How to Take Your Fixer Upper Home From Drab to Dreamy

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Let’s be honest: fixer-uppers have major personality, but it’s not always the good kind. You may be dealing with peeling paint, grimy windowsills, and overgrown shrubbery that makes your fixer-upper home look more like a haunted house. Luckily, these issues can be fixed with just a bit of vision! 

At brick&batten, we’re all about turning potential into pretty. Here are some things you can do to take your fixer-upper home and turn it into the home of your dreams. 

Traditional fixer-upper home with extra white trim, stone, and earthy color siding, double doors, and wood garage

Do You See the Vision? 

Before you can start slapping paint everywhere, you need to take a quick step back. What are your goals here, anyway?

Turning around a fixer-upper house can be a lot of work, so going into it with a clear vision is important. After all, the last thing you want is to “fix up” your home and still be unhappy!

Think about the design direction you want to aim for. Do you like modern farmhouse vibes? Looking for the cozy charm of a coastal cottage? Or do you just want simple, clean lines and a bit of bold contrast? Once you’ve figured out the style you want, you can start to nail down the smaller details. 

If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, consider creating a mood board on Pinterest. Seeing examples of other homes you like can help you envision what your home might look like with a bit of love and care!

A mid-century modern Florida home with a colorful door, wood accents on the carport, deep eaves and dark color Inkwell shake shingle.

Start With the Fundamentals of a Fixer-Upper Home

It’s easy to get caught up in the fun parts of redesigning your home’s exterior. We all love the moment when we can finally order those nice new house numbers we’ve had in our cart for months! But before we can get to the fun little details, we have to first focus on the fundamentals. After all, no amount of gorgeous paint colors can help a home that’s falling apart!

Start by checking your siding and roof. If anything is cracked, warped, sagging, or missing, that’s repair number one. You should also power wash your home to make sure it’s clean and ready for a new layer of paint. If you don’t, you might end up with your paint not adhering properly, causing peeling, bubbling, and discoloration. Yikes!

You should also paint with purpose. Choose your paint colors carefully – it takes a lot of work to paint a house exterior! Many homeowners prefer a neutral backdrop like white or “greige” that complements everything, but you can certainly go bolder with choices like soft black or dusty blue! If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the choices (and we don’t blame you – there’s a lot), our designers at brick&batten are here to help. Check out our paint visualizer services to see your home in a new light!

A fixer upper, transitional home designed by brick&batten with a stone fireplace in the gable, window awnings, a pergola structure over the front door and patio

Elevate Your Fixer-Upper Home’s Entryway 

Your front door should feel warm and welcoming. If it’s making your guests want to turn and run the other way, it’s time for a big makeover. Fixing up your front door is one of the highest-impact updates you can make to your home’s exterior, and it’s also one of the most affordable!

First, think about the color of your front door. Choose something contrasting that adds some personality to your home. Some of our fave shades include classic red, deep plum, and sage green, but you should think about your home’s siding color before making your final choice. Then, swap out that old, worn hardware for a sleek new handle set. 

You should also take a look at that old lighting. Lighting sets the ambiance for your home, so it should be an integral part of your design plan! Replace any dated sconces with new fixtures that complement your home’s new style. Think about where you want the lighting and why – do you just want to light up your house numbers, or do you want a place to relax and read a book on a warm evening? 

If your porch is on the larger side, consider adding some life by introducing a few planters and stylish furniture pieces. Think of it as your home’s jewelry – just remember to keep it symmetrical, too!

A coastal modern home with French quarter lighting, natural landscape, Bahama shutters, flat panel shutters, and large wood door, with lap siding painted Alabaster

Go From Flat to Fabulous

Does your fixer-upper home have a boring, flat face? There are a few different solutions to this problem!

The way to solve a flat face is to add depth and dimension in small but noticeable ways. Some of the biggest things to look at here are:

  • Shutters, to add contrast and character
  • Trim and gable details, to create a custom look
  • Garage upgrades, like faux wood overlays or carriage-style accents
  • Pergolas or awnings, to add instant charm (and a bit of shade!)

The purpose of these details is to make your home feel more intentional. You want to look at your home and think, “Yeah, it was always meant to look this good!”

Symmetrical design by brick&batten with stone and breeze block entryway, modern stairs, natural landscape, and colorful double door

Don’t Forget the Landscaping

So you’ve spruced up the house, what about everything around it? Your home’s surroundings make a huge impact on how it’s perceived. You could have the perfect home, but if it’s surrounded by overgrown shrubbery or uneven grass, it’s not going to look great. Think of it like your home’s haircut. 

You don’t need to do anything drastic here, either. Start simple by trimming back overgrown bushes, or remove them entirely if you’re not feeling them. Edge the lawn, clean up flower beds, and add a few more layers with things like:

  • Low-maintenance native plants
  • Mulch for contrast
  • Planters near the porch
  • Defined walkways made of stone or brick

These accents give your home a cleaner look and make it feel more welcoming. And don’t forget to think vertically, too. If your home seems too short and stout, adding some trellises or small trees can balance proportions nicely. 

A traditional style home with porch swing, walkways and landscape, beautiful trellis above the walkway, also a trellis feature on the wall and arbor with hanging vines over the garage

Ready to Transform Your Fixer-Upper Home? 

Tackling a fixer-upper home is no small task, but with a clear vision and a few high-impact updates, you can boost your curb appeal without blowing your budget. 

If you’re ready to see what your home could look like before you order all that paint and accessories, our expert designers at brick&batten are ready to help. We’re ready to give your fixer-upper the virtual exterior makeover it deserves, so you can make it a reality. 

Author

Alexis Bishop is a professional writer and journalist based in East Tennessee. As a writer for over a decade, she has created content on a wide variety of topics ranging from tech to healthcare for small businesses. As a journalist, she primarily follows the latest music and entertainment trends and has written for publications like WUOT, K FUSE, and Teen Vogue.  Outside of writing, Alexis has worked as a secondary science teacher and a professional development consultant in higher education. She is also a homeowner passionate about home design and regularly finds herself DIYing throughout her house on the weekends. 

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