40 Before-and-After Curb Appeal Makeovers

See how HGTV's all-star designers, architects, landscapers and contractors turn neighborhood eyesores into real showstoppers.

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By: H. Camille Smith

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Photo By: JEAN STOFFER

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Before: Dark and Drab

Though certainly charming, this cottage's monotone brown shade isn't eye-catching and is doing nothing to highlight the home's architectural good bones.

From: Jean Stoffer

After: A Vision in White

Designer Jean Stoffer polished the diamond-in-the-rough by adding on additional living space upstairs and giving the home's brick exterior a bright white coat of paint contrasted with charcoal gray trim. Low, foundation plantings and a pair of boxwoods in zinc planters sotfly tie the home into the natural surroundings. See more of this home's dramatic transformation.

From: Jean Stoffer

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Outdoor Bistro Chair

Floating Mount House Number

Classic Urn Planter

Before: Updates Needed

It's time to breathe new life into this contemporary-styled home. This hillside abode is an eye sore in need of some love and attention.

From: Caitlin Jones Ghajar

After: Contemporary Home With a View

Set on a hillside overlooking beautiful views of the mountains and valley, this contemporary home features a clean-lined exterior that evokes a minimalist vibe. The exterior updates bring this home into the 21st century, creating contemporary and stylish curb appeal.

From: Caitlin Jones Ghajar

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V-Resin Series Plastic Pot Planter

Alleman LED Outdoor Flush Mount

Before: Not So Dreamy

The HGTV Dream Home 2017 located in St. Simons Island, Georgia. Pictured is the front exterior prior to construction. Lacking much appeal, this home needs some attention before being deemed a 'Dream Home'.

After: Polished Tropical Look

The white color on the shaker siding was baked on, while the trim details were painted black to create the strong contrast that gives this home a finished and polished look. See more of this home's exterior renovation.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Outdoor Barn Light

Recycled Rubber Urn Planter

Solar Pathway Lights

Before: Oceanside Dated Facade

The outside of this oceanside home is in disrepair and in desperate need for renovations to bring it back to life.

From: DiMauro Architects, Inc.

After: Lovely Beach Home

Architects brought new life into this home by painting the exterior a fresh white color paired with vibrant orange adirondack chairs. Check out the rest of this home's incredible transformation.

From: DiMauro Architects, Inc.

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Folding Adirondack Chair

Outdoor Wall Lantern

Croquet Set

Before: Dull and Dreary

Before renovations, this home lacked any curb appeal or charm. NMA Architects completed a total transformation, with a new home exterior and landscaping.

From: NMA Architects

After: Vibrant Tropical Beach Villa

This ranch style home was updated to feature a neutral stone exterior and a dark gray metal roof with rain chains instead of gutters. Like the exterior, the walkway is designed from a neutral stone, leading the way to the mahogany front door. Palm trees and other tropical plants are used for landscaping throughout the front yard.

From: NMA Architects

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Lane Bowl Planter

Pet-Peromia Succulents

Before: Charming Cottage Lacking Upkeep

Prior to renovations, the exterior of this cottage lacked proper upkeep and yard maintenance.

After: Lovely Home With Historic Color Palette

This home gets a fresh update by looking to the past, with a palette of colors from a historic preservation guide. Cedar shingles add color and architectural interest.

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Window Box Planter

Outdoor Hanging Lantern

Flat Floating Mount House Number

Before: Drab and Dismal Exterior

Without much landscaping or exterior charm, DIY Network's Ultimate Retreat 2017 before renovations, is quite an eyesore.

After: Fabulous Front Yard

The DIY Network Ultimate Retreat 2017 was updated with lovely landscaping and a well-detailed exterior with contrasting light and dark colors.

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Indigo Planter

Metal Pot Planter Set

Brown Modern Planter

Before: Deserted Home Lacks Appeal

Run down and abandoned looking, DIY Network's Blog Cabin 2012 lacks any captivating qualities, prior to renovations.

After: Charming Cabin

DIY Network's Blog Cabin 2012 was totally updated. From the exterior paint color to the landscaping, this home got the complete exterior makeover it deserved.

