How To Add Dimension To A Dull Exterior, According To Fixer To Fabulous

As homeowners make lists of what projects to tackle, exteriors aren't typically a high priority. For most, rooms like the kitchen and bathroom are at the top to improve the home's functionality. However, that doesn't mean you should forget about giving your home a facelift if necessary. Think of your curb appeal as making a good first impression. Ultimately, you want the exterior to be just as stylish as the interior. Simple swaps to boost the curb appeal can add a 3% to 5% return on investment to your home's value, according to Consumer Reports. And though it may not seem like a lot, most homes don't need a huge exterior renovation to make a huge difference in appearance.

Dave and Jenny, Marrs from HGTV's "Fixer to Fabulous," never let a home's exterior get left behind. Though the focus may usually be on the inside of the home, the renovating couple knows that there are some easy projects that can bring a home's exterior back to life. In a recent episode, the Marrses update a farmhouse for their clients, per Realtor, and the exterior changes make it look like a new, more welcoming home.

Many home exteriors may look dull because they're suffering from a boring material. In the episode, Dave Marrs explains, "There's a lot of that brick, so we need to soften it up a bit" (via Realtor). Instead of beige, they opt to brighten the brick by painting it a warm shade of white. The couple is no stranger to using white to update a home. On their blog, Dave and Jenny Marrs show off how they transformed a dated home using crisp white paint. The results create a more open, lighter, and more modern appeal whether you're visiting or just passing by.

But paint isn't your only option for refreshing a brick face. On another home, the couple used a German smear, where wet mortar is applied and wiped off, according to Brick and Batten. This technique adds an old-world character to the home. Limewash is another option for bricks, which the couple used on the fireplace of the house in this episode. Limewash uses the mineral lime to add a soft white coat that's more textured than traditional paint.

Because the exterior of this home has so much uniformity, Dave and Jenny Marrs decide to add some modern trellises with greenery and flowers, reports Realtor. "I want them to be in these big sections to break up the brick," Jenny Marrs explains. "Kenna's grandmother loved roses. She had a rose garden, so we are bringing roses back to this house. Dave's going to build some modern planter boxes with some modern trellises, and then we'll have the roses growing up the trellises. It will be lovely." The wooden planter boxes add additional texture while also providing the base for the roses to grow.

Planter boxes are an easy feature to help improve the home's landscaping. And flowering vines add a pop of color to a typically neutral space. According to Gingham Gardens, black-eyed Susan vines, cup and saucer vines, sweet peas, and clematis are all easy to grow on a trellis. Of course, you can also fill planter boxes with other ornamental and leafy plants to add texture and color to your home.

Towards the end of the renovation, Dave and Jenny Marrs were still looking for a detail to tie the exterior together. "Initially, I was a little concerned about how the outside was looking," says Jenny Marrs says, per Realtor. "It just felt sort of blah after we painted, and I didn't like it, so we had to add the shutters." Shutters can help frame a window and be the finishing detail. They're popular in more traditional styles like colonial, bungalow, and Victorian homes. And the architectural style should inform the kind of shutters to add.

Shutters can also add a much-needed pop of color, like in a home Dave and Jenny Marrs renovated where they painted them sage green, which popped against the otherwise neutral exterior and tied in with the garage and front doors. However, experts warn that homeowners should be cautious about when to add shutters. Most agree that double-mulled windows, bay windows, and broader styles should shy away from shutters, according to Real Estate Info Guide. These quick rules of thumb will ensure the exterior proportions remain visually appealing.