Whether you just bought a new home, you are looking to sell an old home, or you simply want to improve the appearance of your home, the exterior is important to most homeowners.

But outdated lighting, fading exterior colors, and aged designs that have fallen out of favor could be making your house look worse. We spoke to a contractor to find out which seven features could be making your home outdated, and how to update them.

Dark, Dingy, or Outdated Exterior Paint Colors

Overly dark or dingy exterior paint colors tend to detract from the appearance of the home. Similarly, if the house has outdated colors, like bright yellow or mint green, then it can create the look of an aged property.

Generally, painting the house white or an attractive beige color is appealing, while you may want to go with a vibrant blue if you live in a bright, coastal location.

Similarly, using too much of a single color or texture can have a negative impact on the look of the home.

“Spaces with only one tone or texture now feel less dimensional and modern,” says Joe Raboine, Vice President of Design at Oldcastle APG. “As people extend their interior design preferences outdoors, thinking about color and personality is essential so they are cohesive long term.”

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Elaborate or Overly Decorative Front Doors

Older homes often have overly decorative front doors with elaborate features, like old-fashioned oval glass inserts and ornate door knockers. The quality and color of the paint on the front door also has an impact on how the home is perceived.

“Doors with sidelights flanking a main door can look very dated,” Raboine says. “Replacing these with double doors in a variety of styles can make a big difference.”

Generally, it’s worth upgrading to a solid wood or fiberglass door with modern hardware and paint that matches the rest of the home.

Overgrown Shrubs and Dense Hedging

The exterior of the house itself isn’t the only factor to be concerned about when considering the appearance of the property.

“Overgrown and dated plantings can also really show a home’s age,” Raboine says. “Removing overgrown plantings, and going with a more natural, relaxed, and colorful palette of plants, along with fresh mulch or decorative gravel, can make a huge impact.”

Overgrown shrubbery and gardens make the home less appealing, so it’s important to keep up with regular lawn and garden maintenance. Similarly, dense hedging, which was popular at one time, now gives the impression of an aged property, especially if the hedges are not property trimmed.

Cut down on excessive vegetation and opt for simple, sculptural plantings using native plants for your region.

Worn Brickwork in Faded Colors or Busy Textures

Brickwork might seem like it would be a timeless design choice, but if the brick on the exterior of your home is faded or made up of complicated, busy textures, it can make the home seem dated.

“It’s common for outdoor living trends to follow interior design trends, so similarly, there are choices homeowners can make to create a trendier design that may eventually date the home’s appearance,” Raboine says. “Exterior trends traditionally move much slower. However, it’s essential to factor longevity into your color, design, and product selections.”

There are a few options to deal with old brickwork, including cleaning and repairing the brick, painting or staining the brick, or even installing new siding or stucco over the brick.

Haphazard, Inconsistent, and Ineffective Lighting

Exterior lighting is supposed to improve the appearance of the home and effectively illuminate the property.

“Today, there are a wide range of options to make the most of your outdoor space with an integrated lighting plan that feels more innovative,” Raboine says. “Outdoor lighting also adds a sense of security to your outdoor spaces and creates that calming, elevated feeling regarding walkways, stairs, or landscape walls.”

However, if the lights are installed in odd or mismatched locations, it can actually have the opposite effect, making the home look disorganized and ill-maintained. And if the light fixtures themselves are aged or in need of repair, this can contribute to making your house look dated.

Ornate or Old-Fashioned Railings and Trim

The color, style, and design of railings, trim, porch columns, and even balusters can have a heavy impact on the appearance of the home.

“Color is one of the more common exterior features that can start to date the home’s appearance,” Raboine says. “Rather than choosing one surface or one color for a space, homeowners often mix materials such as wood, metal, glass, and gravel to elevate the look of an outdoor space.”

Intricate iron railings and old fashioned ornate wooden balusters may have been popular at one point, but they are now often seen as a sign of an aging property.

Similarly, faded or outdated trim and porch columns stick out in a modern neighborhood, but these features can be updated with a quick coat of paint or stain to enhance the look of your home.

Cracked Concrete Patios and Walkways

You should keep exterior surfaces in good condition for both aesthetic and functional purposes.

“Concrete patios and walkways are another way homes can quickly look dated due to cracking and discoloration,” Raboine says. “Going with something more elevated, like a paver patio, refreshes the space without overwhelming it and is a great investment for long-term use.”

Making the change from plain concrete patios and walkways to the more intricate design of interlocking pavers helps to improve the appearance of the home and makes it easier to replace individual bricks or stones that may crack or break over time.