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Hello Doormat

Before: Unwelcoming Front Entrance

The DIY Network Ultimate Retreat 2018, located in Sapphire, North Carolina, is in need of a major overhaul. The overgrown landscaping and unattended home exterior, does not send a welcoming vibe to visitors.

After: Mountain Getaway Nestled in the Woods

HGTV Ultimate Retreat 2018 was totally transformed, with new landscaping and stunning exterior updates.

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Outdoor Bench

Terracotta Planter

Abstract Mountains Throw Pillow

Before: Farmhouse Lacks Charm

Guests were forced to trek through overgrown grass just to reach the front door. Lacking any landscaping or exterior charm, this home looks abandoned.

After: Rustic Curb Appeal is Eye-Catching

The exterior now features a metal roof, landscaping around the whole house, and new, chunky wood columns to replace the old posts.

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Antique Windsor Chair

Outdoor Porch Light

Round Garden Planter

Before: Overlooked Home Lacks Charm

Before this home was unkempt and overlooked. With its minimal landscaping and tired facade, it went unnoticed.

After: Small Updates Make a Big Difference

This exterior makeover goes to show that you don't always need to spend a fortune to achieve great curb appeal. With light landscaping and paint, this home went from drab to fab.

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Outdoor Pendant

Recycled Rubber Urn Planter

Before: Abandoned Abode

Once the home of a prominent local family, this century-old charmer (built in 1900) had been unoccupied for so long that a large colony of honey bees had take up residence within the home's exterior walls. (Don't worry, no bees were harmed in the restoration of this home.)

After: Remarkably Restored

A far cry from its formerly shabby shape, this freshly renovated home is a crowning jewel of the neighborhood and was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among the improvements are fresh cedar shakes, new porch railing and a flagstone and pea-gravel pathway. Husband and wife team Erin and Ben Napier completed the transformation; Ben even used reclaimed lumber from the home's interior to create a swinging daybed for the front porch. Learn more about this makeover from HGTV's Home Town.

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Franklin Springs Porch Swing

Classic Wall Mounted Mailbox

1-Bulb Outdoor Wall Lantern

Before: Gray and Ghostly

This oceanfront Rhode Island Victorian home is certainly a grande old dame but decades of exposure to the salt air have dramatically weathered the home's exterior giving it a ghostly, abandoned appearance.

From: DiMauro Architects, Inc.

After: Welcoming Seaside Escape

A dramatically freshened-up exterior gives this century-old home a new lease on life. The pros at DiMauro Architects defined the entrance by relocating the front door and expanding the surrounding front porch. A fresh coat of paint and all new turf and foundation plantings get this Victorian home ready to face the next 100 years. Learn more about this dramatic transformation.

From: DiMauro Architects, Inc.

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Folding Adirondack Chair

Bevin Outdoor Wall Lantern

Before: Plain Jane

With overgrown landscaping and a disappear-into-the-background white paint color, this California bungalow was generally considered one of the least attractive homes on the block. Narrow, winding stairs and an overgrown trumpet vine and small tree that block the front door add to the home's uncared-for look.

After: Colorful Cottage

To make the home pop, designer John Gidding chooses sunny yellow for the siding and cheery turquoise for the front door. The winding stairs are straightened and widened to draw more attention to the front entry which is shaded by a honeysuckle-coverered arbor. The homeowners aren't big fans of mowing the grass so John eliminated the lawn in favor of a wide stone path flanked by low-maintenance plants.

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Aurelia Outdoor Barn Light

5-Piece Glazed Terracotta Pot Planter Set

V-Resin Series Plastic Pot Planter

Before: Can't See the House for the Trees

Ancient trees and overgrown boxwood hedges create a living screen blocking this brick home from view while decades of tannin from the tree's dropped leaves have discolored the concrete steps and front porch.

After: Italianate Charmer

This grand old home features all the hallmarks of Victorian Italianate style: tall, arched windows, a low pitched roof, a rambling, asymmetrical facade and ornamental brackets and is, undeniably, too beautiful to be hidden behind greenery. Erin and Ben cleared the overgrowth, cleaned up the concrete and gave the home a more period-correct paint color on the refurbished trim, front door and siding. Freshy planted camellias replace the leggy boxwoods and will make this home even more of a showstopper when in bloom. See more photos of this stunning transformation.

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Granada Terracotta Pot Planter

Rylee Outdoor Reclining Chaise Lounge

Before: Blah Bungalow

This snug bungalow in Jamestown, Rhode Island (an island off the coast of Newport) certainly has its charms but the too-dark siding and small dormer windows give it a dark and drab appearance.

From: DiMauro Architects, Inc.

After: It's Easy Being Green

The team at DiMauro Architects both improved the home's curb appeal and added usable interior square footage with a gabled dormer. A soft moss-green paint color freshens up the home's cedar shake exterior while a new picket fence delineates the front yard, enclosing a lush cottage garden. See more of this home's dramatic transformation.

From: DiMauro Architects, Inc.

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Garden Wood Arbor

Chestertown 1-Light Outdoor Barn Light

Before: Yep, That's a Barn

Originally constructed in 1980 as a stable complete with horse stalls and hay storage, the barn underwent a previous remodel to add a modest apartment above but with its drab color, lack of windows and structural reminders of the barn's prior use — stalls and all — turning this big structure into a livable home would be no small undertaking.

After: The Famous 'Barndominium'

Chip and Jo worked their magic to turn this structure that, truly, was never intended as a house into a residence any farmhouse fan would be proud to call home. Improvements include removing the stairs and upper entrance, installing larger windows for a light-filled interior and swapping out the metal garage door for an impressive bank of paned glass doors. See more of this favorite Fixer Upper transformation.

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Rockingham Outdoor Barn Light

V-Resin Series Plastic Pot Planter

Before: Ready for a Refresh

Built in 1910, this grande old dame boasts 3350 square feet, 5 bedrooms/3 baths and an interesting history that includes serving as a boarding house for WW II vets returning from the war.

After: Ready for the Next 100 Years

The home's century-old character and striking good looks are improved with new porch railing, sage green trim and forest green shutters. Craftsman extraordinaire, Ben Napier, restored the existing wood door to its original finish. See more of this makeover from HGTV's Home Town.

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Forte Lighting Outdoor Pendant

Estate Porch Rocking Chair

Before: Overgrown Adobe

The black sheep of the street, this small Spanish Colonial Revival-style home built in the 1920s, is a rarity in suburban Atlanta. It has the potential to be a real gem in the neighborhood but with a barren yard, overgrown arbor and faded stucco, it only stands out for its rundown appearance.

After: Spanish-Style Standout

The the Curb Appeal team start the makeover at the curb with this one, creating wide tile-accented steps that lead from the street to the new front porch that spans the entire length of the home's facade. The front yard is replaced by a circular stone courtyard surrounded by hardy ferns, petunias and banana plants.

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Edgewater Polypropylene Urn Planter

Before: Not-so-Mellow Yellow

Built in 1908, this home offers up authentic Craftsman charm but with a rotting front porch and peeling paint in a faded shade of yellow, it's ready for a fix-up.

After: A (Great!) Case of the Blues

The home's exterior gets a period-correct makeover with a return to Craftsman style's traditional three-color palette. Erin went with blue-gray for the body, a rich cream for the trim and deep oxblood as an accent. Ben and Erin also demoed a partial porch enclosure, that was a later addition, to restore the home's original deep and open front porch. Learn more about this Craftsman cutie's makeover from HGTV's Home Town.

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Algreen Valencia Planter

Before: The Neighborhood Eyesore

Built in 1927, this massive home sat vacant and uninhabitable for several years before a brave couple bought it from the city of Waco for a mere $24,000. They then worked with Fixer Upper’s Chip and Jo to turn the derelict house into a gracious home.

From: HGTV Magazine

After: The Neighborhood All-Star

Can you believe this beauty was hiding behind the overgrowth? Chip and Jo cleared the land around the house so they could start fresh with new sod and plantings. The home’s existing porches were unsafe so they were rebuilt but the nearly century-old windows were salvaged with new leading and a fresh coat of crisp, white paint. A new wide concrete pathway, lined with variegated monkey grass, beckons guests to wander up onto the welcoming front porch. Learn more about this Fixer Upper transformation from our friends at HGTV Magazine.

