Your home’s outdoor living space needs your attention. The thing is, there are so many things you can do. It’s easy to get confused and keep dropping one project for another. Here’s how to pick the right upgrades for your home’s outdoors.

1. Freshen Up the Paint Job

Having a professional give your home’s exterior a fresh coat of paint is one of the fastest ways of refreshing your outdoor spaces. You can focus on the doors, decks, window boxes, and walls. This way, you’ll have a much cleaner-looking home. Some people may think you just finished building it.

2. Install or Upgrade Outdoor Lighting

You’ll be setting yourself up to enjoy some great practical and aesthetic benefits when you invest in outdoor lighting. If you’re going for functionality, your options range from door, sensor, garage, pathway, and floodlights. To enhance the ambiance and vibe of your space and take the cozy factor to the next level, you’ll need patio, porch, or garden lighting. Just imagine string lights running across your patio with a few hanging lanterns spread out as accent pieces; you’ll never want to leave the space.

3. Invest in a Patio

An outdoor living space upgrade project isn’t complete without a patio. This addition will expand your living space, especially if you invest in unique outdoor furniture. It’ll also enhance your home’s exterior esthetics and increase its value. According to Space Wise, a stylish patio installation project can increase a home’s value by 8 to 10%.

4. Consider New Windows

The first thing that may come to mind when considering new windows is the natural light they’ll add to your home. However, you’d be surprised that replacing this home component can also improve your home’s energy efficiency. According to House Logic, switching from single-pane to double-pane windows can reduce your annual energy costs by 15%. Since they’re also a major exterior component, upgrading your windows can boost your outdoor space’s visual appeal.

5. Focus On Landscaping

Your landscape can single-handedly make or break the impression guests, potential buyers, and onlookers have of your home. If it looks like a scene straight out of Jurassic Park with vegetation growing uncontrollably, people will assume that the rest of the home is in a similar condition. On the other hand, a well-maintained landscape will send the message you pay attention to every little detail. Call your local landscaper to discuss your options as part of your project.

6. Repair the Driveway

No matter how good your outdoor spaces look, a cracked driveway full of cracks will do the opposite of what you’re trying to achieve. If your paving is in such condition, repaving shouldn’t miss on your list of upgrades to make. Besides improving the aesthetics, smooth, level pavement is also much safer to walk on and clean. For a quality job, only hire the best paving contractors.

7. Add a Fire Pit

A fire pit has an aspect of luxury that’ll instantly amp up your outdoor space’s warmth, style, and coziness. Besides that, think about the conversations it’ll inspire when you have your close friends over for dinner and drinks. Once the drinks start flowing, you may need someone to drag you back into the home. Depending on your desired look, you can either go for a traditional campfire-style pit built into the ground or a table with a gas fire pit.

8. Add a Hot Tub or Pool

Nothing says luxury like a hot tub or swimming pool in your outdoor space. A modest swimming area will increase your home’s value and the quality of life you enjoy. Consider installing a pool if you have the money and room (and if the weather permits). If you’re limited on space, a stand-alone hot tub will be great for unwinding in the evenings.

Whatever projects you undertake, ensure you hire the right professionals. Always get detailed estimates to ensure you don’t encounter unexpected costs as the project progresses. It’s usually the main reason why the average cart abandonment rate is 88% for most industries, according to Namogoo. Be sure to do your due diligence.