How to Increase Curb Appeal of Your Home Using Natural Stone

When it comes to adding stone to your house for curb appeal, the value is both aesthetic and practical. Well-manicured landscapes, pleasing cladding, and paint colors, as well as clean drives and walkways, exude tidiness and uniformity that’s appealing to homeowners, passersby, and potential buyers.

With the increasing popularity of curb appeal ideas, natural stone offers a low-maintenance way of maximizing the value of your home. From pathways to windowsills, walkways, and more, architectural natural stone can give your home a beautiful makeover that will last for years to come. Here's what our team at Stone Center recommends to add curb appeal.

What Is a Home's Curb Appeal?

Before we offer you our tips, let's start with the basics. Curb appeal refers to the visual appeal of a home's exterior when viewed from the street. It encompasses a wide range of elements, such as landscaping, architecture, colors, and features, that collectively make a property more attractive and inviting. A well-curated curb appeal can boost property value, inspire a sense of pride in homeowners, and create an inviting ambiance for visitors. Improving your home's curb appeal is a smart investment that can make a significant difference in enhancing your property's overall appearance and value.

10 Ways to Improve Curb Appeal

Whether you're planning to sell your home or simply want to spruce up your surroundings, these tips will help you make a statement with your curb appeal.

#1 Install Window Sills

Window sills made from natural stone can be a beautiful addition to a home's exterior, enhancing its curb appeal and adding a touch of elegance. Installing stone on the exterior of a house can transform its appearance and make it stand out from the crowd, especially when it comes to window sills.

Stone window sills are a popular choice for homeowners looking to add curb appeal to their homes. The durability and low maintenance of natural stone make it a practical choice, ensuring the window sills remain beautiful for years to come. With a wide range of options available, from granite to marble to travertine, homeowners can choose the perfect stone to complement their home's style and enhance its curb appeal.

Travertine and granite are particularly popular choices for regions exposed to harsh weather conditions due to their durability and resistance to wear and tear. Marble, on the other hand, is a highly reflective stone that can add a touch of sophistication to a home's exterior.

#2 Refresh Your Walkways and Driveways

If you're looking to boost the curb appeal of your home, updating your walkways and driveways with natural stone pavers is a great way to start.

Natural Stone Walkways

Limestone pavers and flagstone walkways add dimension, texture, and form to landscaping. Severe weather and heavy traffic leave a marginal impact on natural stone, which is long-lasting and less prone to fissures and cracks. Not only is natural stone aesthetically pleasing, but it also averages about 3% less water absorption than concrete, lowering the risk of algae and staining.

Natural Stone Driveways

While the oldest driveway stone is the classic cobblestone that’s synonymous with old-world charm, today’s homeowners aren’t relegated to one choice when it comes to driveway appeal. Granite, bluestone, flagstone, sandstone, slate, travertine, and limestone pavers are available in a variety of colors and textures that complement traditional and contemporary architecture.

#3 Add Stone Veneers to the Facade

If you're wondering how to use stone veneer to boost curb appeal, there are many options available.

More durable than aluminum and vinyl, a natural stone accent on a house exterior can add warmth and liven up an entranceway or outdoor wall with texture and character. The good news is that stone veneer can be easily applied over concrete blocks, brick, or stucco, so revamping an outdated exterior is virtually hassle-free.

The main type of stone siding includes veneer, solid stone, manufactured stone, and faux stone. Many homeowners create striking and beautiful contrasts by combining brick or painted walls and stone. It’s even possible to upgrade a chimney with natural stone caps, adding stone veneer to the house roofline.

#4 Install Stunning Columns

Natural stone columns compliment many different styles of home including Greek Revival, Neoclassical, Colonial, Federal, Cottage, Farmhouse, Craftsman, and Contemporary. Beyond providing structural support, installing natural stone on plain exterior columns can transform a porch from standard to sophisticated. Combining natural stone columns with stone balustrades and veneer makes for an elegant exterior balcony.

Simple changes like installing stone columns, or adding stone veneer to existing ones, can produce a big aesthetic impact. A veneer is simple to install, especially when purchased from Stone Center, as we have a range of finishes and dimensions to fit pillar design requirements.

#5 Make Your Patio Stand Out

Just because natural stone is a safe and sturdy patio base doesn't mean it needs to be boring. Natural stone pavers are versatile and perfect for creating bold and beautiful designs. Because pavers are modular, they’re all the same thickness and go down easily, saving installation time and money.

