One of the great advantages of home ownership is the ability to incorporate the exterior design ideas you have been longing for, and also to keep your home in great shape. Some ideas for improving the look for your property are more fanciful and turn out not to be financially practical or desirable in the light of day. Others are related to maintenance items that need to be done anyway just to keep your house in good repair. Why not use these necessary repairs and maintenance items to incorporate new design features that will increase the curb appeal of your home at the same time? Killing two birds with one stone is a necessity these days in terms of the tight financial markets.

Window Sills

Deteriorating window sills give a tired look to any home, so regular repair and painting are a necessity, especially since badly decayed sills allow air infiltration and heat loss. Eventually, rotted window sills allow water leaks and further destruction of walls and floors within your house. So, now is a good time to get to work repairing and painting your home's window sills and trim.

While you are at it, why not use an appealing trim color that coordinates with the main color of your siding? In one fell swoop, you will make a needed repair, prevent further damage, and provide new charm and accent to the facade. Increased energy efficiency is an extra bonus that will greatly improve the comfort and value of your home.

Lawn

Revamping your lawn and landscaping is one of the more satisfying ways to increase the appeal and value of your home. It is generally an easy do-it-yourself project as well. As well as regular lawn maintenance, there is nothing like a few well placed spots of colorful flowers to perk up your surroundings. Sometimes, all you have to do is purchase and place potted plants strategically around the house. Anyone passing by will find it easy to imagine themselves relaxing in your beautiful lawn or gazing at the flowers through a window from inside.

Another easy project with big returns in terms of curb appeal is to add a colorful border of flowering plants to the sidewalk approaching your front door. Not only is it eye-catching, but it is equivalent to rolling out the welcome mat for visitors or prospective buyers of your home, all for the investment of a few dollars and an afternoon of work planting and mulching.

Take a slow, appraising walk around your property, with an eye to needed repair projects that will also increase the visual appeal of your home and landscaping. Make a list and prioritized the projects so that you accomplish the repairs that preserve the value of your property while at the same time adding a little splash of color to freshen the look or your precious real estate. This will keep it fun as well as functional to maintain your home.