You don’t need to undertake an expensive renovation project to make your home exterior look expensive. By following these professional tips, you can learn how to create a luxurious look for your house from the outside, even on a limited budget and without any significant construction.

Enhancing the appearance of a home on a limited budget often comes down to subtle details that can have a significant impact. Incorporating appropriate lighting, updating the color palette, or adding some greenery can breathe new life into a house exterior without substantial changes. To help you achieve an elevated look for your home, whether, for resale or personal satisfaction, we’ve consulted with property and interior design specialists to offer advice on simple and cost-effective ways to make your house look more luxurious from the outside. 

Here’s what they suggest…

create an expensive looking house exteriors

Conduct a Thorough Cleaning

Cleaning is the most effortless and immediate method to enhance the appearance of any room. However, when was the last time you gave the exterior of your house a thorough scrub down, apart from cleaning the windows?

Usually, the rest of the exterior gets overlooked, allowing dirt, grime, and stains to accumulate on the siding, windows, and other surfaces. But by using a power washer to eliminate years of filth from your driveway and gutters, clearing out any debris, and washing the outside of the gutters, you can revive the exterior and make everything appear sparkling and new.

If you’re on a tight budget, this is one of the simplest and most economical ways to enhance your home’s curb appeal. Renting a power washer is relatively inexpensive if you don’t already own one. You’ll be amazed at how much you can enhance the appearance of your exterior by sprucing it up a bit.

If you want to clean your entrance, first, you should learn how to clean your entrance doors.

clean your home entry

Revamp Your Entry Door to Make your Home Exterior Look Expensive

Refreshing your entry doors is an obvious yet effective way to enhance the appearance of a house’s exterior. From a brand-new entry door to a statement color change, there are solutions that fit all budgets.

Updating your front door with a fresh coat of paint or replacing it entirely is a quick and easy way to transform your home’s exterior.

The color of your front door can significantly affect your property’s curb appeal. If the door’s paint looks worn and faded, it’s time for a fresh coat because a smart-looking door can dramatically enhance your home’s appearance. Therefore, selecting the right color is crucial.

When selecting the ideal color for your front door, it’s important to consider paint colors that may decrease your home’s value since not all colors will “add value.”

Blue, lilac, and purple are the most attractive paint colors for visitors. However, black and grey are safer options, particularly if you want to impress potential buyers when selling.

Check out the best colors for modern front doors.

You can also change your front door and install an attractive modern or traditional one equivalent to your home design. If you want to learn more about your options, we recommend you read our guide on the best entrance door options for homes.

expensive looking front doors

Incorporate Ambient Lighting at the Entrance

Lighting can significantly enhance the appearance of a home’s exterior and give it a touch of luxury. The right lighting for your porch can instantly enhance your home’s curb appeal. Using up-and-down lights on both sides of the entryway to create beautiful pools of light and draw attention. Post lanterns and porch ceiling lights can also add to the grandeur of the entrance. For a budget-friendly option, hang up some string lights, which are easy to install and affordable. He also suggests investing in solar-powered lanterns on either side of the walkway to create a cozy and appealing look.

This can work great if your home features modern double doors.

beautiful lighting for front door

Use More Greenery

Adding some greenery can do wonders for the exterior of your house, from stylish topiary trees placed near the front door to charming window boxes filled with colorful blooms. It’s a simple way to add sophistication and a sense of thoughtfulness to the overall look.

You don’t need to spend much on landscaping to make your home look expensive; adding a few planters and some vibrant foliage can do the trick.

However, don’t randomly scatter plants around your exterior; use them to accentuate focal points like entryways and windows.

greenery in front doors

Use New Window Frames

Windows are a prominent design feature in any house and can play a huge role in its transformation. After cleaning them, a simple way to make them look more aesthetically pleasing is to spruce up the frames with a fresh coat of paint.

Painting your window frames is a cost-effective way to refresh your home’s interior and exterior. Windows can look worn and weathered over time, but a fresh coat of paint can give them a new lease of life without having to replace them.

When it comes to choosing the right paint material, we recommend using water-based acrylic paint or alkyd paint, which requires solvents like turpentine. For unpainted wood, it’s best to use acrylic outdoor paint, as it allows the surface to breathe, resulting in better adherence to the paint all year round.

You can tell that this is one of the easiest ways to make your home exterior look expensive.

Revamp Your Glass Panes to Elevate the Appearance of Your Home Exterior Instantly

You can also enhance the appearance of your windows and entrance door by applying decorative window film on the glass, in addition to refreshing the frames and the look of your door.

Using window films is an easy and quick way to update the exterior of your home, which could even increase its value – ideal for those looking to sell.

To select the right design for your window film, consider the age of your property and whether you prefer Victorian stained glass or contemporary patterns. There is a wide range of designs to choose from to suit all tastes. If privacy is required, opt for the design to be printed on a frosted film. On the other hand, if privacy is not a concern, a non-frosted film will add more color vibrancy to the design.

Window film is a cost-effective alternative to having your glass etched and can be easily installed. Each number sticker or film can also be applied to any smooth, non-porous surface, such as steel, plastic, varnished, or painted wood.

Additionally, you have many glass options for entry doors which can also make your home exterior look expensive.

glass panes of the front door

You Can Install a Beautiful House Sign

Adding an elegant house sign is a simple yet effective way to make your home exterior look expensive and convey a personal touch. It also signifies that you take pride in displaying the name or number of your house, making it more of a statement.

Never Forget Your Lawn

The upkeep of front lawns is often overlooked compared to backyards, but maintaining them is equally essential to keep your house looking its best.

Regular maintenance of the lawn is crucial. This includes mowing the grass, removing weeds, and trimming hedges and trees. A well-manicured lawn can instantly give a home a polished and put-together look.

Make sure you have a green space outside your home that you’re proud of. If your front lawn is currently looking overgrown and weedy, invest some time in tidying it up.

Gardening is a great way to make your home exterior look expensive, attractive, stylish, and inviting. Adding more plants, planting a tree, or creating a stepping-stone pathway are some simple ways to enhance this area.

Hide Unattractive Utility Boxes

AC units and utility boxes are essential components of our homes, but they often detract from the overall aesthetic. However, with some simple decorating and styling tips, you can minimize their impact, much like how a room can appear more spacious with the right paint.

No matter how much effort you put into upgrading your home’s exterior, a large electrical box mounted on your wall will negate all your hard work. It’s frustrating, but this situation provides an opportunity for you to get creative.

For a straightforward solution, we suggest painting the fixture to blend in with the rest of the exterior. However, he also proposes investing in a decorative cover or planting some climbing plants around the box to conceal it stylishly without obstructing access.

hide utility boxes

Update Your Garage Doors to Make Your Home Exterior Look Expensive

Your garage door can take up a considerable area at the front of your home. If it appears old or worn out, it can diminish the overall appearance of your house.

You have several options to improve the look of your garage door. One alternative is to paint it. By selecting a color that matches your home’s overall color scheme, you can give your garage door a renewed, fresh appearance. Alternatively, you could consider replacing the garage door altogether. Contemporary garage doors with embellishments or windows can add more sophistication to your home.