Better Homes And Gardens Exterior Makeovers

Beltran house exterior front door

Credit: David Tsay

An exterior makeover can maximize curb appeal and give your home a whole new look. These before-and-after home exteriors demonstrate how a house can go from ordinary to unforgettable. Fresh paint, new additions, and architectural changes turned the lackluster facades into true showstoppers.

Before: Dated Brick Home

front exterior before photo

Credit: Courtesy of homeowner

This home's midcentury modern charm was buried under years of neglect. The landscaping was overgrown and layers of dirt covered the facade. An exterior home renovation helped the sprawling ranch-style home step into view.

After: Midcentury Modern Makeover

remodeled front exterior view

Credit: Anthony Masterson

Scaled-back landscaping lets the midcentury modern architecture shine. A bright white exterior color highlights the lines of the brick facade. Wood elements, including horizontal slat siding and a new front door, repeat across the exterior.

Before: Dreary Ranch

Brick house black shutters

Credit: Rob Brinson

A hodgepodge of brick and crumbling concrete gave this ranch a dated appearance that buried its potential. See how an upgraded exterior color changed the whole look of the home without requiring a full-blown renovation. This makeover proves what a little bit of brick paint can do.

After: Welcoming Home Exterior

White house garage hill one stall garage

Credit: Robert Brinson

Painting the exterior a warm white and coating the shutters in khaki, just a few shades darker than the house, was a budget-friendly move with big impact. Blue slate steps and stacked stone risers carve a clear path to the entrance, where a new portico defines the entry and creates a transition between the inside and out. Colorful landscaping completes the inviting look.

Before: Overgrown Exterior

White house foliage

Credit: Laura Hull

This home was hiding behind overgrown landscaping. Hedges blocked the view from the street and drew attention to an old garden wall. During the exterior renovation, the homeowner replaced the hedges with lantana, a plant she saw growing wild on the side of the highway.

After: Bright Exterior Makeover

Beltran house exterior front door

Credit: David Tsay

The goal for this exterior makeover was to lighten and brighten the facade but stay true to the home's original spirit. The homeowner kept the cinder block retaining wall and original entry gate, but everything else got the boot. The redwood tree was replaced with a pair of olive trees, which let much more light into the interior.

Before: Lacking Structure

Backyard white house large tree

Credit: Laura Hull

The rear of the house had a poorly built addition that wasn't structurally sound, so the homeowner had to tear it off and start over. Removing it also gave her a chance to add French doors to the bedroom and the sunroom, changing the way the indoor and outside spaces relate. She wanted it to feel like a living room: well-appointed and cozy.

After: Outdoor Entertaining Paradise

Backyard white house fire pit chairs

Credit: David Tsay

The homeowner set up multiple seating areas and chose pale finishes that will stay cool under the hot sun. Keeping all the plantings within a monochromatic palette helped create a cohesive look. The landscaping and decor reflect the homeowner's love for shades of green with white florals.

Before: A Work in Progress

Yellow house brown roof

Credit: Brie Williams

Situated on a small lot, this home exterior had character but lacked polish. The bland beige siding and dark brown roof and trim gave the house a heavy, dated look. The finished exterior makeover demonstrates the difference a fresh coat of exterior paint can make.

After: Modern Farmhouse Exterior

White house frame section

Credit: Brie Williams

Ripping off gables and a pretty arch to the right of the home was a big risk, but the exterior makeover certainly paid off. Thoughtful updates, such as a cedar shake roof, an expansive dormer, and a glass-panel front door, transformed the home's previously lackluster exterior. Painted a crisp shade of white with black trim details, the home now boasts modern farmhouse style. A new paver pathway, planters, and landscaping add curb appeal.

Before: Builder-Bland Home

Gray brick house white trim

Credit: Paul Dyer

The mix of brick and siding on this builder-grade home exterior didn't help it stand out. Because the house stood in a coveted family-friendly neighborhood, the homeowners were willing to tackle a substantial renovation. With a reworked roofline and new pathway, the remodeled exterior makes a much stronger first impression.

Before: Bare and Bulky

Yellow house plants

Credit: Julie Soefer

This home's architectural style was charming but bland. Its small front porch and large bay window weren't ideal for outdoor family time. With minimal landscaping, the large front yard didn't boast much curb appeal either.

After: Welcoming Front Porch

Gray brick house white trim sidewalk

Credit: Julie Soefer

The homeowners expanded the front porch, which suits the family-friendly historic neighborhood and allows for outdoor entertaining and relaxing. It's large enough to host a group of friends. Iconic Craftsman details, such as painted corbels and cased tapered porch columns, were added as architectural features. A new walkway and updated landscaping greet visitors with style.

