Weekend Exterior Upgrades: 12 DIY Projects Under $300 Each

The most impactful curb appeal improvements don't require a contractor, a permit, or a big budget. Here are 12 weekend projects ranked by visual payoff.

Most curb appeal improvements don't require a contractor, don't require a permit, and don't require a large budget. What they require is an eye for what matters from the street and the willingness to spend a weekend focused on the exterior.

Here are 12 projects I recommend most often — ranked by visual impact and sorted by how much skill they require.

Beginner Projects (Under 2 Hours, Under $100)

1. Paint or replace the front door. The front door is the visual endpoint of every approach to the house. A $40 can of exterior paint in a great color (navy, forest green, deep red, sunny yellow — depending on your house color) takes 2 hours and changes everything.

2. New house numbers. Oversized modern house numbers ($50–$120 for a set) replace the small gold numbers that were there when you bought the house. Hang them consistently at eye level, properly spaced, and they signal "this house is looked after."

3. New exterior lighting. Swap the builder-grade coach lights for a set of black or brushed-nickel lantern sconces. It takes 30 minutes with a screwdriver if you're replacing like-for-like. The difference in perceived quality is enormous.

Contractor Tips

• Stand at the curb and look at your house before you do anything else. What's the first thing you notice? That's where to start. Don't guess — observe.
• Front door paint color should have contrast with the house body color. A navy door on a white house. A red door on a gray house. Low-contrast doors disappear; high-contrast doors become a focal point.
• Window boxes work only if they're planted densely and maintained. An empty window box or a half-dead one is worse than no window box. Only install if you'll actually keep them watered.