How to Make an Ugly Spanish-Style Home Pretty Outside

Spanish architecture typically uses a lot of archways, tiled roofs and stuccoed exteriors. Wood trim is also common, and Spanish-style homes often have large porches and utilize brighter colors. While it is challenging to change the architectural style of a Spanish-designed home if you don't like the look of it, there are ways of improving the home's appearance if you think the current appearance and color scheme is ugly. This requires work, but the end results are worth it.

Things You'll Need

• Mild detergent
• Primer
• House paint
• Flowers and plants
• Benches and porch furniture
• White string lights

Instructions

1. Change the color of the home. Wash the exterior with warm water and a mild detergent to remove dirt, apply two layers of primer, and paint the house with three coats of a different color from the original. A new house color changes a home's overall appearance considerably, and stucco retains paint efficiently. Since Spanish-style houses typically rely on bright colors, change to a darker look to alter the home's appearance.

2. Plant flowerbeds and bushes around the outside. If there are already plants in the landscaping that you dislike, dig them out and discard them so you have room for new ones that fit your aesthetic taste.

3. Add benches and furniture that fit your taste to the porch area of the home. Spanish-style often emphasizes larger porches, so decorate them with furniture that is both attractive and functional.

4. Hang white string lights around the trim of the home to improve its appearance at night. While excessive use of string lights is usually reserved for holidays, a few strings by the main entrance or around the windows helps emphasize those areas and makes the home more appealing. The lights also help accentuate the archways of the home.

References

• The House Designers: House Plan Styles
• EPlans: Spanish Style House Plans