What are Some Crafty Ideas for Winter Curb Appeal?

During summer months when gardens are in bloom and the sun is shining bright, curb appeal comes naturally to many homes. But when the autumn chill turns to winter cold and the sun sets earlier in the day, it becomes more difficult to create that inviting exterior look that grabs buyers from the curb.

Fortunately, it is possible to create striking winter curb appeal without expensive or complicated exterior changes, says Charlene Storozuk, a home stager and designer with Dezigner Digz in Burlington, Ontario-a city that averages 51 inches of snow per year. It just requires a little creativity. She and other home-design experts offer these eight tips.

1. Add splashes of green and purple.

Plants, grasses, and evergreens can liven up a home's winter landscape. Experiment with tall grasses, such as fountain grasses, that survive harsh winters. And in late fall and early winter, plants from the cabbage family add a vibrant purple color. Make the front door the focal point with a large wreath adorned with a colorful ribbon. To finish the look, place large, colorful planters filled with evergreens beside the front door.

2. Give it seasonal sparkle.

Transform an unused bird bath or fountain into a seasonal display by adding twigs with red berries. Or fill frost-resistant urns with twigs, winter greenery, and sparkly baubles (sold at most craft stores). For extra sparkle, roll twigs in glitter and incorporate a gazing ball-a mirrored glass ball available in various colors-into the display.

3. Light it bright.

During the winter, it's more likely that buyers will be viewing homes after sunset. Use clear flood spotlights to focus on the home's architectural features. Keep exterior lighting fixtures at maximum wattage and clean them regularly. When snow covers the ground, take photos of your home at night with all of the interior lights on-the light bounces off the white snow to create a warm, inviting glow. For the best results, turn off the flash.

4. Show off the lifestyle.

Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you can't use the deck. Shovel your backyard sitting area and leave your grill uncovered for showings so buyers can envision themselves using the space.

5. Make the deck the extension of the house.

Set up your outdoor tables and chairs just as you would in warmer months. "Home owners often cover their furniture and place lawn objects haphazardly on the deck," says Kitty Schwartz, president and owner of Classic Home Staging in Katonah, N.Y. For added appeal, she adds a weatherproof cafe set with pillows that play off of interior accent colors. "Glancing out onto this type of vignette can make the indoor space feel larger and more interesting," she says.

6. Create a photo display of sunnier days.

Show buyers what the outside of the home looks like during other seasons by displaying some landscape photos in frames or using a digital photo frame with a slide show of images. "This will give a sense of what the property looks like at other times of the year," Storozuk says. If the home has a garden, make a list of what is planted where. Perennials can be expensive, so treat them as a selling feature.

7. Don't forget a clear path.

If the ground is covered in snow, the simplest and most important thing you can do is shovel the driveway and sidewalks and keep the home's patios and decks as clear as possible so buyers can get a sense of their true size.