Making your home a wonderful place to live is just as important as adding value, curb appeal, and having your neighbors swoon with jealousy. In recent times, it would seem that a lot of online chatter and reading and advice are primarily about how to increase value in your home. Yes, this is important, but for those who have no immediate need or intention to sell, it is more important to improve livability and the enjoyment value of the home for its current occupants. The improvements below are those that will serve to make your home a better place to live.
Fencing and security
Regardless of where you live, a good fence will offer both privacy and security. Being able to spend time in the garden with family in private or keeping pets safe from street traffic are just two of the positive aspects of a good fence or hedge. If there is an existing fence, then simply have professional fence repair to leave it in a condition that says you care and improves both privacy and security. Being able to be in the backyard and feel safe with friends or family is one of the main benefits of suburban living, and a great fence will allow for this.
Lawned areas
If you have a garden space with a lawn, ensure that it is indeed lawn and not simply a collection of various grasses (unless you’re actually going for a wild meadow look). Lawns must also be well-manicured and require frequent cutting in the growing season. The flat usable spaces such as this add a lifestyle component to the garden and will serve to increase the amount of time you can spend together as a family. The outdoor time is beneficial for your health, and a well-kept lawn will get you out there. Having a vegetable garden or a few fruit trees would be the cherry on top.
Paving and driveways
The hard landscaping areas of the exterior of your home are a straightforward way to add value and panache to the entrance of your home. More importantly, a professionally reworked and renovated driveway and paving will make coming home a pleasure, clearing snow easier in winter, and should fit in with the overall look of the home. Often the existing drive and paving simply need a serious clean and may not actually need replacing.
The porch
The general preference of backyards over front porches has arguably led to a general reduction in community spirit and neighborliness. While time in the backyard is great, a welcoming and well-maintained front porch with seats and perhaps some cover from the prevailing wind makes for a fantastic way to bring back a bit of befriending and interaction with neighbors. The front porch is back as a design feature, and we should be using it as a way to create community spirit and friendliness.
The tips mentioned in this article are all quite simple to implement and will all go a long way to allow you to enjoy where you live a little more.
