We all adore putting out fresh new looks in our homes but have you thought recently about the exterior? With the energy we put into spicing up the inside of our home, we often neglect to do the same outside. Spice up the outside of your household with these simple outdoor decorating tips:

1. Paint: By repainting every aspect of the exterior of your house, or just repainting the trim, you can quickly catch the eye of those passing by.

2. Porch or Patio: How your household appears from the outside can be radically improved by putting out new furniture on your porch or patio. Another option would be to buy new cushions or covers for the furniture you already have on your porch or patio. Other quick patio smarten ups can be as simple as putting out a few flowering potted plants, adding gnomes or statues, or putting a small water fountain into the space.

3. Having a path for people to use as they approach your household or walk through the garden will create a cozy atmosphere that people will respond to. You can make even an existing plain sidewalk seem special and inviting just by edging the walk, lining it with flowers, adding solar lights to brighten it up at night, or planting colorful annual flowers such as petunias on each side. If you do not have a walkway and want to create one, consider using stone. I think these appear the best. Add an extra decorative touch by making the walkway curve or wind a bit to your front door instead of leading straight there.

4. Yard ornaments: These can be as simple as a small bird home, a pole mounted outdoor lantern light, or even a wheelbarrow with flowers. Putting a little something extra in your yard defines you and your tastes, plus it gives your home a more unique personality that stands out from your neighbors.

5. One of the most popular methods of decorating the outside of a household is by adding some type of plants including flowers, bushes, trees, anything of this type. Annuals are great for adding splashes of color fast, because you can usually buy them this time of year in bloom. If you want the splashes of color to last throughout the year, consider adding some perennials too. As the annuals fade and die, the perennials will be there to take their place and keep the yard looking new. Plus, the perennials will go on to sprout again and again for many years to come.

Tracey writes many articles on the outdoor patio cushion and to write patio cushions review articles online.