5 Low-Effort, High-Reward Curb Appeal Ideas

Lately, I’ve been working on some projects that, while beautiful and definitely worthwhile, have left me craving a DIY that’s a little less time-intensive (and hard on my back 😅 – looking at you, checkerboard painted patio). So while I search for my next project that meets those criteria, I’m excited to share a roundup of easy curb appeal ideas that you can start and finish the same day.

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Easy Curb Appeal Ideas #1: Mulch Dye

We’re starting strong with the quickest project on this list: mulch dye! This can breathe new life into your landscaping immediately, and it’s definitely easier than spreading new layers of mulch. All you need is your choice of dye and a sprayer.

Easy Curb Appeal Ideas #2: Faux Window

Last year, we did a major overhaul of our home’s exterior. I’m talking a new paint color, a garage pergola to match the new wood columns, additional planters, and some of the projects below, too! But before that, when I was brainstorming ways to add curb appeal, I decided to make a faux window for our front porch. I really liked it, but once we repainted our house, it didn’t match quite as well as it once did, so it had to come down. That said, I still think this is a great way to give your front porch a little refresh!

How to Create a Faux Window

Start by taking a plywood panel and cutting it to the size you want your window to be. I actually repurposed a porch sign and used that as the board, and it worked great!

Next, it’s time for trim! Add some extra wood to the sides to make it look more window-like. Then, take thin pieces of trim and glue them to the inside of your board in a grid pattern.

Glue the mirror tiles inside each grid square. After the glue has had a few hours to dry, use painter’s tape to cover the wood trim and use frosted glass spray paint to give the glass a window effect. And that’s it! Easy, right?

Easy Curb Appeal Ideas #3: Faux Wood Door

I did this during last year’s Modern French Country exterior makeover, and I’ll let you in on a secret: we were planning on getting a new door anyway. But due to some issues with the door we ordered, and the fact that I LOVED how this faux wood door turned out, we ended up keeping this one.

How to Make a Faux Wood Door

First, wipe down your door with a wet microfiber cloth, so you’re not painting over dust and dirt. Once it’s dry, use a paintbrush and start painting the door your base color. This is similar to the color I used!

Now it’s time for the gel stain, which is the key to the faux wood door look. Paint that on, let it dry, then go over it with another coat. Seal it all in with polyurethane.

Easy Curb Appeal Ideas #4: Concrete Stain

Technically, this one might tip toward the “medium effort” side of the scale, depending on how much concrete you plan to stain. But for the impact it makes, the effort is well worth it!

I’ve stained my concrete several times. The front walkway and porch have seen a few rounds of stain, and most recently, I did the side yard in the checkerboard pattern I mentioned at the beginning. I’ve loved how it’s turned out each time! And yes, it does require some minor touch-ups on occasion, but even with that bit of extra work, I still think it looks better than regular concrete.

Concrete Stain vs. Paint

Before I share the tutorial, I wanted to mention the difference between concrete stain and paint. I’ve used both before, and they both work. The main difference is maintenance. Concrete stain is more durable and won’t peel off (it just fades over time), while paint is more prone to chipping. A pro for paint, though, is that it’s typically thicker, so it can hide flaws in the concrete better. Both work for the outdoors, but in most cases, I’d recommend stain.

How to Stain Concrete

Since I’ve used stain in my last two concrete projects, I’m going to share the process for staining. The painting process is similar, and you can find the tutorial for that here!

Start by pressure-washing or hosing off the cement to start with a clean slate. Then, use a paint roller to apply the stain in larger areas, and a paintbrush for detail work. Follow it up with a second coat.

Once it’s dry, spread concrete sealer over everything for an additional layer of durability.

Easy Curb Appeal Ideas #5: Planter Fences

This project was born from my dislike of seeing my home’s foundation. I originally built planters to cover it, but the plants never quite filled in enough to hide the concrete. So, planter fences it was!

How to Build Planter Fences to Cover Your Home’s Foundation

Start by cutting fence pickets to the length of your foundation.

Next, take square dowels (or any small, thin pieces of wood) and lay them across the back of the fence pickets. Nail the dowels to the pickets, attaching the pickets together. I did 2-3 dowels per fence section.

Last step! Stain the fences to give them a more complete look. I stained mine to match the faux wood front door. Once they’re dry, put the pickets in the ground around your house, covering the gray foundation.

You deserve a beautiful home, and it doesn’t have to be hard to make it happen!

Yes, some projects take a lot of time and money, but these five curb appeal upgrades don’t fall into either of those categories. If you set aside a few hours for these projects, you’ll be so glad you did.

And in the meantime, I’ll be searching Pinterest for some low-effort, high-reward DIY ideas of my own.