Forget renovations: I found 5 upgrades under $50 that will transform your home’s curb appeal in a single weekend

Front porch — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

At this time of year, you have probably already spring-cleaned your home, giving it a thorough blitz and declutter. And now with the weather looking sunnier, it's time to step outside and boost your home’s curb appeal.

The good thing is you don’t need a stack of dollars or a lot of time to freshen up the front of your house; in fact, with some clever thinking and a single weekend, you can improve your home’s curb appeal in no time at all.

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1. Tidy up

Sweeping path — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

“The biggest mistake homeowners make is thinking curb appeal requires a massive budget,” says Jeff Berzolla, CEO at Instant Roofer. “In reality, the most impactful improvements often cost under $500 and can be completed in a weekend.”

I think you can do it for far less, but it all depends on what tools you already own.

I always start by washing down my window frames and cleaning the glazing until it sparkles. All you need is a bucket, a cleaning sponge and a window squeegee. You could try DSV's 2-in-1 Window Cleaner, $13 at Amazon, which includes an extension pole.

Once your windows are sparkling, get out a broom and sweep up your pathway and front porch. If the grime is set in, use a power washer to blast it off. If you don’t already own a power washer, either borrow one or try the free section on Craigslist.

Apart from cleaning up, tackle any unruly plants. Pull up dead plants that won’t do your curb appeal any favors, and grab a pair of pruning shears and trim overgrown plants. I recommend Corona's ClassicCut pruning shears as the best budget option in our buying guide, available for $24 at Amazon.

It’s surprising how much a spring cleaning can improve your home’s curb appeal.

2. Accentuate your front door

Man painting front door blue — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Your front door is the first thing that guests and even passers-by notice (and let’s not forget buyers if you decide to put your home on the market).

A fresh coat of paint, or a change of color can instantly give your entrance way a boost. The quickest and cheapest way will be give your door a quick sand and reapply another coat of what’s already there, and you may already have some remaining paint in your shed or garage, so all it will cost you is your time.

For a more significant change, I suggest picking a bright color, such as sunny yellow. Once you’ve given your front door a new coat of paint, don’t forget about the door furniture. Clean the hardware using warm water, then if any stubborn marks remain, mix equally parts of white vinegar and olive oil, and apply it to a cloth before giving your fixtures a polish.

3. Add outdoor lighting

Solar pathlights — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Outdoor lighting can add a gentle glow to the exterior of your house without flooding it with harsh light. My preference is to choose solar lighting, as once you’ve made the purchase, you won't be spending out on energy.

Decorate your front porch with solar string lights, like Brightech’s Ambience Pro Solar Powered Outdoor String Lights, $19 at Amazon. Alternatively, lead guests up your garden path with carefully placed path lights, like Ring’s motion-activated pathlight, $34 at Amazon. The beauty of the path lights is that they can easily be moved and placed wherever you see fit.

4. Create an instant garden

Group of colorful pots with bright flowers in bloom — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

There’s one method I use to instantly upgrade my home’s curb appeal and I do it on repeat throughout the year.

Plants will add an instant boost to your front yard and create a beautiful aesthetic, but when planted directly in the ground their interest can wane depending on the season. However, a few cleverly placed containers can provide a constant appeal, if changed up through the seasons.

What’s more, you can reposition the pots for a different look, swap them around, changing them for containers you already have in your backyard. All you’ll need to do is ensure the plant’s you choose are vibrant. Bulbs are a good choice for spring time, but as we start to move into summer swap them for brightly colored petunias, or for a real statement plant introduce a hydrangea in a pot.

You can also go upwards with hanging baskets, by planting trailing geraniums, lobelia and fuchsias.

5. Edge your lawn

Tidy front lawn — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Don’t be lawn-shamed. Once you’ve given your grass a mow, don’t leave it like that with ragged edges on display. Simply edging your lawn will make it appear neat and tidy and provide that finishing touch. You don't need a power tool to edger your lawn, a simple manual lawn edger will do. I like Kyeen-Tools Serrated Lawn Edger, $21 at Amazon.

Edging your lawn creates a clean, and crisp boundary between your beds and pathways and contributes to boosting your home’s curb appeal, giving a manicured finish.

Revamp your front yard for less

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