8 Exterior Updates to Make Your Starter Home Feel Like Your Forever House
By: Mackenzie
Turning a starter home into your forever house doesn’t have to mean major renovations or adding square footage. Sometimes, the most impactful changes happen on the outside. Exterior updates not only improve curb appeal but also evoke a sense of permanence. From upgrading your front door to refreshing your landscaping, there are plenty of ways to make your house feel more like home. Read on for some of our favorite ideas to transform your starter home into your dream home.
Whether you want to makeover your starter home or make your dream home even dreamier, we’re here to help. Our designers will work with you to understand your goals, making a plan to manifest them. It doesn’t matter how big or small the changes are, we’ll come along for the ride. Learn all about our services!
What is a good starter house?
A good starter home is an affordable, practical property that meets the needs of first-time homebuyers while offering potential for growth and personalization. These homes are typically smaller in size (no starter mansions, sorry!) and are often dated and in need of updates. At the root, these homes provide a manageable space that requires less maintenance, allowing new homeowners to gradually learn the ropes of homeownership without being overwhelmed.
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#1 // Repaint & refresh the exterior
It’s amazing what a fresh paint job can do for an exterior. For this design, we brightened the siding, painting it with Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak — a warm, versatile neutral hue. Switching up paint colors is one of the easiest ways to revamp a starter home. We even offer a paint visualizer service that will show you what your home would look like in another color before you committ to the change!
Our designers also opened up the porch, replacing the existing solid siding portion with airy, X-style deck railing. The new railing allows more light into the lounge space, enhancing visibility at the same time. Another impactful way our designers opened up the layout of this quaint home was widening the walkway and accentuating it with landscaping. We also used the landscaping as an opportunity to complement the new palette, using luscious white blooms throughout.
#2 // Multi-dimensional makeover
If your starter home’s façade falls a little flat, there are plenty of subtle changes to add dimension. On the garage side, we revamped the space with a garage awning and flanked the updated door with mounted lanterns to draw the eye. We swapped the simple stoop with a spacious porch. Extending a metal roof out for the porch adds another layer to the face of the home, and the peak of the portico makes the entrance stand out.
#3 // Modernize the exterior
The exterior on this ranch house was a bit dated, and our designers overhauled it to give the starter home a more modern look. Our designers swapped the red brick for bold vertical siding, rendered in Sherwin Williams’ Iron Ore. Complementing the deep charcoal, we used wood siding surrounding the entry space, drawing the eye. We also replaced the existing front door with a modern glass door for a sleek aesthetic.
#4 // Add bold accents
Big changes make a big difference, but with a starter home, sometimes the impact is in the little details. We maintained the beautiful red brick exterior of this ranch, amplifying it with some bold accents. To make the brick stand out, we went with thick black window trim and a bright burst for the front door with Benjamin Moore’s Galapagos Turquoise. We also embraced brightly colored blooms and eclectic plants throughout to reinforce the striking aesthetic.
We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.
#5 // Revamp the entryway
In the before photo shown above, the entrance got a little lost between the angled, narrow walkway, the landscaping, and the lack of contrast between the door and the exterior. We started our refresh of this starter home by painting the exterior white, making the different textures and elements on the exterior stand out. Our designers also focused on calling attention to the entrance with intentional updates.
We framed the widened walkway with landscaping to make the entry’s lead-in more eye-catching. Against the white exterior, the new black double doors bring much needed contrast to the entry. Flanking the door with black planters and mounted lanterns adds even more visual interest to the space.
#6 // Refresh the landscaping
Revamping the landscaping of your starter home is one of the easiest ways to elevate your starter home’s curb appeal. Our designers used landscaping as a way to bridge together the front yard, driveway, and patio in the design above. We connected the spaces by carving out a defined landscaped area, creating a warm, welcoming vibe. We even warmed up the aesthetic of the garage with a pergola and neutral planters.
Below, we used landscaping to better define the walkway that leads to the entry, drawing the eye. The landscaping complements the fresh, brightened-up exterior with wispy plants and subtle bright blooms. The layout, along with the updated pavers creates a discernible path to the entrance, infusing the design with intentionality.
#7 // Extend the porch
Extending the porch is a fantastic way to give a starter home a makeover, adding both functionality and charm. A larger porch creates a versatile outdoor space perfect for relaxing, entertaining, or simply enjoying the view. Our designers built this porch out more, adding planters and a porch swing for a warm, welcoming vibe. We also replaced the existing awning with a rustic portico, complementing the earthy palette and natural materials on the exterior.
#8 // Reimagine the layout
From a homeowners’ perspective, it can sometimes be challenging to look at a starter home and see its potential — that’s where we come in. Our designers saw this exterior as an opportunity to perform a face lift. This existing part of the exterior was the side, but we transformed it to the face. We relocated the entrance, framing a portico for added dimension.
Our designers extended the roof out to create a covered patio, complete with a hanging chair to the right and a lounge space to the left. We also brought in a walkway, lined with mulch and landscape lighting to define the new layout. The landscaping against the house adds to the revamped inviting vibe of the exterior. Plus, the plants we chose bring a bit of softness to the bold aesthetic of the house.
Time to get started!
By focusing on the exterior of your first home, you can create a welcoming space that feels truly yours, so you’ll forget it’s “just” a starter home. Simple updates like enhancing your landscaping, upgrading your driveway, or changing paint colors can make a big difference in your home’s curb appeal. And if you’re not sure where to begin, don’t worry. Our brick&batten designers are ready to help!
Is the urge to chase down your design dreams and make them your reality growing too big to ignore? Stop suppressing your dream home! Our designers are ready to work with you to achieve all your goals. Get started today!
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