7 Smart Exterior Upgrades

Exterior crown molding and a pediment used over a front door create a cohesive and attractive entry for a classic, formal-style home. Always choose trim that complements the architectural look and style of your house.

Columns on stone-faced pedestals are a nice option for a rustic-style home. "Proportion is very important with columns," says Jeffrey L. Davis, founder and owner of Chadsworth Incorporated. "You want to think about it ahead of time. We've all seen columns that are too skinny for a porch."

The small rectangular blocks that look like a row of spaced teeth are called dentil molding. This Victorian-style molding in a synthetic material costs less than $5 a foot.

Add sophistication and wow factor to your Cape Cod, cottage, Colonial or Tudor with a stone walkway. "Using real stone for a walkway gives you added detail of quality and it can be used to connect your hardscape with your architecture," says landscape architect Rosheen Styczinski, owner of New Eden Landscape Architecture.