When we first bought our split level home, I knew the exterior needed a major refresh to boost its curb appeal. The outdated red faux vinyl shutters and tired red vertical shiplap just didn’t reflect the sleek, modern aesthetic we were creating inside. Determined to give our home a contemporary facelift without breaking the bank, I set out on a budget-friendly makeover—and I’m thrilled to share that we pulled it off for under $500! In this post, I’ll walk you through every step of the transformation on this split level home exterior makeover that you can do too!
Steps to split level home exterior makeover on a budget
step 1: remove faux vinyl shutters
I know the debate of team shutters or no shutters is a hot topic. For me, the red faux vinyl shutters had to go—they felt outdated and cluttered. Surprisingly, the removal process was easy with just a screwdriver and a ladder. As soon as they came down, the house already felt cleaner and more modern.
After removing them, I filled the holes with clear silicon to blend seamlessly into the vinyl siding. Now, you’d never know they were there!
step 2: power washing exterior of home
Before painting, a deep clean was necessary. Using a pressure washer and TSP cleaner in a sprayer, I tackled the dirt and mildew that had built up over the years. This step took about six hours, but the results were worth it—the house looked brand new. The clean surface on both the vinyl siding and vertical wood shiplap made a huge difference and prepped everything perfectly for painting.
step 3: paint the vertical wood shiplap
For the wood shiplap panels, I wanted a contemporary look and chose Iron Ore by Sherwin-Williams. This deep charcoal hue brought a sleek, modern feel to the exterior. I first sanded any chipping paint away and filled any imprefections before sanding. I used a paint brush for the grooves and a roller for a smooth finish. The contrast with the white trim transformed the house—it now looks polished and refreshed. (Check out the video I shared on Instagram to see the process!)
Tip: If you are painting over vinyl and you are going with a dark color, you need to ensure there is no black used in the mixing of the color. The staff at Sherwin Williams were very helpful with this. They wanted to ensure I was not painting vinyl when I asked for Iron Ore. I told them I might be as I wasn't sure if I was painting the vinyl shutters at this stage so they mixed the color for me with out black in it!
Why is this? Because when the sun hits black it will warp the vinyl over time. Very important. In summary, you can still paint vinyl black or dark colors you just need to ensure the color is mixed with alternative colors to achieve the same color without black in it!
step 4: landscaping refresh
Once the painting was done, I knew the landscaping needed a bit of work. The plants on one side of the house were not getting the sun they needed to thrive and there was a large shrub directly in front of the front door that was uninviting. So we removed shrub that had always felt out of place and relocated some plants to create a more symmetrical and cohesive layout. We laid fresh sod where the bush was and I am really happy with how this turned out. Adding symmetry to the front yard made the entire house feel more balanced and intentional.
step 5: stain the front step and fench
Our front step and the fence separating the driveway from the backyard were weathered and in need of attention. I used a deck stripper/cleaner and a pressure washer to bring them back to life. After letting the wood dry for 48 hours, I stained them with Banyon Brown by Sherwin-Williams in a semi-transparent, using a paint sprayer and deck brush for a quick, even application. The cool tone of the stain was the perfect complement to the modern aesthetic, and it dramatically revived both the step and the fence.
step 6: diy house number sign
One of my favorite parts of this makeover was crafting a custom house number sign. Using leftover wood, I stained it and attached sleek floating house numbers for a modern look. It was such an easy and cost-effective project, but it added a personal touch that truly stands out. (I’ve linked the full DIY tutorial here, along with a video showing how I made it!)
step 7: light fixture
Lighting plays a big role in curb appeal. We swapped out the old fixture above the front door for a sleek, budget-friendly option from Amazon (linked here). I also added solar lights from Costco along the front steps for an extra touch of elegance and practicality.
step 8: almost final step- front door
The last piece of the puzzle to boost curb appeal on this split level home is updating the front door. While I haven’t tackled it yet, it is on the horizon. To remain budget friendly, I do not want to replace the entire door, however, since the sidelight is made of faux wood, I need to ensure the existing door is faux wood as well so it matches.
Upon research, I have decided I will replace the glass inserts in both the sidelight and door for a more modern look. I will cut out a new hole in the door to fit a rectangle insert. From there, I will paint the door and surrounding trim. Stay tuned for this final step!
Breakdown Of Costs So Far:
Paint: $82 CAD
TSP Cleaner: $15 CAD
Stain & Deck Brush: $125 CAD
Light Fixture: $42 CAD
Solar Lights: $40 CAD
New Plants: $75 CAD
Sod: $40 CAD
Total: $469 CAD
Conclusion
I’m thrilled with how everything turned out, and even more thrilled that we’ve kept the total cost under $500 so far. Our once-dated split level home now boasts a sleek, modern look with major curb appeal. It feels more "us" than ever, and knowing that I did most of the work myself makes it even more rewarding.
If you’re thinking about giving your split level home exterior makeover, I highly recommend starting with simple changes—removing old shutters, cleaning up the landscaping—and then building up to larger projects like painting and staining. With a little effort and creativity, you can make a big impact without a big budget!
Checkout my instagram videos on the process so far! Video 1 and video 2
What do you think? Would you try a similar makeover? Let me know in the comments below!
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