From: HGTV Magazine

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Spring Magnolia Large Wreath

Messenger Bag by Sherwin-Williams

Iron Ore by Sherwin-Williams

Before: Due for Demolition

With three (yes, 3!) separate front doors, missing columns and a rotting front porch, this Craftsman-style cottage sat on an old dairy farm that had recently sold. Unfortunately, the new owners weren't interested in the house so it's days were numbered.

After: A Fresh Start

Home Town hosts Ben and Erin Napier worked with the cottage's new owners (the original owner's great-granddaughter) to move it to a new location, then got to work to restore this historic home. In keeping with the home's history, Ben added a new railing and Craftsman-style tapered columns to support the deep front porch. They eliminated the unnecessary doors, then Erin painted the refurbished windows with a dark sage green and made the front door pop with a cheery yellow. Learn more about this home's history and transformation.

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

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Teak Outdoor Rocking Chair

Tall Terracotta Pot

Before: Too Much of a Good Thing

Flagstone is typically a very desirable addition to any home's exterior but this cottage proves that too much a good thing is, well, too much.

After: Stucco for the Save

Chip and Joanna Gaines make this home a standout by applying a warm neutral gray stucco to just a portion of the home's facade, breaking up the monotonous color and helping the stone to really shine. A new roof, all new windows (including an upstairs dormer) and fresh landscaping complete this charmer's makeover. Browse more photos of this Fixer Upper fix-up.

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Amelia Porch Swing

Bevin Outdoor Wall Lantern

Before: Blank Slate

The homeowners bought this home two years ago but with three young boys — two with special needs — all of their energy and finances go toward the kids, leaving nothing for fixing up the front yard.

After: Craftsman Cutie

The homeowners want to be able to relax in the front yard while keeping an eye on their young boys and chatting with neighbors. Designer John Gidding delivered by expanding their too-small front porch and adding new steps that lead down to a wide walkway flanked by a long curving bench. A low gated wall separates the front yard from the sidewalk and really makes the front yard feel more like an outdoor room.

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Red Outdoor Throw Pillow

Striped Outdoor Throw Pillow

Before: Hidden Gem

Overgrown vegetation, ramshackle wood siding and a dangerous looking front porch combine to give this rambling Texas ranch a haunted house appearance.

After: Ranch-Style Standout

Fixer Upper's Chip and Joanna Gaines worked their magic to give the formerly rundown ranch a massive curb appeal boost. Thanks to a bit of selective trimming, the front yard’s ancient tree is now an asset instead of an eyesore while the existing cedar siding was brought back to life with a good cleaning and sanding to reveal fresh wood before resealing. A low stacked stone wall and new landscaping soften up the façade.

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White Oak Wood Whiskey Barrel

Tustin Rocking Chair

Before: Faded Belle

The homeowners are two of the French Quarter's most colorful characters but their home's vanilla facade is definitely lacking. A tumble of weeds fill the beds that line the porch and the concrete set-back, or small area that separates the home from the sidewalk, is broken and unlevel.

After: Big Style in the Big Easy

Jason Cameron comes to this belle's rescue with kicky paint colors, a bluestone patio to replace the crumbling concrete and a cast-stone fountain. The weedy beds are given a tropical makeover with dwarf pygmy date palms and striped stromanthe that tie in with the home's new color palette.

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Malpelo Resin Solar Fountain

Metal Rocking Chair

Before: An Architectural Mismatch

Dubbed “the cargo ship house” by Fixer Upper’s Chip Gaines, this long, gray and bland exterior was certainly short on charm. The ranch-style brick portion was originally built in 1958 with the wood-clad second story tacked on as a later addition.

After: An Artful Addition

Wow, what a transformation! Chip and Joanna dramatically took this home from sad to stately with a porch bump-out that features post-and-beam construction, horizontal railing and a flagstone porch and stairs. Woodsy green paint, new windows and black shutters further boost the home’s curb appeal. See more photos of this home's dramatic makeover.