Before and After: Cape Cod Charmer

Underneath overgrown landscape and dull colors, this Cape Cod home was a stunner waiting to happen. Watch and see how it was transformed into an inviting facade. These Cape Cod home remodeling tips can apply to houses of all styles.

Before: Easily Overlooked Exterior

White house brick wall

Credit: Stacey Brandford

Surrounded by rose-filled lanes, historical architecture, and picturesque harbors, this vacation cottage in Nova Scotia has enjoyed scenic views since 1875. But along the way, the house itself lost some of its charm. A fresh coat of paint and porch decor details changed that. See how this home exterior design looks now.

After: Charming Historic Home

white neo-gothic home exterior

Credit: Stacey Brandford

Without sacrificing historical character, gray-blue paint and cream-color trim offer a sophisticated palette for the Gothic Revival-style home. A pediment and brackets lend architectural presence to the front door. New benches and planters enhance the home's welcoming atmosphere.

Before and After: Ranch Redo

See how a humble ranch received a major boost in curb appeal. Fresh entryway ideas, including a renovated front porch, fresh landscaping, and a new walkway, add interest to the ranch home exterior remodel. Watch to gain tips for your own renovation.

Before: Rundown Cottage

Red house white trim

Credit: Anthony Masterson

A quirky facade with cottage charm had deteriorated over the years, leaving the home in shambles. Boarded up windows, a crumbling front stoop, and a barren yard signaled a cry for help. See what curb appeal tips the homeowners employed to give this home a brand new look.

After: Charming Cottage Renovation

Dark gray house red door white trim

Credit: Anthony Masterson

A new exterior color, portico, and a few changes to the floor plan revamped the 1907 home. New garden beds enhance the property's cottage charm and welcome guests to step in through the front door. Even after all the exterior renovations, the cottage's original character remains intact.

Home Exterior Remodel Ideas

See how these homes gained style and character with a few exterior upgrades. Architectural enhancements, door and hardware replacements, and fresh exterior colors are all easy ways to up your home's character and curb appeal. Plus, there are a variety of affordable options available.

Before: Drab Split-Level Home

Wooden split level house

Credit: Emily Minton-Redfield

The only eye-catching feature of this split-level home was its jarring combination of blue-painted siding and Santa-red brick. The entry was scrunched into a cramped alcove and upstaged by the garage. You might not even recognize the finished look after this brick house exterior makeover.

After: Splendid Exterior Makeover

Tan house stone wooden door

Credit: Emily Minton-Redfield

A sophisticated Prairie-style makeover took this split-level from blah to beautiful. Stucco replaced cedar siding and the brickwork below was painted to match. The entry was pulled from the shadows and centered in a tall, gabled bump-out. Sidelights and a three-part transom dramatize the door. Pedestals were added to the revamped stoop, which leads into a colored-concrete walkway. Raised stucco trim surrounds new casement windows on the upper level. A band of slate tile strengthens horizontal lines, while a period light fixture adds a finishing touch.

Before: Dilapidated Exterior

Wooden house white trim

Credit: Edward Gohlich

This small Cape Cod home presented a less-than-friendly facade. The cedar-shingle siding had been blackened by pollution and oxidation. The dormers looked puny and out of place and the white garage door detracted from the rest of the home's architecture. See what kind of Cape Code home remodeling tricks changed the look of this home.

After: Classic Cape Cod Home

Wooden house white trim red door

Credit: Edward Gohlich

An arched portico above a new brick stoop and an adjoining pergola-topped porch give this Cape Cod home a more welcoming entry. A new, rich-looking cedar garage door harmonizes with the cedar siding and is surrounded by arched trim to echo the portico's arch. Additional upgrades include a larger front window, bigger dormers, fresh roofing, and a gracious walkway with brick paving the emphasizes the green lawn.

Home Exterior Makeover Tips

Upgrades such as new siding, a fresh coat of paint, and eye-catching shutters restore the character to this 1885 home. The owners also did some impressive work with the landscaping that took it from overgrown to lush. Transform the look of your home's exterior with ideas from this amazing makeover.

Before: Out of Place

Brick house green shutters

Credit: Gordon Beall

With a mismatch of materials and awkward facade, this odd-looking 1950s Colonial begged for help. After a few updates, it became a romantic chateau inspired by the French countryside. It was in need of an upgrade that could give it new life without removing its strong character.

After: French Country Exterior

Stone house arches

Credit: Gordon Beall

A former neighborhood misfit, this country French-styled home is now an old-world charmer. Rough stucco slathered over pinkish brick added several inches in thickness to the walls. A new slate roof received a gentle sweep on the ends. Lower windows were swapped for slender exterior French doors with arched tops, paneled bottoms, and iron hardware. The main entry now features an arched, solid-wood door flanked by sidelights that continue its curve. A rustic stone arch crowns the entry. A cut-stone terrace across the front of the house, a rustic flagstone walk, and a low stucco wall that serves as a DIY fence add to the French-country romance.

Before: Run-Down Rowhouse

White townhouse bush

Credit: James Carriere

This classic Victorian rowhouse was in serious need of rescue with its decaying exterior, old windows, and overgrown landscaping. Wait until you see what a fresh paint job and smart window coverings ideas can do. Quality exterior paint was this home's lifesaver.

After: Restored Rowhouse

Gray townhouse white trim

Credit: James Carriere

The rowhouse revival began with the replacement of every window, a new coat of gray paint on the siding, cream on the trim, and darker green on the accents. New wooden railings and balustrades ascend the concrete and terrazzo steps, and two new sets of columns support the portico. To perk up the lower level, a new garage was installed as well as an attractive garage door featuring inset panels and arch-top windows that echo the curve of the classic bay windows. Overgrown bushes were removed and stacked-stone retaining walls keep the new yard tidy.

Before: Ordinary Exterior

Yellow house gray roof

Credit: Emily Followill

Odd window configurations, plain clapboard siding, and a nondescript porch gave the front exterior of this 1920s cottage very little personality. The owners were able to fix that with a curb appeal renovation you'll love. The new home exterior design boasts a much more sophisticated style.

After: Craftsman Home Exterior Renovation

Gray house white trim red door

Credit: Emily Followill

A renovation that includes strong Arts and Crafts design elements gives this home plenty of personality. A new pitched-roof portico echoes the roofline of the main gable and two striking pairs of square columns support the portico's pleasing arch. A custom mahogany door and leaded-glass sidelights draw the eye in.

Before: Disjointed Exterior

White house chimney

Credit: Emily Followill

When it was built in 1927, this Nashville home exuded English Tudor style. Then the gables disappeared in an attempt to give the architecture a French twist. A few updates restored the brick house exterior to its natural beauty.

After: Tudor-Style Home Makeover

White house brick entry

Credit: Emily Followill

The first order of business was restoring the stone-clad entry gable, a hallmark of Tudor style. New double doors enhance the drama. Framed by a stone arch, the heavy wood doors complete a curve when closed. Restoring the peak of the large cross-gable and adding a matching roof dormer and decorative half-timbering provides another layer of Tudor style. Fresh paint, pale gray roofing, and fine details, including window boxes and salvaged copper lanterns, round out the list of improvements.

Before: Run-Down Cottage

front house chimney

Credit: Emily Followill

Built in 1933, this neglected home needed a dramatic makeover to become livable again. An impressive redesign did just that with the help of some serious upgrades. You won't believe your eyes when you see the new home exterior design.

After: Restored Beauty

Gray house white trim wooden door

Credit: Emily Followill

A new door, siding, and windows plus extensive landscaping made this cottage livable and lovely. For a focal point, the new entry features a portico supported by triple Tuscan-style columns and built-in benches. Wide orchard-stone steps and a charcoal-dyed driveway give it an upscale touch.

Before: Unflattering Facade

White house bushes

Credit: Bill Jr Hopkins

This small 1940s Cape Cod was almost overtaken by shrubs that crowded the home and encroached the front steps. The uninviting entry offered zero dimension and little character. After this exterior makeover, this home went from boring to beautiful.

After: Small-Home Exterior Update

White house garden front yard

Credit: Bill Jr Hopkins

Clearing out the overgrowth of shrubs, adding plants for shade, and building an entryway bump-out with a peaking portico over the front door gave this home much-needed dimension and personality. Low rock walls flank wide steps accented with stone, beefing up the front door's presence. New shingle siding in a soft gray hue and low-to-the-ground shade plants soften the exterior.

Before: Bland Brick Home

Brick house black shutters

Credit: Emily Followill

The wooded lot, solid foundation, and full basement attracted the homeowners to this ordinary 1950s three-bedroom brick ranch. After they moved in, they were willing to put the work into a home exterior worth noticing. See how exterior masonry paint brought this ranch to the next level.

After: Stunning Exterior Transformation

Green house white trim

Credit: Emily Followill

An upper-level addition created more living space and a spectacular new face. Architectural elements, including two gables and a shed dormer, add visual interest to the front exterior. The shed dormer breaks up the roofline and fills the home with natural sunlight. The home's brick, originally a patchwork of colors, is painted historical gray to match the shingles on the facade of the new upper floor, and white trim draws attention to the handsome divided windows.

