It’s the start of 2015, which can only mean one thing – the setting of optimistic but highly unrealistic New Year’s resolutions. Whilst we’d like to feel a certain pride to say, kicking the habit of weekday takeaways or endeavouring to spend less time on our smartphones, why not set the New Year’s challenge of a newer looking home?
Step outside your front door, and take a look at your building – what do you see? Cracks down the side of the wall? Lacklustre paint? Perhaps it’s time to roll your sleeves up and spruce up your home, transforming it from a shabby structure to a premier property. With a lick of paint here and a bit of elbow grease there, we share our top 5 tips to improve the aesthetics of your home:
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Refurbish your front door. As the quote goes: “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door” – but in the case of your dilapidated door, this might be the reason why you’ve had a lack of interest on your doorstep. Make a statement by painting it a bright and bold colour, or if you’d rather keep it safe, stick to the fashionable shade of black – but if you’re feeling contemporary, you can’t go wrong with a matt finish.
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Light the way. On a dark night, make your property look inviting with some flattering lighting. Try fitting some lights either side of the front door for some impressive symmetry – or if you’ve got a front garden, place some lights in the trees or in the path or driveway.
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Clean and clear. Is your pathway cluttered with piles of leaves and creating a mini obstacle course? Keep the approach to your front door clear from rubbish and while you’re at it, you might want to consider updating the look of your path – with sandstone or even a freshly painted railing adding a sense of style.
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Number/name your house. Post not arriving? Dinner guests late? This could probably be attributed to a poorly numbered/named property. Make your home more visible with easy-to-read signs or numerals, so your property can be instantly identified. Whether you opt for stencilled numbers or tasteful engravings, ensure these are legible.
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Making an entrance. If you’re the homeowner of a grand country house, nothing makes more of an entrance than a well-designed entrance gate. However, it’s recommended that the entrance gate reflects the period of the home – with wrought iron electric gates commonly associated with a new-build, while a white-painted gate between stone pillars looks best with a manor.
Makeover your entrance with our high quality Johnstone’s Speciality Paint for Bricks, Tiles & Doorsteps – ideal for use on stone, brick, slate, paving and unglazed tiles. Providing protection whatever the weather, enjoy a professional finish from the painting experts at Johnstone’s Paints today.