Colin and Justin: When not to curb your enthusiasm

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A pretty porch makes for a good first impression

As far as curb appeal is concerned, it needn’t be costly. Sometimes, lurking in the hungry depths of your basement, or that mountainous landfill you call the garage, are the requisite components of a successful update.

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By combining a few new items with surplus paint, spare furniture and discarded accessories (kit which you thought would never again feature ‘front of house’) you can create surprisingly results.

First, though, some real estate mathematics. If the average Canadian home costs approximately $680,000, and measures 2,000 square feet, its value averages about $340 per square foot.

An average porch measures 15 feet by seven feet or 105 square feet. Multiply this by $340 and you arrive at $35,700. Whilst realtors don’t generally quantify the literal dollar value of your stoop, we used the math to demonstrate ‘lost’ value if space isn’t properly commandeered.

If you’d like to serve a strong first impression, whether selling up, or ‘staging to stay’, a little care and attention goes a long, long way. Herewith an easy precis of tips and tricks to make best of what you have…

First up

If your porch is a dumping ground/stop off for broken bicycles, piles of newspapers and magazines, and the discarded furniture that never quite made the journey to the charity store, it’s time to purge.

With only one chance to make a first impression, it’s simply time. Replace any sections of worn woodwork or railings, and touch up paintwork. Clean door and window glazing so that the sunshine gets in.

Soft furnishings add décor

Before going overboard with wall colour, consider your neighbours; as much as you adore Barbie pink, a sugary-toned patio might send them into toxic shock.

Oftentimes, accessories are the better way forward. Soft furnishings are perfect as detailing and easy to change when the time comes for a new look.

When conspiring your update, it’s fun to mix past and present; assembling personal elements with select newer indulgences will allow you to recognize your own efforts.

Portable focal point

Just as a gently flickering flame adds welcome in a living room, so too could a portable modern fireplace bring an outdoor space alive.

There are many cute setup that runs on bio-ethanol. But of course a little common sense goes a long way: shield from flammable materials and don’t leave unattended.

Fun with furniture

Before investing, think about how you intend using your porch. If space is restricted, you may well have to choose between a neat sofa or a small table and chairs around which you can sit whilst watching the neighbourhood revolve.

That said, with auspicious planning, you might be able to squeeze in both; a wicker loveseat and a bistro table, for example, could prove the perfect compromise and the ideal spot at which to enjoy a lunchtime soda and sandwich.

Select an outdoor rug to coordinate with cushions and throws. Accessorize with plant stands, ceramics and artwork to add pop.

An outdoor clock might also be fun, as would antique railway signs, maps/charts or abstract garden sculptures. Keep an eye on Facebook Marketplace or eBay for unusual items that will help your space stand out.

Storm lamps, candles and votives add kinetic illumination, but, as with outdoor fireplaces, use with care to enjoy them at their best. And don’t forget to harness the sun; we still enjoy great service from Rona solar lamps; every bit as good as the day we spiked them into our topiary tubs several summers past.

Add a porch swing for hard-to-beat outdoor ambience. Imagine enjoying your streetscape; kids playing road hockey, neighbours pruning, everyone all the while wishing they could relax and be swingers, just like you.

Invest in Adirondack chairs; their ergonomically sloped backs will help you relax, and their wide, flat arms are the perfect resting place for a magazine or a glass of chilled Pinot. Even big-box stores now carry them in a variety of finishes and materials spanning teak to recycled plastic.

Fond of flora

Straddle indoors and out: add vases of flowers or aromatic edible herbs plucked from your own garden to avoid florist’s costs.

Position welcoming hanging baskets and dress bright foliage into troughs wired onto porch rails. If space is tight, flank your front door with matching tubs stocked with daphne, one of our favourite sweet-smelling plants.

Lastly? Well, it’s time for a little jangle dangle. Strategically positioned wind chimes (these come in various sizes and emit either a gentle twinkle or an authoritative gong) or bells to suffuse mood while serving as useful “white noise” to mask traffic and neighbourhood buzz.

Watch for Colin and Justin on City-tv’s Breakfast Television and Colin and Justin’s Sub- Zero Reno on Paramount Plus TV. Find the Colin and Justin Home Collection in stores across Canada.
Visit www.colinandjustin.tv