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Abernethy Outdoor Wall Lantern

Estate Porch Rocking Chair

Before: Overgrown Bachelor Pad

Fifteen years as home base to a bachelor with no time or interest in lawn maintenance has resulted in a front yard so overgrown that a family of deer once moved in and took up residence. Now married, the young California couple who own this home are ready to clean up their act but don't know where to begin.

After: Manicured Zen Garden

Mixed in with the weeds were a lot of boulders and rocks so designer John Gidding decided to work them into the design. Ornamental grasses, pieris Japonica, loropetalum and other low-maintenace plants fit with the garden's Zen feel while being easy to care for so the homeowners can maintain the garden's good looks.

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Flat Floating Mount House Number

Before: Forgotten Front Yard

Located in a desirable Atlanta suburb, this Cape Cod-style home should be one of the highlights on the street. Instead, the overgrown, weedy yard, broken fence and peeling paint make it an eyesore.

After: Open and Inviting

The the Curb Appeal team start by demoing the metal fence to open the property up to the street where a stone path leads to the home that has been freshly painted in cool blue with a pop of cheery yellow on the front door. The homeowners weren't big fans of mowing the grass so John eliminated it in favor of mulch and ornamental grasses.

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Patchell Outdoor Bench Cushion

Footed Metal Basket Planter with Coco Liner

Outdoor Square Pillow Cover & Insert

Before: Past Its Prime

Built in 1959, this midcentury modern rancher isn’t the typical candidate for a makeover in Fixer Upper Chip and Jo’s signature farmhouse style but the home’s location and size won over the homeowners.

After: Mid-Mod, Made-Over

A fresh coat of white paint brightens up the formerly muddy brick while cedar mullions update the home's signature midcentury modern architectural feature: the floor-to-ceiling corner window. A matching cedar front door and window boxes tie into the window’s new look. To further lighten up the home’s exterior, Joanna swapped the brick in the low planters for gray stacked stone. Low plantings of ferns, ornamental grasses, dwarf laurels and Indian hawthorn replace the home’s leggy, overgrown boxwoods. Take a tour of the finished home.

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Wood Window Box Planter

Rosient Outdoor Wall Lantern

Before: Bland and Boring

With a tiny front yard and style-less facade, this clapboard house in Atlanta, Georgia doesn't have much going for it.

After: Folk Victorian

With such a small lot, landscaping takes a back seat to improving the home's architecture. Designer John Gidding and team pull out all the stops by adding layers of gingerbread-style trim that's reminiscent of true Victorian architecture. So the home's main color doesn't detract from the trim details, the team paints it a warm neutral tan saving the cool purples and blues for the trim. To complete the fairytale look, a picket fence lines the front and a brick path leads to the turquoise front door.

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Rubber Welcome Door Mat

Floating Mount House Number

Before: Hiding in Plain Sight

Evergreens are great for year-round color in your landscape but unless you plan to consistently keep them trimmed, they can grow too large to work as foundation plants.

After: Can't-Miss Yellow

Cousins Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri remove the overgrown evergreens, replacing them with oakleaf hydrangeas, hostas and bronze-leafed heuchera. Bright chartreuse false cypress really liven up the landscape and pair beautifully with the home's sunny yellow front door.

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Outdoor Club Metal Patio Chair

Tucson High Back Gliding Loveseat

Before: Dark and Forboding

Recessed doorways are great because your entry is protected from the weather — but they tend to be dark. Painting the door black doesn't help to brighten things up.

After: Warm Welcome

A few coats of fuchsia paint take this formerly ho-hum front door from drab to fab. The cheery pink theme is carried to pots flanking the doorway filled with bouganinvillea and candytuft. The terracotta tile steps and board-and-batten siding also receive a makeover with fresh coats of warm, neutral paint.

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Locking Wall Mounted Mailbox

Lancaster Traditional Outdoor Pendant Lantern

Before: Well-Built but Bland

With all-brick construction, large windows and a circle drive, this home has great bones but its monochromatic color palette and uninspired landscaping could use a pick-me-up.

After: Timeless Transformation

Fixer Upper's Chip and Jo pulled off a big update for minimal effort with just a few swaps. They replaced the uninspired rows of boxwoods with decorative grasses and other low growers so they don't compete with the home's original long windows. To give the entryway more presence, the front door niche was eliminated and Jo added a pair of beveled glass French doors surrounded by large glossy black planters and matching gas light-style lanterns. Learn more about this home's transformation.

