Easy Exterior Updates You Can Tackle in One Day or Less

As sweater weather rolls in, we've got 9 easy changes to get your house ready for fall and beyond.

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions

Paint the Front Door

If your front door is in need of an update, consider earthy, evergreen tones that work well with almost any color. The pine green used here works well with classic autumnal tones ranging from pumpkin and mustard to moodier colors like dark brown and black.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Swap Out Light Fixtures

If you've got a contractor-grade sconce in your exterior entry, swap it out for something more modern. Simple fixtures are easy to replace with basic DIY electrical skills; however, more intricate sconces with trickier wiring are better fit for a professional electrician.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Try On New Numbers

Sometimes the smallest details can make the biggest impact. Swap out sun-faded, rusted or worn-out house numbers with fresh, modern digits. To highlight the '50s era of this ranch-style home, a classic, midcentury font was chosen.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Freshen Up the Railing

Highlight the architectural lines of your exterior railings with a simple sanding, pressure wash or paint update. If your house was recently painted, a simple spray with a pressure washer should do the trick. But if the wood is faded, cracked and coarse, it's probably ideal to sand any splintery surfaces, then update the wood with a sprayed semi-gloss finish.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Replace Old Exterior Doors

Instantly add architecture to your exterior with a pre-hung door update. Make sure you know the overall opening of the existing door, its proper swing (left or right) and the thickness of your exterior walls before choosing the perfect style. Depending on the material and how easily accessible the area is, a door swap can take anywhere from two hours to a full day.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Install New Door Hardware

Whether you replace your exterior door completely or update what you've already got, a simple change of hardware can drastically change the overall look. Something to think about when you're replacing door hardware is how time consuming it can be to touch up paint or stain in addition to installing the knobs and deadbolts. Consider removing the existing hardware, then fully covering the door with one or two coats of paint or stain before attaching the new fixtures. This is often much easier and more efficient than touching up around the new hardware once it's installed.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Plant Lush Evergreens

Make a long-lasting, low-maintenance first impression by livening up your entry with planted arborvitae. Known for loving as much sun as possible, these evergreens require a ton of water the first few weeks after they're planted. They'll add rich, lush, green texture all year round.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Create a Landscaped Look

One of the fastest ways to add a landscaped look to small spots in the yard is with evergreen plants surrounded by bales of pine straw. Once the messy ground is dug for the plants, simply open up a bale of pine straw and fill the spaces between each plant, as well as the surrounding areas.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Add High-Contrast Plants

Add a splash of color to your plant beds with one or two low-sitting plants packed with saturated color. In the fall, acid-green tones juxtapose beautifully with autumnal colors such as burnt orange, muddy yellow and black-brown.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn