Whether you’re getting ready to sell your home or simply want it to look its best, curb appeal is important. It’s the first impression visitors get, setting their expectations for what’s inside.

How can you enhance the look of your home’s exterior?

Here are some ideas from Better Homes & Gardens:

Paint the front door: Give your front door some TLC by repainting it or even replacing it. Also, “clean off any dirty spots around the knob, and use metal polish on the door fixtures,” notes BH&G, to make the exterior shine.

Install outdoor lighting: Use light fixtures to illuminate the pathway up to your front door, or to accent trees and create a warm aura around your home. Choose solar lights if your budget is tight, or lights that require wiring for a brighter, more reliable light source.

Add seating when possible: Make your front porch a focal point by adding furniture: A few rocking chairs, a porch swing or a bench will bring more than an artful look to your home: “When you boost curb appeal with comfortable outdoor seating, you also encourage everyone to engage with neighbors and streetside activity, too,” says the magazine.

Replace old gutters and downspouts: It’s easy to overlook these items, which we tend to see as functional rather than aesthetic. But if your gutters are peeling or cracking, it makes the house look neglected. Choose vinyl systems if you’re on a budget, or copper systems for a classic, upscale look.

Update your house numbers: If the address numbers on your home are rusty and dated, “your home may not be conveying the aesthetic you think it is,” notes the magazine. Making this simple, inexpensive change can modernize the look of your home.

Put up window boxes: There’s nothing like a window box overflowing with colorful flowers to lend an inviting feel to your home’s exterior. The more the merrier.