# Window Boxes for Curb Appeal?

- Link: https://www.oldhouseguy.com/window-boxes-for-curb-appeal/
- Published: 2020-06-24T15:09:41-04:00
- Author: Ken Roginski

**Before we discuss enclosed porches**, window boxes have been around since Roman
times and became really popular during the heyday of gardening in the early 1900’
s.

There is a lot more to window boxes than people think. It’s not just a matter of
going to Walmart and buying a plastic container and planting a nice flower arrangement.
Sorry to disappoint you.

As with everything window boxes should be planned out and done with care. Too many
times I see window boxes with beautiful flowers only to be distracted by the a price
sticker left on by a careless homeowner. Yes – seriously – even in a restaurant.

Window boxes are only good for certain type of houses too.

[⌊window flower box curb appeal⌉⌊window flower box curb appeal⌉[

Window boxes with an assortment of flowers can add to curb appeal if done correctly.

## Can I Put a Window Box on Any Type of House?

Absolutely not – at least if you care how your house looks. **Window boxes work 
wonderfully on small informal houses with smaller properties such as Craftsman Bungalows,
Dutch Colonials, cozy cottage style homes with sloping roofs and wood shutters.**
Some Spanish and Mediterranean houses too.  Window boxes should NOT be used on larger
and more formal homes.  If your home has a grand feel to it then the answer is no.
If cozy and cutesy, then yes. The window box will not create a cozy feel but only
enhance it.

## Basic Design of a Window Box

As with everything relating to a house, size and proportion are important. The general
rule is that the box should be the width of the window(s) and 1/4 the height of 
short windows; 1/5 the height of tall windows. Brackets in proportion to the size
of the box provide a nice appearance of support. Brackets should match the box color
in most instances.

For color, a window box should never be the body color of the house. Your window
box should be the trim color, sash-shutter color, or sometimes the accent color.
Never paint your window box a new color that is not already on your house already
for it will stand out as a separate feature not one that is part of and harmonizes
with the rest of the house.

Boxes should be wood with a plastic liner and holes for the water to drain. Please
no tacky plastic boxes.

Window boxes look great during the summer but in the winter they look pretty bad.
If you do not have winter plantings or greens please take the boxes down and reinstall
them in the spring. There is nothing worse than empty window boxes cheapening the
look of a house.

[⌊ugly window boxes on balcony ocean ave. Sea Bright NJ⌉⌊ugly window boxes on balcony
ocean ave. Sea Bright NJ⌉[

This Ocean Avenue house has a great view of the ocean but to anyone looking at this
house it is just absolutely ugly. The cheap multi-colored plastic window boxes make
this house even worse. Notice the yellow flower pot is a hanging pot and the homeowner
didn’t have the sense to take the time to remove the hanger. What a disgrace!

For more detailed information on Window Boxes (courtesy of Old House Journal and
Arts & Crafts Homes) go to:

[Old House Journal – Creating the Perfect Window Box ](https://www.oldhouseonline.com/gardens-and-exteriors/create-the-perfect-window-box)

[Old House Journal – How to Install a Window Box ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/OHJ-how-to-install-a-window-box.pdf)

## But Do Window Boxes Provide Curb Appeal?

You wouldn’t believe the number of emails I get from people that are not happy with
the look of their house and think window boxes are the miracle cure to give their
house curb appeal. **The answer is NO. Window boxes will NOT give your house curb
appeal. However if your house already has curb appeal a window box will surely improve
it.** This is of course providing you install a well designed window box and have
a house that is right to have a window box.

Many of **the people who try the hardest to make their house look good are the ones
that fail the most.**

[⌊ugly enclosed porch⌉⌊ugly enclosed porch⌉[

A lovely house with plastic windows is ruined with an enclosed porch. True this 
is an ugly house, but even an enclosure that has been nicely designed produces the
same effect as does an enclosure from 100 years ago. The architecture is disfigured.

A common problem I see is a homeowner that is trying to improve curb appeal will
be blind to the root of the problem. Many seldom think that there could be an existing
issue with the architecture that makes them not feel at ease with the look of their
house.  They will not see the problem so they keep buying and buying: New light 
fixtures, new landscaping, new door color, window boxes, etc.** They don’t realize
these are merely distractions** from the fundamental issues they and their home 
remodeling contractors have created. After all this expense they finally but temporarily
convince themselves their house looks good and has curb appeal. This look of fake
curb appeal usually only looks good to the UNTRAINED eye.

The Dutch Colonial house above was once a beautiful house, but sadly a rabid homeowner
enclosed the porch. Now, this homeowner may have good reasons, such as living in
a buggy area, a cold climate, or needing more space. Still they are merely poor 
excuses if the homeowner really cares about curb appeal. The house was not designed
to have an enclosed porch and by enclosing it you are altering the architecture 
thereby disfiguring the house. The enclosed porch or similar **modifications to 
the architecture that do not belong are called Architectural Warts or  Architectural
Tumors.**

So this house is damaged. The architecture has been remuddled. **This house does
not and can not have curb appeal in this condition.**

The house below had an enclosed porch that was lovingly restored and look at the
improvement. This homeowner can now enjoy living in a house that is an asset to 
the neighborhood respecting the history and design of the house.

[⌊enclosed porch makes an ugly house⌉⌊enclosed porch makes an ugly house⌉[

Before – Enclosed porch resembles a person sitting with their arms folded in front
of them. Very unwelcoming.

[⌊enclosed porch opened up⌉⌊enclosed porch opened up⌉[

After: With an open porch and new house colors, this house feels welcoming and happy,
and it can now shine in all its glory!

Compare a house with an enclosed porch to a smashed up car. Both are not what they
were meant to be. The efforts of a homeowner restoring their porch can be very rewarding.
Show your neighbors how your house can improve the neighborhood by opening up your
enclosed porch!

[[

Smashed up Plymouth with a Rolls Royce hood ornament.

Just like adding a window box with beautiful flowers to a damaged house with an 
enclosed porch, this smashed up car cannot be improved by adding a shinny hood ornament.

Look at this 1970 Plymouth Fury. It is damaged yet the owner put a Rolls Royce hood
ornament on the car. The hood ornament does not make the car look any better. **
Don’t you think it would make sense to fix the damage first?** Additionally a Rolls
Royce hood ornament does not belong on a Plymouth Fury.

**So if you want to improve the curb appeal of your house, make sure any damage 
to the architecture is fixed first before you add a hood ornament or window box.**

### Curb Appeal versus Personal Taste

Aesthetics is not just another word for beauty. Aesthetics is the science, philosophy,
principles, and theory of beauty as it relates to and stimulates one’s inner senses–
the subconscious and emotions.

There are a lot of simple people that will fight to their death defending their 
beliefs in their personal taste, but there is science behind it to take into consideration.
Here is more information about [Aesthetics and the Psychology of Architecture ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/aesthetics/).

### My Porch was Enclosed 100 Years Ago.

Yes – enclosing a porch is not something new. Even though your 1918 home had the
porch enclosed in 1923 does not make it ok. The architecture of the house is still
altered. A 1920s enclosure will most likely have beautiful period windows but the
result is still distortion – an architectural wart. But see the difference yourself.
My purpose here is to point things our and help train your eyed to see the difference.
Then you decide.

[⌊purple and blue flower window box⌉⌊purple and blue flower window box⌉[

I just really like this picture and thought you would like it too!

[Credit link for photo. ](https://fillyourhomewithlove.com/case-stile-provenzale-finestre/)