Summer gets all of the credit when it comes to the outdoors, and it’s no big surprise: everyone wants to soak up the sunshine as much as possible while it lasts. And, while some take the first falling leaf as a sign that it’s time to retreat indoors, you’re still on the outside looking in.

That’s because you know that your home needs a bit of a sprucing-up this fall before it’s too cold to get any work done on the exterior of your house. You’ve had your summer fun, so add one or more of the following five projects to your list so that your place looks its best — and so that you can relax when everyone else tackles home-update projects when the warmer weather returns.

1. Repaint Your Front Door: One of the easiest ways to boost your home’s curb appeal and make a statement at the same time is to brush a fresh coat of paint onto your front door. You can pull some of fall’s most traditional hues — like red, orange, goldenrod or brown — to make your door both new and seasonally appropriate.

   If you’re feeling in a particular mood to paint, you can also brush a coat onto your home’s shutters. The result will be more uniform and even more fall-friendly if your colors match the changing of the season.

2. Update Your Hardware: It’s amazing what a difference a little metal can make. Try it out on your own home by updating your home’s numbers, as well as your doorknobs, kick plates, etc. If you’re unsure which metallic finish goes best with your home’s exterior, buy a few from the store, hold them up and see which stands out just enough.

   You can even take time to update the hardware on your mailbox. And if you’re feeling extra ambitious, combine tips one and two: repaint your mailbox and give it a new set of numbers. You’ll be amazed at what a difference that makes to the overall look of your home.

3. Take Care of Your Plants: Summer’s flowers are probably starting to wilt. The hedges might be a bit overgrown, too. And, while it might seem like the perfect opportunity to let Mother Nature step in to take care of your garden, you should make a point to clean up your beds on your own.

   Depending on whether your plants are one-time or annual bloomers, you will need to either pull them up or trim them back for winter. Overgrown hedges will have to go, too. In completing this task, you’ll see that the entire front of your home looks cleaner and clearer. In other words, all eyes will be on the work that you’ve put in to spruce up your home’s exterior.

4. Upgrade Your Garage: It’s not often that the garage door gets any attention when it comes to DIY projects, and why would it? It’s just there to open and close when your drive your car in and out, right?

Think again.

Your garage door can make more of a statement than it is right now if you choose to replace it with something with a bit more character. A rustic wooden door, for example, will give your home more of a custom, country feel. You might even find that a new garage door will save you on heating costs because they provide more effective insulation. There’s not much better than an upgrade that improves both function and looks.

5. Add Outdoor Lighting: It’s no surprise that the sun begins to set a bit earlier when fall rolls around. Take advantage of the earlier nights by installing landscape lighting that highlights, for example, the pathway to your front door, the biggest tree in your yard or the curvature of your garden beds.

   The best news here is that you don’t have to install a complicated wiring system or rely on battery after battery to power your lighting system. Instead, you can purchase solar lights or another low-voltage option that requires little input from you to shed just the right amount of mood lighting.

Fall In Love With Your Home

No matter which project(s) you decide to tackle, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll be pleased with the end result. And, with colder weather coming, you’ll be looking even more forward to driving up, seeing the refreshed façade of your house, and heading inside for a warm night with the ones you love.  

Guest post by:

Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.

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