Curb Appeal How To & DIY

Improve the value of your home by discovering our curb appeal step-by-step tips & ideas.

porch_light_xl

Filed under:

Front Porch Lights: From A to Z

More than just a beacon leading to the front door, exterior lighting helps define the look of a house. With planning and a bit of math, you can put your home's best face forward.
S22 E4: Nathan Gilbert builds a utility cover
Play

How To Build, Customize, and Maintain a Utility Cover

Gas meters can be eyesores on your property, but there's an easy way to stylishly sheath them. Read about how to build, customize, and maintain a utility cover in our guide.
Two people preparing a high traffic landscape
Play

Landscaping Tips for High-Traffic Areas in Your Home

Tired of neighbors trampling your grass? Turn it into an attractive pathway instead. Learn more at this link.
flag_TOH
Play

How To Hang the American Flag

Watch as Ask This Old House carpenter and U.S. Navy veteran Nathan Gilbert explains the proper way to hang and display a U.S. flag.
Screen_Shot_2020_05_22_at_11.43.02_AM
Play

Personalize Your Front Door with Paint Colors

Want to boost your curb appeal without breaking the bank? Learn how to enhance your home's exterior by updating front door's color.
Image of a newly installed mailbox and post

How To Install a New Mailbox and Post

Want to boost your curb appeal with a new mailbox? Here's everything you need to know about how to install a new mailbox and post.
mailbox
Play

How to Replace a Mailbox Post

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner install a new curbside mailbox
entry_door
Play

How to Swap the Swing of an Entry Door

If you want to reverse your door's swing, check out our guide and video to learn how to tackle this DIY project.
trim_door
Play

How to Resize an Exterior Door

For a front door that keeps getting stuck on carpets, resizing can be a simple solution. This Old House's Tom Silva demonstrates how in this guide.
bluestone
Play

How to Build a Bluestone Walkway

Ask This Old House landscaping contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner remove a flagstone walkway and replace it with bluestone
Image of a home with double hung windows. It is important to choose the right window types for your home.

How To Choose the Right Window Style for Your Home

Discover how to choose the perfect window style for your home, balancing aesthetics, functionality, and energy efficiency.
steel lamppost upgraded by Mark Powers

A Step By Step Guide to Upgrading a Steel Lamppost

Using a PVC column kit and trim, you can build your own steel lamppost to add some lighting—and curb appeal—to your home.
tom_sidelights
Play

How to Replace Sidelights on a Front Door

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva replaces a pair of sidelights on a front door with new, insulated ones
hellstrip_gardening_xl

Add Curb Appeal With a Hellstrip Garden

Turn the struggling ribbon of lawn between the sidewalk and the street into a glorious garden with tough, easy-care plants
painted_flag_xl

4 Surprising Rules on Painting the American Flag

Make sure your painted flag stands up to the flag code with this guide. We'll tell you everything you need to know to show proper respect.
A blue board-and-batten shutter

How to Make Board-and-Batten Shutters

You can enhance your window openings by buying factory-made pairs or save a bundle by building your own
flag_display_xl

Flag Hanging Dos and Don'ts: A Comprehensive Guide

Honor Old Glory by following the Flag Codes proper display guidelines. In this article, we explain proper flag hanging dos and don'ts.
storm
Play

How To Install a New Storm Door in an Old Opening

This DIY guide and video, with This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, show you how to install a new storm door into an old opening.
landing_xl
Play

How to Install a Bluestone Landing on a Front Entry

This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook upgrades an old brick with bluestone slabs
urban_patio_xl
Play

How To Upgrade a Concrete Urban Patio

This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook transforms an old, ugly city slab into an urban oasis and shares several tips and tricks.
railing_xl
Play

How To Repair a Rusted Wrought Iron Railing

In this guide, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows you how to repair a rusted wrought iron railing for your front staircase.
stone_wall_xl
Play

How To Choose Materials for a Stone Wall

Planning a stone wall may feel overwhelming, but we can help. Explore different stone wall materials and installation methods in this guide.
trim_chimney_821_SF
Play

How to Install Exterior Trim Around a Stone Chimney

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to custom-fit PVC trim to a stone surface
address_post_xl

How to Build an Address Plaque Post

This guide will walk you through the process of building and installing a DIY address plaque post for the outside of your house.
transformationsMW_xl
Play

Making Modern Windows Work in a Historic Home

The trick to renovating a historic home is to use replacement windows with authentic period details, like Marvin Windows
storm_door_xl

How to Install an Aluminum Storm Door

A tightly weatherstripped storm door can reduce air leakage around a front door by as much as 45 percent
tv_paint_xlwhite

Picking the Perfect Exterior Paint Colors

The owners of the current TOH TV house used period illustrations, expert advice, and modern technology to find the right hues for their home
garden pathway lamppost

How To Build a Pathway Lamppost in 17 Simple Steps

Learn how to build a stylish pathway lamppost that enhances your outdoor space and provides functional lighting for garden paths and patios.
in_ground_flagpole_xl

In-Ground Flagpole Installation

Follow these instructions to let your patriotic spirit fly from your front lawn with this DIY flagpole installation project.
Placeholder

Everything You Need to Know to Upgrade Front Door Hardware

Freshen up your home's entryway with new front door hardware to increase both the curb appeal of your home, and its security.
2010_06kristine_larsen_5278

How To Make a Window Box with Vintage Trim

Build a window box with vintage flair for your flowers. Our step-by-step guide covers crafting, installing, and decorating with antique trim.
2010_05_toh1_003422bight

How to Design an Entry Garden

Plan a front-yard landscape that boosts curb appeal and welcomes you home
howto_epoxy_03_copy

Filling Rotted Trim with Two-Part Epoxy

Durable and flexible epoxy is the best way to restore crumbling woodwork