Go “Au Natural” With Landscaping 

Prim and polished rows of flowers and shaped hedges are out; random plantings of all types and colours are in.

If your client’s home needs some basic landscaping before hitting the market, guide them towards planting lots of native greenery and flowers, using as many hues as possible, to create a bohemian look that will look abundant from the street. 

No landscaping required? Sellers can still add a bit of wild garden curb appeal with unstructured planters and hanging baskets.

Light It Up

It’s a very common mistake to forget about curb appeal after dark. Once the sun sets, how the house looks from the street still matters!

Exterior lighting is a relatively affordable way to majorly improve curb appeal. 

The porch or doorway area is the first to address. Fixtures that frame the door should be proportional (not so large that they overwhelm the door and not so small that they’re hard to distinguish from the street) and emit a warm glow to achieve a welcoming vibe. Sconces and lanterns are the most popular and can be found in a myriad of styles.

Other ways to boost nighttime curb appeal with lighting:

• Line the pathway to the front door with garden stake lights or small lanterns
• Use spotlights to illuminate trees or landscaping features
• Shine a light on the house number
• Install a light on the column separating a double garage

Create Usable Space

Curb appeal isn’t just about making a home’s street-facing exterior look good; it’s about demonstrating how the exterior space can be used.

For instance, a front porch should be staged with furniture (e.g., a rattan chair with comfy cushions, a porch swing) that gets buyers imagining how they could utilize the space.

 

Don’t Be Afraid of Bold Colours

Neutral colours typically feel safer than standout hues but when it comes to a home’s exterior, bold colours are a curb appeal trend for 2023.

Painting a front door is usually a pre-list must. Instead of a neutral shade, recommend something punchier to your clients — a yellow, red, blue or green.

Mix Textures

Incorporating several materials with different textures (such as brick, wood, metal, wicker, concrete and copper) is a big trend for exteriors in 2023.

This trend can be applied in ways big and small to improve curb appeal, depending on what renovations, upgrades or exterior staging a client’s home needs: 

• Metal roofing
• Painted brick pathways or facades
• Reclaimed wood accents
• Copper drain pipes
• Concrete planters
• Rattan furniture
• Metal lanterns 

Modernize Hardware

Outdated or worn-out door handles, house numbers and mailboxes can really take away from a home’s curb appeal.

Swapping out the hardware for cleaner, more modern pieces is a tried-and-true curb appeal idea. It’s an easy and relatively inexpensive way to keep a home looking contemporary and eye-catching.

While mixing materials is trendy, choosing hardware and fixtures in the same material, colour and finish is highly recommended. The cohesive look is clean and sophisticated.

Do a Deep, Deep Clean 

A homeowner won’t see accumulated dirt and debris like a hawkeyed potential buyer will. The most gorgeous gardens and lighting can’t hide grime — and it’s enough to give buyers pause.

Your clients should be rolling up their sleeves or hiring a service to do an extensive exterior clean. Not just brushing away cobwebs from porch corners, but power-washing surfaces and paths, polishing wood furniture, cleaning out eaves and washing windows.