Boosting your home’s curb appeal can help it stand out. Whether your goal is to personalize the exterior for your own enjoyment or you have plans to sell and want to improve resale value, there is great worth in this pursuit.

To get started, take a logical top to bottom approach, and keep in mind the importance of texture, which can add personality and style to a home.

Roofing

You don’t need to say goodbye to the authentic look of real slate or wood shake in order to have a durable roof that’s resistant to the elements. Check out polymer slate and shake roofing tiles, which are resistant to hail, high winds, fire and other nasty conditions.

Brands like DaVinci Roofscapes are making it easier to get the right “top” accent for your home using these materials, as the company offers 50 different colors — from dark autumn to light green — and provides opportunities to create custom colors.

“Color personalizes every aspect of our lifestyles,” says Kate Smith, president and chief color maven of Sensational Color. “It makes complete sense for homeowners wanting to express themselves through the color of their roof.”

According to Smith, the color gray is expected to be a popular color choice this year for roofing, due in large part to its refined elegance.

Trim

Here are a few projects to consider in order to trim out your home with smooth or textured millwork:

≤ Trim windows with crossheads over them and moulding on the sides and below.

≤ Use faux beams arranged lengthwise or in a criss-cross pattern to add dimension to porch ceilings.

≤ Add decorative columns in fluted square, serpentine, flat square or plain panel square shapes.

≤ Install a woodgrain trellis system to top off a garage door.

On these elements, as well as on other millwork such as shutters, porch rails and pilasters, use a variety of surface finishes to get a textured look that’s appealing. Different textured millwork pieces are available ready-made from such brands as Fypon, which produces thousands of pieces of polyurethane millwork, moulding and trim in eight different textures like Sandstone, Tahoe Style Beams, Classic Woodgrain and Standard Woodgrain.

Entryway

“Adding a confident color to a front door can update any home scheme and create a joyful feeling every time someone comes through your entryway,” says Smith, who suggests selecting a paintable fiberglass door.

When shopping for a new door, look for clean lines and crisp angles that are ideal for painting, such as those from Therma-Tru Classic Craft Canvas Collection and Pulse. Their fiberglass doors are practical, attractive and energy-efficient. Add texture by opting for a doorlite and sidelites flanking the door.

For more style tips for your home’s exterior, you can download the free FRESH Home Exterior Colors Guide, authored by Kate Smith and available at www.sensationalcolor.com.   

If you want to make fresh eye-catching upgrades to the exterior of your house, seek out top-quality products that add texture and pizzazz.