At A New Leaf, we know that increasing your home's curb appeal isn't as simple as a new coat of paint (though that's always a smart idea, too!). Maybe you want to sell your home in the near future, and get the best price. Or perhaps you just want to have your home be a beautiful beacon on your stretch of the street. Whatever the case, there are some simple exterior home decorating ideas that may be just right for you. Here are four of our favorites.

Invest in Modern Hardware

Sometimes it's the little things that keep your house from being all it could be. By updating hardware elements like your mailbox, porch light fixtures, and even the address numbers on the side of your house, you will add consistent style to your home's exterior. Material choices like brass, bronze, and nickel will be appropriate for different home styles and construction eras.

Add Outdoor Lighting

One of the best ways to enliven your home's curb appeal may not have anything to do with the exterior walls. By adding lighting elements to your yard, and the pathway leading to your front door, your home will be given a look of simple elegance, especially when illuminated in the evening. Not only that, but lighting makes navigating a dark yard easier and safer.

Add Instant Landscaping

Not everyone is a natural gardener. Luckily, you don't have to be. Even in hot climates like ours, where not everyone wants to work in the sun, you can buy elegant flowering plants, shrubs, and trees to adorn your porch or deck. Many garden centers offer a wide variety of vegetation in appropriate sized containers. Put it in place, water, and enjoy.

Add or Update Your Shutters and Trim

Consider adding shutters, if you don't have them already. If you have them in place, but think they might need a touch-up, our painters can give your shutters and trim a new lease on life. A new trim color gives your home's exterior paint job a lovely contrast. By updating or adding colored shutters and trim, you can give your home a 2 or 3-color paint color scheme, and spend a lot less than you would painting the whole house. While you're working on shutters and exterior trim, take a look at your siding. Fixing one or two broken spots can make all the difference in your home's appearance.

Of course, there are endless ideas to add to your home's curb appeal. But these are some of the best we know of, as well as some of the most under-appreciated. All of these projects can be achieved within most budgets, and in stages if you so desire. In the end, your home will have an impressive facade, the envy of everyone on the block. At A New Leaf, we're not just painters. We take pride in the ways we serve the Jacksonville, FL area. Call us about projects like these, and any others you might imagine.