The Simple Thing Chip & Jo Recommend Adding For Fixer Upper-Inspired Curb Appeal

Chip and Joanna Gaines are famous for their ability to improve almost any home. Between their hit HGTV show "Fixer Upper" and Joanna's newer solo series "Mini-Reno," they have years of experience giving homeowners the beautiful living spaces and stunning curb appeal they deserve. One simple step the Gaineses consistently recommend for increasing curb appeal is adding greenery to the porch. Joanna Gaines's love of flowers and well-known green thumb make her well-equipped to offer advice on this.

Making your house a home starts before you even walk through the door, and Joanna has emphasized this in interview after interview. She notes that basic things like a nice doormat, good outdoor lighting, and a freshly painted front door can all go a long way. But maybe the simplest and most transformational addition to porches involves adding a few planters. This is true whether you're just trying to elevate your beloved home's style or are staging your house to sell. 

In the fall issue of Magnolia Journal, Joanna notes that a few of her favorite plants to include in these container gardens are coral bells, coleus, and Swedish ivy. Another favorite porch plant of Joanna Gaines's is a small Japanese maple. The petite tree helps to add an element of height to the display.

Before starting your porch planters, pay attention to the lighting conditions to decide what plants will grow best for you. While many porches are shady, that isn't always the case. Lighting can also change depending on the season. Next, decide what size containers would work best for your space. Garden urns full of plants can be stunning, but be sure you don't go with anything so large that it blocks the door or makes it difficult to walk. A cluttered porch doesn't just take away from curb appeal; it can also be a safety hazard.

One of the advantages of using plants like coleus, coral bells, and Swedish ivy in your planters is that they thrive in the shadier spots common on porches. Depending on where you live, coleus and Swedish ivy, which are only hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and higher, may not be perennial, though. So, you may need to fill in with other flowers for winter and early spring. But this doesn't have to be a huge struggle. You, like Joanna Gaines, can simply follow the classic recipe of using a filler plant, a spiller plant, and a thriller plant to create a stunning planter. 

Hellebores are winter-flowering evergreen perennials and can be a perfect filler element in planters thanks to their low-growing nature. Pairing them with an evergreen shrub like a 'Sky Pointer' holly (Ilex crenata 'Sky Pointer') could create a beautiful winter display. Filling a container full of bulbs in autumn is another way to provide early spring color for your porch.