Stone veneer for homes can increase a property’s value between 8-10%, delivering an ROI over 80%, especially in the case of outdoor entertainment areas. In addition to paving, stone can be used for fire pits, seating, pool edging, and outdoor counters or bars. With the variety of colors available, it's possible to coordinate colors with custom-built barbecues and fireplaces. Think of using stone as outdoor art to add extra curb appeal.

#6 Use Decorative Aggregates

The stonework on homes extends to decorative aggregates, which might not be as dramatic as wall siding, but still adds a unique and polished touch to gardens and exterior entertainment areas. These chips and pebbles, made from crushed stone, sand, and gravel, can measure up to three inches in diameter.

Decorative stone aggregates can be used for:

• Improving flower bed drainage
• Landscaping ponds
• Making fixed planters in gardens
• Building raised flower beds
• Mulch replacement
• Filling irregular paving gaps

Aggregates are well suited to rockeries, alpine gardens, and gravel gardens, especially if you're looking for topography to create a low-maintenance and water-wise garden.

#7 Place Natural Stone Edgings

Natural stone curbing accents enhance new or existing outdoor features by adding depth and texture to landscape designs. High-quality limestone or rustic rock can neatly demarcate flowerbeds, driveways, and pathways. Natural stone curbs make it easier to cut grass without accidentally damaging plants, keeping mulch contained and enhancing exterior decor.

Geometric and uniform block pavers work well if you prefer a sleek and modern look, whereas natural stone and rock pieces create a more rustic and organic aesthetic. Professional landscapers often recommend using stone found in your region, this will naturally enhance outdoor elements and is easier to source.

#8 Refresh Your Step

Flagstone, bluestone, basalt, and Indiana limestone steps are popular options for outdoor areas that last a lifetime. They’re a functional, safe, and durable natural material that can beautify your landscape by providing greater definition without the need for additional plants or heavy maintenance.

Your landscape design will dictate the choice of stone treads. Generally, people tend to either choose a rugged look, which is more bumpy and uneven, or fabricate flat stone veneer that’s sleek and geometric. In terms of functionality, stairs can double up as seating or a retaining wall.

#9 Add a Water Feature

If you're looking for unique curb appeal ideas with stone, consider adding a stone water feature to your yard. A water feature can add a sense of tranquility to your outdoor space, while also enhancing its overall aesthetic. From a simple stone fountain to a more elaborate waterfall, there are many different types of stone water features to choose from. Incorporating natural stone into your landscaping can also add a touch of elegance and sophistication, making it a worthwhile investment in your home's curb appeal.

Incorporating boulders into your stone water feature can guide the flow of water or act as a focal point for the feature.

#10 Grace Your Front Yard with a Mailbox Post

Incorporating a stone mailbox post in your yard can be a subtle yet effective way of adding curb appeal to your home's front porch. Stone mailbox posts are durable and low-maintenance, making them a practical choice for homeowners. They can also add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your outdoor space, complementing your home's style and enhancing its overall aesthetic.

Other General Home’s Curb Appeal Tips

Here are some additional easy and inexpensive ways to boost your home's curb appeal:

• Spruce up your front door: Your front door is the focal point of your home's exterior. Adding a fresh coat of paint or installing new hardware can make a big impact on its appearance;
• Add window boxes: Window boxes filled with colorful flowers or greenery can add charm and character to your home's exterior;
• Update door hardware: Replacing old front door hardware with new, stylish options can give your home a modern and elegant look;
• Consider garage doors: Your garage door is a significant aspect of your home's curb appeal. Consider updating it with a fresh coat of paint or replacing it with a more modern option;
• Paint the front door: A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your home's exterior, especially the front door. Choose a bold and eye-catching color that complements your home's color palette;
• Pressure wash your home's exterior: A pressure washer can remove dirt and grime from your home's exterior, making it look clean and refreshed;
• Update light fixtures: Installing new light fixtures can add style and character to your home's exterior while also improving its overall safety.

Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal with Stone Center

Humans have used natural stone in architecture since the beginning of civilization, dating back almost 12,000 years ago. Today, stone remains a versatile and timeless material applicable to a range of functional and aesthetic building needs. If you require stone facing for homes to clad a wall or some bags of decorative aggregate to uplift your flowerbeds, we can help.

At Stone Center, we supply high-quality stone for commercial and residential use. Whether you want to add stone to the front of your house or repave your driveway, our experts will point you in the right direction. Contact us today to find out more about our natural stone for landscaping!