Use These Colors In Your Yard To Instantly Boost Curb Appeal

Curb appeal matters for thousands of reasons. Sure, an attractive front porch can put a smile on your face, and a well-kept yard demonstrates pride of ownership. But one of the main reasons to focus on boosting your home's curb appeal is that you're likely to make a serious return on your investment. A study published in the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics suggested that curb appeal can increase property value up to 7%. With the median home price in the United States hovering just over $438,000, by the time you crunch the numbers, painting your front door, installing updated garage doors, or refreshing your landscaping can really start to add up. Each of these projects can put several thousand dollars into your pocket. According to Rachel Stringer, professional real estate agent at Raleigh Realty, to maximize your ROI you should use a mix of neutral and bold colors in your yard to instantly boost curb appeal.

"When someone shows up at your house, the front yard is the first thing they notice; it essentially sets the tone for everything else," Stringer told House Digest during an exclusive interview. "If you've put some thought into the design and picked colors that feel fresh, stylish, and inviting, there's a good chance they'll feel more connected to the place and step inside with a great first impression." The real estate expert explained that it's important to approach everything about your home's exterior, from the walls to the flower colors, with an eye toward tying it all together. "It makes the whole property seem well-thought-out and cared-for," Stringer explained.

"Intentional landscaping that coordinates the colors of the front yard with the rest of the property is a worthwhile investment," Rachel Stringer said during her exclusive interview with House Digest. "This could boost your home's value anywhere from 5% to 15%." According to Stringer, the first step is to avoid clashing or faded colors. Since both can make your home look neglected, the real estate expert advised maintaining a color scheme that works in your locale. 

"Earthy shades of green, like olive or sage, are particularly good in suburban areas surrounded by trees," Stringer said, adding that this will enhance the feeling of being surrounded by nature. "Dark ocean or navy blue are both good options, too. They're bold but not overwhelming and offer a sleek and elegant alternative for those wanting to avoid pale neutrals," she explained. Stringer said brown tones can create a cozy atmosphere, and recommended picking shades with red or orange undertones that "will complement any exposed stone or brickwork on the property."

There are several ways to incorporate these colors to boost curb appeal. "A good place to start is with your home's existing colors," Stringer said. Choose from exterior paint colors that bring warmth to your home. "Painting your front door in a bold color, like a light blue, forest green, or even a buttery yellow, can add a pop of brightness and make your home's exterior stand out in the best way," the real estate agent advised. "Be sure to pick something that contrasts with the rest of the exterior walls of your house for the best results."

Once you're finished updating your hardscaping so that your home's exterior walls, doors, trim, and perhaps even your roof, present a cohesive front, it's time to move onto the surrounding plants. "Try mixing in some greenery and flowers that complement those tones," Rachel Stringer recommended during her exclusive interview with House Digest, adding, "To make things more eye-catching, add plants that pop." The real estate expert said you can add either trees or flowers to quickly boost your curb appeal. "Trees with purple flowers, like lilacs or jacarandas, can be total showstoppers," she said, while adding that smaller flowers can also bring color and charm to your yard. "Bright, happy ones like marigolds or petunias look great along walkways or near the garage and can bring in some color all year round," she noted.

You can also use bold plants for eye-catching window displays. "Planters or window boxes are super easy and look great," Stringer said. "Fill them with flowers and greenery that go with your overall color scheme." The real estate expert added that you should carefully consider which species will work best in your local climate since "your options will depend on where you live." If you want to play with a punchier color, a window box is a better spot than your shutters, front door, or siding. But Stringer said you should probably avoid them altogether. "Don't go for super bright neon shades, like fuchsia, or very dark alternative colors like pure black," she recommended. "These can put off prospective buyers."