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Cotswold Lane Outdoor Wall Lantern

Before: Haunted House?

The owners of this century-old San Francisco home are parents to five kids, including two sets of twins, so yardwork and home maintenance has taken a back seat to raising their family. This home is also, not surprisingly, a hub of activity each Halloween when the owners put the Victorian's forboding looks to good use as the neighborhood haunted house.

After: High-Style Victorian

John learned that the home had been white since its construction (120+ years ago!) so in keeping with true Victorian style, he chose no less than seven paint colors to really make this painted lady the neighborhood showstopper. To complement the historic architecture, the Curb Appeal team replaced the front lawn with a parterre — a formal garden made up of symmetrical hedges and planting beds connected by paths.

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Rosient Outdoor Wall Lantern

Floating Mount House Number

Before: '60s Modernist

The current owners were drawn to the home's Modern aesthetic and streamlined details but the ho-hum landscaping is definitely lacking. Three generations of one family live here and want to be able to use the hilly, uneven front yard as more of a gathering and entertaining space.

After: A Nod to Midcentury Mod

Designer John Gidding decided to save the existing mature trees, building a massive deck to surround them. The uneven front yard is eliminated by a concrete retaining wall that brings the deck up to front door height. Concrete planters at street level are filled with boulders, agave and desert grasses while rosemary tumbles over the wall from the deck.

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Colorful Diagonal Stripes Modern Pillow

Morrison Patio Chair

Before: '70s Mish-Mash

NYC techies, tired of cramped quarters, decided to relocate to Texas where everything is bigger. Browsing homes online, they discovered this split level whose newly remodeled interior had everything they were looking for and they quickly decided to buy it — without ever seeing the home in person. Once they moved, they discovered that the home's exterior was desperately in need of a remodel too.

After: Neutral + Natural

Contractor Jason Cameron and the Desperate Landscapes crew come to their rescue with a fresh neutral color palette that better blends the home's siding with the stacked stone facade. Boulders and layers of drought-tolerant, native plants, like the blooming Texas redbud, ensure this fully landscaped front yard will be easy for the homeowners to maintain.

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Floating 1-Line Wall Address Plaque

Before: Tattered Belle

The young couple inherited this massive home from an elderly relative. Years of deferred maintenance — peeling paint and an overgrown juniper bush — have made this home the neighborhood eyesore.

After: Grand Dame

To return this elegant home to its refined roots, the Curb Appeal team beefs up the moldings surrounding the entryway and windows. Look-at-me colors and a two-tone palette make the home feel even larger. An usable low area to the left of the entry is transformed into a sunken deck surrounded by planters filled with cheery annuals that tie in with the home's magenta front door and tall cypress trees for height.

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Sketch Pillow Covers

Bronze Gillock Powered LED Outdoor Lantern

Before: Reno Gone Wrong

Selected out of hundreds of submissions as America's most desperate landscape, this home outside San Diego is an embarassment not only for the homeowners but for the whole neighborhood. The yard is unlevel, full of weeds and littered with the remains of home improvement projects gone bad.

After: California Cool

Contractor Jason Cameron and the Desperate Landscapes crew start by removing the construction debris, then the improvements begin with a new travertine patio shaded by a streamlined wood slat pergola. The existing boulders are moved to the lot's corner where they're joined by tons more rock for a sculptural accent. The landscaping goes from lacking to lush with mature indigenous trees and shrubs and the siding and garage door receive a fresh coat of paint.

Before: Failing Fixer-Upper

The first-time homebuyers fell in love with this century-old home's potential but, bogged down by interior projects, they don't have time to tackle the front yard or porch where siding-clad supports create a dark, claustrophobic feel and aren't original to the home's Craftsman style.

After: Charming Craftsman

John replaces the siding-clad columns for Craftsman-style tapered timber columns that are more in keeping with the home's original character. The couple only used the front yard as a path from the driveway so John swapped out the small lawn for a new, wide walkway surrounded by heuchera, pentas, succulents and low-maintenance grasses.