How to cheer up an unattractive terraced house?

[PaintingOwls]

We've had an offer accepted and I'm tentatively getting excited.

The house will be our first home, it's an okay size, we are happy with the location.

There's nothing wrong with it, per se, I just don't think it's pretty and I'm trying to think of things to do to it.

We may change the windows as some have missing handles.

I wanted to put a bay window in but it will look out of place in the street and DP isn't happy admit losing parking space.

Any suggestions? I've tried looking online but everything appears centred around improving the appearance of Victorian terraced houses for some reason!

Power wash that drive way!
Plants plants plants. Don’t get a hanging basket as they are common. Instead get a climbing honey suckle- grows like billy-o and smells heavenly and quite easy to keep.
Be careful to not go for something you don’t have. So you want a cottagey look, but it’s not a Cottage and it will just stick out like a sore thumb.

Much better to go a bit more modern, and embrace the era your in. So a big yukka type plant, some grasses, acer would look really good.

The windows if in good condition, I wouldn’t bother replacing. But a new door could be lovely. Cooks Blue could be lovely.

Give it a cuddle and tell it it's what's inside that matters

Green front doors?

Atalune says Be careful to not go for something you don’t have. So you want a cottagey look, but it’s not a Cottage and it will just stick out like a sore thumb

That would put me off the pale sagey green that a lot of people seem to use on old cottages. I'd go for something like this one, a bit richer

Though, you could have a bit of fun with something brighter (click on the photo to open it fully)

*Atalune

Power wash that drive way!

I most certainly will!

Plants plants plants. Don’t get a hanging basket as they are common. Instead get a climbing honey suckle- grows like billy-o and smells heavenly and quite easy to keep.

That's such a good idea. I was going to be lazy as there's a hanger thing for a basket there already but I just googled climbing honeysuckle and ooooooh my goodness it's pretty! Would climbing lilac work?

I had this cheesy idea with a different Victorian house we were looking at to have the front door match the colour of flowers I'd plant leading up steps - it was on a very steep hill though.

MrsCatnip

For some reason I can't see any images all of a sudden

Climbers do give that cottagey look. But that’s what you’re leaning towards style-wise, isn’t it? I don’t know about lilacs but another climber to consider would be an ever-green jasmine - it’ll add the greenery year round and it smells lovely too.

I can't see any pictures either

Which way does the front of the house face? If south, you'll have plenty of choice over climbing plants, but they will need a lot of watering as they'll be in pots. A hanging basket on a south-facing wall will need at least a couple of good soaks every day it doesn't rain. If it faces north, you'll need to pick your climber more carefully.

As you don't have a very wide house, I would avoid anything that could get too rampant as the neighbours might not want it on their houses.

I'd start small, with just a hanging basket and a pot or two, plus power wash the drive. That would make a huge difference. Whether it is worth doing more would depend on what needed doing inside. Personally, I'd prioritise spending money redoing a kitchen or bathroom if they needed it.

I wouldn't bother replacing the front door at this stage. But the porchy bit above it looks like it needs some work.

And can you plant anything in that strip between the path and the drive?

I would get a common (!) hanging basket , and also consider a wooden window box. A decent size terracotta pot by the front door would be nice, perhaps one of the blue glazed ones. Other than than I would also re-pave the drive in brick or grey stone, to match or coordinate with the house. Finally, you could consider repainting the front door. I would keep the whole colour scheme simple and limited to two or three colours (including brick, house brick, pot, paint or plants). Pale pink suits brick, and salmon. I would probably go for a brick, blue glaze, blue door, pink plant theme.

How long do you plan on staying? If it’s a lifetime house then go for it, it only for a few years go with cleaning driveway, flower pots etc

If the driveway is in good repair, a good wash should sort it out.

New door isn't going to add more light, but a porch light might be an idea.

Don't put in a bay window, put in new windows, a new door (white PVC is so bad) and if you have the money use shutters on the windows instead of curtains or blinds - my DSis lives beside loads of houses like yours and all the ones with lovely shutters look so fab.

ICantBelieveIDidThis

If the driveway is in good repair, a good wash should sort it out.

Unfortunately it's not, the bit near the door is uneven and has collapsed a bit. I think it needs redoing.

We plan to stay here about 5 years I suppose. It's not the forever home, just the all we can afford where we need to be first home

I'd like to do other things structurally like extend into the attic and knock down the lean to and build a proper extension, but that's a bit further down the line when we save up more money.

I just wanted to cheer up the front so that I could feel happy waking up to/in to the house, you know?

Anyway, lots of great ideas on this thread, so thank you

Sofasurfingsally

Can you paint uPVC then?

Hanging baskets are not common, they brighten up outside easily and cheaply.

OP, it sounds like a lot of first time buyer enthusiasm... all these ideas cost £££ - even if you have the money, you might end up overspending and never getting it back when you come to sell. See if you could just take up the collapsed bit and plant in that spot. A lot easier to grow plants in the ground than a pot.

Weed the front and where the kerb meets the road, keep everything swept and generally spick and span. Hedges cut, bins clean and tidy, lined up straight etc. Ditch the nets (those are a bit grey) and make sure windows are sparking clean inside and out. What's that gap in the path between the front oath and the parking bit? I'd fill that in so everything's level as well. I'd keep the windows as they are for now, although if you were to change them, I like the part/full opening design of the upstairs window on the right hand house. Will let more air in on a hot day...

JoJoSM2

OP, it sounds like a lot of first time buyer enthusiasm

Oh absolutely. I am so excited, I'm bouncing off the walls!

yep, don't do anything structural! Live in it, paint it, tidy it, put some pots and save your money for the next house. First time buyer enthusiasm indeed. And really don't change the windows.

Shutters

Tile pathway to front door

Navy front door

Planters

Hanging basket

Hanging baskets are common

In which universe?

BrightOink

Ooh very artistic! I like

Wooden Venetian blinds at the windows - I’d go for white.

You could paint the front door if not is a position to replace blog.making-spaces.net/2018/06/06/lets-talk-about-white-upvc-and-how-to-paint-it/ - painting a UPVC door