Painting can go a long way toward giving a home a fresh new look. It can take a boring house and turn it into the envy of the neighborhood. Of course, having the entire exterior of your house professionally painted isn’t in everyone’s budget, unfortunately. So, here are some budget-friendly suggestions on how to improve the exterior of your home with paint.
Freshen Up the Trim
If your budget doesn’t permit you to hire someone to paint the entire exterior of your house, you could hire a professional to paint just the trim. It can make a bigger difference than you might think. A contrasting trim color could make a house really pop! Think of a white house with white trim, and then imagine what that house could look like with some black trim. If the exterior walls of your home are a dark color, a nice bright white would be a great way to go.
Paint Your Front Door and/or Garage Door
Another affordable option is to paint your front door. A front door that’s painted an unexpected color or one that is unique to the neighborhood can be a great upgrade. You could also add some shutters to your front windows that are painted the same color as your front door. “Nonfunctional” shutters are inexpensive and easy to install.
Garage doors tend to look “tired” long before the rest of the house may be due for paint. Freshening up your garage door could go a long way toward giving your house a new look—especially if your garage doors are the prominent feature on the front of your house.
DIY House Painting
Of course, DIY house painting is always an option that will save you a ton of money over going with a professional, but as you probably already know, it’s not for everyone! There’s a reason many people in San Diego hire professional painters!
If you’re going to take on this type of project yourself to save money, it’s good to know what you’re getting into. First of all, you want to make sure you have the proper amount of time to dedicate to a large project like this. Be sure to start by doing some prep work. Thoroughly wash all the surfaces that will be painted and scrape off any peeling or bubbling paint. Fill any holes and cracks and replace any rotting wood. Then, trim back any plants that are touching your walls.
Make sure you have all the necessary equipment on hand before you start, such as:
- Plenty of quality exterior paint
- Brushes/rollers/paint sprayers for applying the paint
- Plenty of tarps to cover your plants and hardscaping
- A sturdy ladder
Make sure you cover all the surfaces thoroughly. Take care of any drips as soon as they happen. Again, give yourself plenty of time. Depending on the size of your house and your experience as a painter, a project like this could take several days.
One Final Note
It’s important to note that none of these tips will improve the look of your home if you choose the wrong colors. If you’re someone who doesn’t have a good eye for color, talk to someone who does. Get the advice of a friend with good taste in design or hire a color consultant if your budget allows. The last thing you want to do is paint your house and then be unhappy with how it comes out, leaving you with the unfortunate choice to either paint it again, or just live with the results.
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