Before: Crumbling Craftsman

Front yard wooden house

Credit: Lisa Romerein

From the outside, this Craftsman fixer-upper appeared to be falling apart. The siding featured peeling, discolored shingles, and the dark color scheme and rickety stairs set an unwelcoming tone. After a few fixes and fresh paint, the home regained its original charm.

After: Restored Exterior

Front gray house

Credit: Lisa Romerein

Light gray paint brightens the exterior and unites the lower lap siding with the upper level's shingles. White trim gives windows, the front door, and the perimeter of the porch a cleaner look, while outdoor furniture and potted plants make the space more inviting. The stairs up to the door were also reinforced to be sturdier.

Before: Not-So-Cute Cottage

Blue house red roof white trim

Credit: Alise O'Brien

The off-center front door threw off the balance of the otherwise symmetrical facade, and a covered porch spanning the home's front blocked natural light. Striped awnings on the upper windows made the upstairs equally dark and dreary. The newly redesigned exterior is hardly recognizable.

After: Classic Home Exterior

Blue house white trim

Credit: Alise O'Brien

Removing the slope-roofed porch gave this home a happier exterior. The front door is now centered and surrounded by a smaller, flat-roofed porch with side panels and pillars. Low-maintenance vinyl siding in ocean blue contrasts nicely with the wood door and white trim.

Before: Cramped Cape Cod

White house black trim

Credit: Susan Gilmore

With a new baby on the way, the homeowners had an excuse to add on to this one-bedroom 1922 cottage and improve the less-than-friendly exterior. The new addition brought with it an exterior makeover with timeless style. See what this ranch home exterior remodel looks like now.

After: Cape Cod Charmer

Gray house white trim

Credit: Susan Gilmore

The home now features distinct Cape Cod style, thanks to a new upper floor with dormers, a gable over the front entry, and a main-level bay window that brings symmetry to the entry. Cedar shakes and white trim make the addition look seamless. A new walkway is gorgeous and even more defined than it was.

Before: Cold and Uninviting

Brown brick house

Credit: Greg Page

Diagonal cedar siding in a dark finish gave the home a dated look. A solarium over the entry made the facade feel cold, closed-off, and uninviting. This old '70s house exterior makeover is one you have to see.

After: Warm and Welcoming Exterior

Wooden house white porch

Credit: Greg Page

Removing the solarium makes room for a pretty porch with custom-built columns that improved the entry's function and provide the curb appeal this lakeside home needed. A handsome wooden door with sidelights serves as a focal point. New cedar shake siding gives the exterior a traditional look.

Before: Reason to Remodel

Gray house white garage doors

Credit: Greg Page

An infestation of mold in this home led to the removal of all windows, stucco, sheeting, and insulation. That created an exciting opportunity for the owners of the mid-1990s home: a chance to transform their plain, contemporary exterior. See what they did with their unique opportunity.

After: Classic Conversion

Gray house white trim

Credit: Greg Page

A new portico, crisp arched details, larger grid windows, and stunning stonework take this once-contemporary home from boring to traditionally charming. Wood-shingle siding replaces the old stucco. The white trim around the windows really stands out on a clear-sky, sunny day.

Before: Less Than Charming

Tall white house red door

The interior of this 1893 Victorian was full of details, but the exterior had lost its classic touches. The porch was previously removed because of rotting wood and the house was re-sided. A new front porch updates the home exterior design and changes the look of the home completely.

After: Charming Victorian Renovation

Tall red house white trim

Credit: Krista Droop

An extensive exterior renovation restored the Victorian's original grandeur. Half-round decorative panels on the highest parts of the facade and white trim provide a crisp contrast to the red-painted vinyl siding. A porch addition softens the entry and creates an inviting outdoor living space.

Before: Boxy Colonial

two story home exterior tree-lined lot

Credit: Erica George Dines

This large Colonial previously showed off the boxy, symmetrical features typical of the style. However, a faded paint job and lackluster entryway made the home look dated rather than classic. An exterior renovation added a portico and front porch to give the facade new prominence and timeless style.

After: Grand Colonial Home

two story home remodel porch landscaping

Credit: Erica George Dines

Breaking away from its squared-off shape, the home now features cross gables over the garage and second level to create a more dynamic roofline. A large portico juts out over the front entry, which now features oversized French doors and a large lantern pendant overhead. Crisp white paint replaces the dull blue color and forms a distinctive contrast to the black shutters and doors.

