Many homeowners use landscaping, potted flowers, window boxes, and a well-manicured lawn to enhance their home’s curb appeal.
But when temperatures drop below freezing this time of year and old man winter works his magic on your landscaping, homeowners have to get creative in finding ways to keep the house from looking like something straight out of “The Addams Family.”
A little creativity can go a long way and make a substantial difference in your home’s appearance in the winter months, whether you are trying to sell or just trying to look warm and inviting for guests.
Since you can’t rely on shrubs and flowers to do the decorating for you this time of year, it’s time to get resourceful and find alternate ways to spruce up your home’s façade. While Christmas and other holiday decorations can help, we found some additional ways to make your home festive and inviting this winter.
1. Add cold-weather plants.
Your azaleas and impatiens aren’t going to be much help to you this winter, but there are a handful of plants that stay green and even bloom in the winter months in Tennessee, which is in zones 6-7 on the USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map. (planthardiness.ars.usda.gov)
So plant some Oriental hybrid hellebores (also known as Lenten Roses), which are evergreen perennials that flower and, according to FineGardening.com, are among the easiest to grow.
Many other winter flowers such as pansies, snowdrops, or forsythia bushes or don’t bloom until February or March, so if you are looking for some plant life before then, opt for a small evergreen tree potted on the front porch or stairs. You can decorate it with seasonal lights or bows, or just use something transitional like burlap to add a little pizzazz. Winter shrubs with red berries can also be a nice pop of color along a front walkway or stairs.
2. Jazz up your front door.
A home’s front door is every bit as important to the curb appeal of the overall structure as any of a home’s other features. It tends to be the first impression someone sees when they approach your home.
So take a look at your front door and see what it says to you. Does it look faded and tired? Is it covered in dings and marks from your kids’ shoes? This is a great time of year to reevaluate the front door and breathe some new life into it.
Does it need to be a color that pops, like red or blue? Maybe you need a new front door altogether, or just a new, updated door handle and hardware to help make it pop.
3. Create a welcoming front porch.
Just because you may not be sitting on your front porch having coffee in the mornings during the winter months doesn’t mean your front porch needs to look abandoned. Especially this time of year when front garden beds lack appeal, the eye naturally focuses on the front porch.
Welcoming furniture, a swing, a table with an outdoor lamp, seasonal throw pillows, and a fun, festive doormat can make your home super inviting — even in the cold, dark months ahead.
4. Updated exterior lighting.
Everything from carefully displayed white Christmas tree lights to an outdoor lamp or lantern can be the perfect touch to add a warm glow to the front of your home. Not only can it be welcoming and inviting, it can also double as another layer of security. Plug lights into a timer so they can stay on even when no one is home.
We found this cool DIY project for making outdoor ice candles that could add some sparkle to your front steps or accentuate the front door. (See the how-to at www.gardenista.com) Just fill a jar with some greenery, berries or orange slices, a little water, and a votive candle and you’ve got yourself a unique outdoor décor piece the neighbors will be envious of.
5. Hang a bird feeder.
Nothing brings life to the front of your home like, well, life! A small bird feeder full of seeds and nuts can draw the prettiest birds right to your front windows. Not only will they be fun to watch from inside your home, but passersby also will appreciate seeing the colorful little creatures add contrast to an otherwise gray and dreary season.
Source: tennessean.com ~ By: Melonee Hurt ~ Image: Canva Pro
