Steal This Curb Appeal: Ideas to Imitate

I have been thinking about doing a series like this for quite some time now. I have seen and photographed thousands of houses over the last five years, and based on what I share here and on social media I have developed a good idea of what gives a home great curb appeal. Of course, taste is subjective, but hopefully you will find some inspiration.

Sometimes the architecture of a house alone makes it eye-catching from the street, but most of us don’t live in houses with exceptional architecture. Instead, great curb appeal is created by the homeowner with their use of color, plantings, lighting, and other details that add personality to the exterior of their home.

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I love the color palette, hardware, and other accents on the Providence, RI home featured below. What curb appeal ideas can we steal from this beauty?

A classic glossy red adorns the door of this home. Heritage Red from the Historical Colors Collection by Benjamin Moore is a good choice. Go for a high gloss for extra punch, but be sure to spend additional time on paint prep because high gloss paint shows imperfections more easily. Not bold enough for red? Black is another traditional choice that would look great with the brass accents on this home.

A close match for this home’s exterior is Van Courtland Blue for the body of the house and Palace Pearl for the trim, also by Benjamin Moore. I have always used Benjamin Moore for my own home, inside and out, and I gravitate towards the Historical Colors or Colonial Williamsburg Collections as it helps me narrow down options.

This homeowner uses brass details such as the house numbers, mail slot, and doorbell to brighten up the exterior of their traditional home. When shopping for brass hardware, look for solid brass construction instead of brass plated. Solid brass can always be polished to its original shine, but brass plating will deteriorate over time requiring replacement.

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How can you tell if an item is a solid brass vs. brass plated? Hold a magnet up to the item. If it doesn’t stick, it’s solid brass. If it does, it is likely brass plated steel or cast iron.

Be aware that brass is a “living finish” meaning that its appearance changes when exposed to the elements. Many people prefer this patina that emerges over time but if you like shiny brass, consider purchasing brass items with a lacquered finish or a lifetime finish to reduce ongoing maintenance.

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A sure sign of spring in New England is when the forsythia starts to bloom. The bright, almost neon yellow flowers are a welcome sight as the temperatures begin to rise in April. Even if you don’t have forsythia in your landscape, you can add a little sunshine to your entry with forsythia door decor. It will easily take you through the spring season.

This traditional forsythia wreath mimics the one on this home quite well, but there are many variations on a theme. Take a peek at this door decor on Etsy to get some other ideas. One of my favorites has forsythia branches displayed in a basket, and another has forsythia mixed with other greenery, tied off with a burlap bow.

I noticed that the light fixture on this home is not brass, and the good news is that it is perfectly acceptable to mix metal finishes both inside and outside of your home. I prefer things to not be too “matchy-matchy” anyway.

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There is no set formula on how to create great curb appeal for your home, but we can certainly steal curb appeal ideas from others. Imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery, right? If you are on a journey to improve the exterior of your home, or just dreaming about your future home, I hope this has provided some inspiration!

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