Before: Generic Two-Story Home

Dark blue house white trim

Credit: Susan Gilmore

With a bland exterior, sparse landscaping, and a blank white garage door, this vacation home was easily forgettable. Its beautiful lakeside setting demanded something more eye-catching. After a stunning renovation, the exterior looks completely brand-new.

After: Enviable Vacation Home

Wooden stone house

Credit: Susan Gilmore

With new rooflines, natural cedar siding, and accents of rough-hewn stone, this weekend retreat gets the Arts and Crafts character it was lacking. A cross-gable roof extension, supported by a post-and-beam scissor truss perched atop two hefty stone pillars, gives the entry a whole new status. Colorful landscaping ups the charm along the pathway to the front door.

Before: Basic Ranch Exterior

Long house bushes

Basic siding and heavy overhangs left this 1957 ranch looking dated and dark. Luckily, a ranch home exterior remodel was in the plans. The result of its extreme makeover is nearly unrecognizeable.

After: Glowing Exterior Update

Long house white flowers pergolas

Pergolas over the front door and garage add architectural interest, and carriage-style garage doors replace the generic ones to create a Craftsman look. New horizontal-bevel cedar siding spruces up the facade, and a new color scheme gives the exterior a much-needed pop of color. Removed brick was reused for porch columns and planters in the front of the home.

Before: Brand-New but Boring

House large yard

This Georgian-style home failed to inspire and lacked the character of its namesake architectural style. The brand-new home needed an exterior boost to keep it from blending in with the rest of the homes in the development. See how a touch of exterior paint and a large addition gave this home a show-stopping exterior.

After: Noteworthy New Home

White house white porch black shutters

Credit: D. Randolph Foulds

The addition of a front porch, dormers, and several styles of trim combine to create a custom appearance that brings the home to life. Low-maintenance fiberglass columns and molded polymer millwork, along with charming white rocking chairs, frame the new entrance. A sunroom addition visually balances the garage.

Before: Boxy and Boring

House garage porch

Credit: Colleen Duffley

A beach home should be bright and breezy, but that wasn't the case with this 1960s home. The overall appearance was weighed down by the two carports topped by a screen porch. The porch's screens, which blocked sunlight from entering the home, reiterated the boxy shape of the space below, creating an unappealing stacked effect.

After: Beach Home Remodel

House blue garage doors white porch

Credit: Colleen Duffley

To give the beach home a lighter appearance, the exterior was painted a pale yellow with crisp white trim. The porch was transformed into an open-air retreat enclosed only by horizontal white railings. French doors along the back wall of the porch allow more light to enter into the living room. Swinging pressure-treated louvered pine panels painted an olive green camouflage the parking spaces below.

Before: 1950s Home

House white door tree

Credit: Gordon Beall

Tiny windows and a small, uninteresting entry left the homeowners of this 1950s ranch feeling trapped in the past. And with no front porch, they had no space for outdoor living. See what you can learn from this extreme makeover that left their home looking completely different.

After: Fanciful Country Cottage

Wooden house white trim stone sidewalk

Credit: Gordon Beall

The new double-gabled entry serves as a focal point and frames the enlarged foyer of the revived ranch. The eye-catching design combines two-tone brick cladding and cedar siding. Stone forms the walks and stairs, and larger windows supply cottage charm.

Before: Uninviting Home Exterior

construction house bushes

Credit: Laurie Black

A mix of Eastern and Western elements were successfully showcased inside the home, but this failed to translate on the outside. A poorly designed front porch and overgrown bushes and trees created a not-so-welcoming entry. The new home exterior design is one to behold.

After: Customized Home Exterior

House sidewalk wooden columns

Credit: Laurie Black

The porch was replaced with a more traditional Arts and Crafts-style entry that stayed true to the home's Asian roots. The lantern, door, wood posts, and shape of the roof—constructed of a lightweight slate-look rubber-and-fiberglass material—complement the home's style. Overgrown bushes and trees were removed and the yard was razed to allow for an expanse of concrete pavers. Tidy trees and plantings were planted along the home's foundation.

Before: In Need of Repair

House concrete fence stone columns

Credit: Colleen Duffley

Yellow-beige paint with brown trim, too-small windows, and a low concrete-block wall that cordoned off the front yard left this bungalow in need of a serious facelift. See what exterior paint ideas they employed to work around strict neighborhood remodeling rules.

After: Updated Bungalow

House stone porch sidewalks

Credit: Colleen Duffley

Because the house was located in a historical district, rules required that the front windows, doors, and facade remain the same. Despite these limitations, the homeowner successfully improved the home's function and appeal. The home's stucco was redone in a natural color, the trim was painted white, and wide stone steps replaced the narrow concrete stairs.

Up Next