

Everything on the exterior of your home should be a reflection of what’s inside. To mirror the pulled-together appearance of your indoor rooms, install shutters and trim to provide an extra layer of interest on the exterior. Not only do shutters help control light and ventilation, but new materials such as PVC resins or polyurethane make them durable and low maintenance.

7.) Dress up the driveway:

If your driveway is cracked, stained or has weeds sprouting up from it, now may be time to show it some TLC. Upgrade it without completely starting over. Repair any cracks or stains and be sure to kill the weeds and then add some extra character by staining the concrete or affixing flagstone. For additional flair, add stone, bricks or pavers to the sides for a completely custom look.

8.) Renew paint and trim:

Give your home an exterior facelift by adding a new coat of paint or stain. You’ll automatically update the look of your home by fixing any obvious defects, like loose paint, fading colors or cracks in your trim and fence. Be sure to use high-quality painting tools to get a professional-looking finish, like the Pro-Extra brush from Purdy. The extra length and thickness of the filaments on these paintbrushes provide superior paint-holding capacity and are specially designed for all exterior paints and stains.

9.)Replace gutters and downspouts:

If your gutters are loose and worn out, not only do they look neglected, but they’re also a danger to guests. To prevent any injuries, as well as improve the overall appearance, install a new, snap-fit gutter system that go together with a few tools for an easy and important upgrade.

10.) Upgrade railings:

Porch and stoop railings deteriorate over time and can become loose. If yours are past their prime, look for quality wood or metal replacements. Make sure the color, scale, design and details coordinate with the rest of your home’s main features.

Watch Stagetecture’s You Tube Channel for more DIY ideas