Home Exterior Design Mistakes That Make Your Front Yard Look Unappealing
The front of your house is the first part people see, which can make a striking first impression. However, what you don’t want is for people to judge your home negatively based on a few entirely correctable decorating mistakes on your part.
“When you arrive at someone’s house, generally, there’s a delay between when you ring the doorbell or call, and when the person comes to the door,” explains Pamela O’Brien, principal designer at Pamela Hope Designs.
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The exterior entrance and the outside part of the house are the most important elements, because people have those few seconds, sometimes even a few minutes, during which they start looking around.
So, what decorating mistakes always make the front of your house unappealing? We interviewed O’Brien and other interior design experts about the faux pas to avoid regarding the main entrance and exterior of the house.
Meet the Experts
Too Many Garden Decorations and Figurines
All interior design experts advise against decorating the exterior of your house with figurines and garden ornaments in the shape of woodland creatures, gnomes, or signs with inspirational quotes.
“You can see how this can dilute the sophistication of a house,” says Isfira Jensen, CEO and principal designer of Jensen & Co. “You want the exterior of your house to be more welcoming, clean, and sophisticated. These elements generally don’t lend themselves to that.”
O’Brien suggests moving ornamental figurines from the front of the house to the backyard, where they can be placed on outdoor tables, the patio, or in a flower bed.
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Outdated Holiday Decorations
Once Holiday, or Easter is over, experts recommend removing these decorations immediately. Leaving them up after the holiday can give your home’s exterior a gimmicky appearance.
“The solution is obviously to remove them or maybe add a type of bistro light that’s more appropriate for year-round lighting and doesn’t seem directed toward a party,” explains Jennifer Beget, owner and principal designer of J Beget Designs.
Mismatched Exterior Elements
Jensen suggests paying attention to door handles and knobs that aren’t in identical metal or outdoor fixtures that don’t match. The same goes for exterior elements of the house such as siding and roofing.
“It feels like there wasn’t much thought put into making sure everything harmonizes, and that’s where it starts to look a bit outdated,” she says. “The rest of the house might look absolutely spectacular, but these anomalies will certainly be noticed.”
Discolored or Wilted Plants
A small garden can be pleasant in front of your house, but not if the plants are yellowing or wilting.
“Plants are really only pleasant when they’re healthy and happy,” states O’Brien. “Take care of the plants and make sure to choose a plant that will thrive in the climate it will encounter in your front entrance.”
Even if you use artificial flowers in the garden, Beget warns that their colors can start to fade and they can crumble if they’re not protected against UV rays.
Overly Ornate Front Door
The front door can say a lot about someone’s house, but Jensen recommends opting for a simpler design rather than something with complex stained glass, multiple colors, or metal inserts.
“They simply might not harmonize with the style of the house,” she says, “or they’re so incredibly ornate that they stand out from other elements, and they make the entire facade of the space look inelegant and cheap.”
She suggests installing solid-colored doors that are more understated, with glass elements that aren’t excessive.
Poorly Maintained Porch or Entrance
No matter what you have in front of your door, if it’s covered with dust and cobwebs, it doesn’t leave a good first impression. The same goes for a faded or dirty doormat, or a stained front door that shows signs of wear or peeling paint.
“You need to sweep it and pressure wash it from time to time, or at least scrub it,” says O’Brien. “I think these are things most of us don’t think about very often, but they really make your house look much less well-maintained.