How to Improve Curb Appeal with Decorative Concrete

First impressions count, especially when it comes to selling a home. If the front of your property is lacking in curb appeal and looks dated and unattractive, that can have a big impact on your home’s resale value and even that of your neighbors.

Exactly how much influence can curb appeal have on a home’s selling price? According to REALTOR® Magazine, homes with an attractive exterior sell on average for 7% more than comparable homes with a rundown appearance. That means investing in landscaping, hardscaping, and other outdoor upgrades can really pay off when it comes time to sell your home.

Thanks to the versatility and permanence of decorative concrete, it’s possible to transform the look of your home exterior while adding significant long-term value. Because concrete also has the ability to be customized, a well-designed concrete driveway or sidewalk, using colors and patterns that complement your home’s architecture, can really set your property apart and make prospective buyers take notice. Here are several ideas for using decorative concrete to maximize your home’s potential.

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UPGRADE TO A CONCRETE DRIVEWAY

Because the driveway is usually the first thing people see when they approach a house, it often has more impact on a home’s curb appeal than other outdoor elements. If your existing asphalt or plain gray concrete driveway has seen better days and is failing to turn heads, consider upgrading the look of your home by installing a new decorative concrete pavement. Not only is a concrete driveway more durable and longer lasting than asphalt (see Asphalt vs. Concrete Driveway), it lends itself to a wide variety of finishes, including stamping, staining, exposed aggregate, and decorative engraving.

If you have an existing concrete driveway that’s in sound condition but lacks personality, you can give it a dramatic and lasting makeover — without having to rip it out and start over — by resurfacing it with a concrete overlay. With stampable overlays, you can use the same stamping mats used for traditional stamped concrete to produce patterns and textures that mimic stone, brick, slate, and other materials.

Get more design ideas:
9 Concrete Driveway Finishes
Design Ideas for Modern Concrete Driveways
Expanding an Existing Driveway: Concrete Driveway Extension Ideas
Design Ideas for Concrete Driveway Aprons

Tip: For maximum curb appeal and resale value, keep your driveway in harmony with your home's color scheme and surroundings. The design should also reflect the historical character and architectural style of your home. For example, concrete stained in rich earth-tone colors and stamped to look like natural stone contributes to the rustic charm of ranch, farmhouse, and country home styles. For modern home designs, use design schemes in subtle shades of gray to achieve a more contemporary look.

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CREATE AN INVITING ENTRYWAY

All great entryways begin with a welcoming walkway that ushers visitors to the front door in grand fashion. Stamped or stenciled patterns, engraving, colored concrete, and staining are just a few of the ways you can enhance a concrete sidewalk design. To give a front entry even more curb appeal, consider widening or flaring the sidewalk or making it curvilinear rather than straight.

To create even greater visual impact, have the concrete walkway lead to a decorative concrete stairway and landing that incorporates coordinating colors and patterns. If possible, pour the concrete steps right along with the walkway so they can be colored and textured to match. (See Decorative Concrete Stairways.)

Get more ideas for creating an inviting entry with concrete.

Tip: If you have an existing concrete walkway in need of a facelift, there are a number of options for giving it a fresh, new look. Some are quick DIY solutions, while others may require the services of a professional concrete contractor. Check out these ideas for improving an existing walkway.

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ADD LIGHTING TO CONCRETE STEPS

If you’re planning to have new concrete steps installed outside your home, an important factor to consider is their safety at night. A great solution is to cast built-in light fixtures right in the concrete step risers at the time of construction. In addition to preventing potential injury, outdoor step lighting adds beautiful nighttime ambiance that will truly make your home stand out after dark. LED outdoor step lighting is especially attractive and is available in several color temperatures, ranging from very warm white to cool white, allowing you to achieve different moods and brightness levels.

Learn more: How to Add Lighting to Concrete Steps

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GIVE YOUR FRONT PORCH A MAKEOVER

One of the most prominent features of a home's exterior is the front porch. Whether it's a small landing welcoming people to your door or a wrap-around patio with room for seating so you can watch the world go by, the porch is a highly visible and important design element. If you want to make a great first impression with visitors and passersby, see these ideas for using decorative concrete to dress up a new or existing front porch.

Tip: Painting is an affordable and fast way to revamp an existing concrete porch, but it’s best reserved for covered porches that receive minimal exposure to the elements. If you do decide to paint, be sure to choose a concrete porch and patio paint specifically designed to resist fading, scuffing, peeling, and UV damage. Learn more about choosing and applying concrete paint.

OTHER WAYS TO BOOST YOUR HOME’S CURB APPEAL

• Make your home's entryway more inviting by putting nicely arranged concrete planters on the front porch. Learn more about concrete planters and statuary.
• To add a finished look to your garden beds while keeping out unwanted grass and weeds, consider installing concrete landscaping edges and borders. Concrete landscape borders come in a variety of styles and types, giving you many decorative options to choose from.
• If you're lucky enough to have a large concrete porch, you can spruce it up to create an inviting outdoor room. Apply a coat of stain, paint, or a decorative overlay, and then add some outdoor benches, chairs, or a porch swing.
• To give your entryway the utmost in elegance and grandeur, consider installing precast architectural concrete accents, such as columns, balustrades, pilasters, wall caps and archways. (See Concrete Architectural Accents.)

Get more ideas for enhancing the curb appeal of your front yard -- including adding a courtyard, water feature, decorative fencing, and more — from LandscapingNetwork.com.

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