*Collaborative post
There are plenty of tried and tested ways of decorating the outside of your home. But there are also some innovative approaches to smartening up your home’s exterior. From your front door and windows to your driveway, there’s plenty of ways to make your home stand out.
Wall cladding
There are many benefits to fitting wall cladding to the exterior of your home. It improves the insulation levels of the property, provides additional protection against the elements and adds an interesting design feature to the property’s facade.
You can choose from timber, composite, uPVC, metal, brick and stone depending on the look that you want to achieve. The result can be a completely new look for your home and it’s often a low maintenance option.
uPVC painting
Just as you can change the look of your external walls with some cladding, you can also change the colour of your uPVC windows and doors with a specially formulated paint. uPVC spray painting allows you to completely alter the appearance of your windows and doors, changing them from a plain white to any of the thousands of RAL colours available.
While it’s perfectly possible to do this as a DIY job with the right preparation, leaving it to a professional decorator will give you better results.
New guttering & downpipes
New guttering might not be top of your wishlist but stylish guttering and downpipes can make a striking statement on your house. As well as being durable and functional, installing replacement gutters can refresh the exterior of your home.
For an unusual but impactful look, choose copper guttering. The metal develops an elegant patina as it adjusts to the elements and inhibits the growth of moss and lichen.
Cast iron gutters are also incredibly stylish and can last for many decades, if well cared for. It’s a recyclable material, fire resistant and absorbs the sound of heavy rain better than plastic or galvanised steel.
Plant your driveway
Elevate your driveway with beautiful ground cover plants planted down the middle or in the gaps between pavers. Choose fragrant specimens such as creeping thyme or Corsican mint so you get the scent every time you step out of your car.
A driveway can be difficult to beautify but with some thought and imagination you can transform it from a functional space to an attractive, colourful and fragrant part of your property.
Vertical garden
A vertical garden is not just for people with restricted garden space, it can be used to create a unique and unusual addition to your property. Also known as a living wall, it can be planted with herbs, flowers, or vegetables to make a beautiful display as well as provide food and herbs for the kitchen.
If you have a part of your garden fence or a wall you want to hide, a vertical garden is the perfect solution. Instead of bare wood or brick, you’ll have a living display of colourful and fragrant plants. A vertical garden also helps to absorb sound.