How to add kerb appeal (and value) to your home

As we return from our summer breaks and the children return to school, there is an air of new term and beginnings, it is time to smarten up! Traditionally, the property market heats up after the summer recess, adding kerb appeal is especially important to those looking to sell or find new tenants.  

Remember you only have one chance for your home to make a good first impression. Make sure you give the feeling of a well-maintained property, that is well looked after, and thought has gone into.

Your front garden is an extension of your home, it is the first thing people see and it should reflect the design direction of your property, is it sleek and modern or is it traditional and elegant. The front garden sets the scene for the rest of your home.

These five plants are sure to add instant impact to the entrance of your home:

1. Bay Tree and Ivy is a classic combination for good reason. Low maintenance and evergreen, this pairing adds gravitas to your front doorstep. The Bay Tree is a sign of good luck and can provide small yellow-greenish flowers in spring and berries in autumn. It thrives in both sun and partial positions.

2. Lavender’s long stems full of dark purple flowers provide colour and fragrance throughout summer. Very popular with bees and butterflies, it looks great planted along a border separating garden paths. 

3. The Olive Tree and Australian Daisy are fantastic companions in creating a relaxed and elegant entrance. The rugged Olive Tree provides interest all year. The Australian Daisies add a pop of white and pink to the bottom of the pot throughout the warmer months. Remember to check where your trees are sourced from if you want a good quality, long lasting tree look for Spanish Olive Trees.

4. Hydrangea Libelle is the smallest of the Soto Hydrangea edit. They look beautiful planted along a path or in a pot. This hydrangea has large, strong white flower heads which fade to a rusted pink in autumn.

5. Irish Moss looks beautiful on driveways and paths softening the edges, providing gentle ground covering, almost like a carpet of green for your outside space. During spring and summer small star shaped white flowers make an appearance.

But my top tip is keep things simple! I see a lot of over complication when walking through London. These spaces are supposed to compliment the architecture of the property and provide subtle framing of key areas. Allow your home to be the stand out feature, keep things simple, and you can’t go wrong.

Check out more inspiration from the Soto Journal;

Beautiful Balconies - Soto Gardens

Plants for gardens in the shade - Soto Gardens

Show garden aesthetic to your outdoor space - Soto Gardens