Bungalow Colors – Small Changes Make Big Curb Appeal Impact

Improve Curb Appeal with Small Changes.

This little bungalow started out with a nice warm rust color that works well with the house. Period Bungalow colors will surely improve curb appeal.  As good as the base color was, something was missing. The white trim was just too harsh for this house.  Additionally the bright white foundation did not provide a feeling of a solid base and made the porch seem to float.

All new bungalow colors are not necessary.  Keeping the current base color of the house but changing the white trim color and adjusting the color placement beneath the porch will improve the curb appeal of this Bungalow.

As you see in the photo above we first replaced all the White with a Cream color to soften the contrast between the base color and the trim.

The porch apron or skirt – the area under the porch was a visual distraction since it was painted bright white – the trim color.  The blocks in the foundation needed a dark color to visually provide the house with a strong base. Here we used a dark green.

The lattice under the porch now connects the house to the base and makes it visually appealing by picking up the colors in the house.

We also repeated the dark green from the foundation in the shutters, front door, and garage door.

Replacing the white with tan and adding the dark green period bungalow colors greatly improves the curb appeal of the house.  There is still more that can be done to make this house look better.

The 1940-50’s style front door does not match the style of the house. Here we replaced it with a period Craftsman style door in natural wood.

The garage door style was ok, but a new high quality carriage house style door like this makes a big impact. This door appears to be two separate doors but is really one door made to look like two. Highlighting the vertical structure of this new garage door makes such a wide door look less wide and more aesthetically pleasing. In addition the window pattern follows suite with the front door.

The shutters, although fake, were re-mounted the correct way overlapping the window frame.

Other home improvements for better curb appeal:

• I purposely left the mailbox white to make a point.  Once you remove white from the trim you must remove it completely.  Notice how your eyes are attracted to the mailbox since it jumps out at you.  A brass or black color would be a good choice.
• Removal of hanging plants that will hit your guests in the head.
• The downspout on the right should be moved to the side of the column, not in front.
• The color in the brick steps work well, but the material is incompatible with a wood porch and will break away. Wood steps would be an improvement.
• Landscaping – plant an evergreen on the left corner, no higher than 3/4 the door height to help frame the house. Smaller shrubbery at corners of the steps.
• Get rid of that satellite dish or move it to the rear where it is unseen from the front.  Television should not be that important.

So as you can see, a very simple house can have great curb appeal with the right color combinations and just a few simple changes that go a long way.

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