Outdoor Decorating Mistakes - Part 3 & 4

Third on the "outdoor decor mistakes" list is ignoring the landscaping. A little bit of landscaping can go a long way toward giving your home curb appeal. You don't necessarily need a huge garden full of a variety of flowers - if you don't have a green thumb, an urn on either side of the door adds colour without taking a lot of work. Hanging baskets of flowers can be another low-hassle option. Stones and shrubbery can look great as well. A small fence can also add curb appeal - as long as you choose a paint or stain colour that works with the rest of the house. And the last mistake, on the opposite side of the spectrum - excessive lawn ornaments! While one or 2 decorative items can add a bit of pizazz to your yard, an entire family of gnomes paired with a well (or 2!), a collection of pots, wooden cutouts, and multiple sets of windchimes detract from your home's look. A smaller number of well-chosen items will have more impact.

Outdoor Decorating Mistakes - Part 2

Another outdoor-decor problem? Not considering the more permanent fixtures when choosing a decor scheme.  I've been watching a home reno near my mother's house with interest - the owner chose a stucco colour that they thought would be a neutral: grey. Undertones are a tricky thing, though - the grey chosen has very strong purple undertones, which are brought out even more by the sun (the way your house faces has a big effect!)...so the house actually looks purple. Not necessarily a problem, and it can actually look great depending on what you put with it...but this particular house has a warm brown roof, and this particular roof does not work with the shade of purple on the house. The already-there colour of something permanent like a roof (which is generally not changed for years) needs to be taken into consideration when choosing everything else.  Aside from the roof, pay attention to brick, stone and siding colours.

Increase Your Curb Appeal For Summer

When decorating for summer, the exterior of your home can be just as important as the inside -- after all, it's the first thing people see. Walk out to the sidewalk and take a look at your house from the street -- is it fresh and welcoming or dull and tired? The fastest way to brighten up the outside of your home is to paint the front door in a crisp new colour. If you want to take on a bigger project, now is a great time to paint siding and trim too.

Landscaping plays a huge part in getting your home summer-ready. Clean up the debris left over from winter; plant a garden full of brightly coloured flowers; place a planter full of greenery or flowers on each side of the front door. Add window boxes for splashes of colour that draw the eye up as well.

A brightly coloured welcome mat is a great summer accent that has an added bonus -- besides the visual appeal, it keeps the dirt tracked inside to a minimum (less time spent cleaning and more time for outside!). Add a wreath (grapevine or twig work best) to the front door - it can be decorated with summery accents and easily changed to reflect each season. If space permits, a comfortable bench by the front door is a perfect finishing touch.

Take it a step further and create an outdoor living space. Start with some comfortable patio furniture -- a couple of lounge chairs, a wicker loveseat, a swing or hammock, and small side tables if you have room. Add a few lanterns, some greenery and a summery rug, and you have a relaxing summer retreat that will really boost your home's summer curb appeal!