Curb Appeal 101: The Mailbox
Image by HeungSoon from Pixabay
Want to enhance your home’s curb appeal? Start with your mailbox. Read on to discover flower bed ideas, attractive mailbox numbers, and more!
When I think of home improvement projects, the number one thing on my list is not typically making my mailbox look better. Yet the truth is, your mailbox is the first impression of your property. It is the signpost marking that you live there, not just anyone. So have fun with it!
If you’re looking to sell your house soon, make sure to have a good-looking mailbox that matches the style of the rest of your property. Intrigue people to look farther than the sidewalk by intentionally designing what your mailbox and its surroundings look like.
The following suggestions can be used separately or all combined to make your mailbox be the best on the block!
Flower Bed Ideas
Mailbox flowers add a classiness to any letter-holding box. If you have lots of landscaping near your house, a matching flower bed around your mailbox can complement the other beds and make your front yard look cohesive. Even if you don’t have a green thumb (that would be me), perennial flowers like day lilies are an easy plant that look good for many months of the year. Miniature shrubs or even tiny trees are options, too. Borders like bricks or short picket fences help set the flower bed apart from the rest of the yard. Since a flower bed surrounding a mailbox will likely be small, planting one can be a cost effective way to improve your home’s curb appeal.
Mailbox Numbers and Decals
Growing up, my parents always bought the cheap, boxy stick-on numbers from a hardware store to place on our mailbox and tell the world our address. A quick search online for “mailbox decals” opened my eyes to so many more attractive options! Etsy especially offers a wide variety of customizable decals ranging from $1.50 to $22.50. Some come with coordinating stickers for your front door.
If you decide to purchase decorative mailbox numbers, follow these tips to experience the best results. First, aim for high contrast. If you have a black mailbox, choose white stickers or vice versa. Next, order enough decals that you can label both sides of your mailbox. Otherwise, the mailman or a new friend may struggle to find your home. Thirdly, pick a legible font in a size large enough to be read from 30 or more feet away. Lastly, use a wet cloth to wipe any dust off your mailbox and then apply rubbing alcohol to the location you will place the decals. This ensures no grime will prevent the stickers from sticking. Allow the mailbox to dry before adhering the decals. Make sure to have your family come admire your handiwork!
Decorative Design
We’ve all seen plain mailboxes and mailbox stands. Why not put up a decorative one? “Decorative” can mean a swirled metal or rustic wooden stand or a mailbox encased in brick, draped with ribbons or fake flowers, or shaped like a barn, fish, or various other likenesses. One of my personal favorites is a mailbox attached to the end of a cute vintage bicycle. Also, plastic or metal mailboxes come in many different designs, either at big box stores or online, so feel free to be creative in expressing the style of your home right on the curb!
Everyone needs a mailbox, but it doesn’t have to be a run-of-the-mill place for the mailman to place your bills. Mailboxes, whether with flower beds at the bases, pretty numbers on the sides, or unique stands to hold them up, have the potential to catch the eye of passersby. Don’t miss this opportunity to boost your home’s curb appeal!
