As cooler weather arrives, liven up your home’s exterior to make it inviting to prospective buyers.

Dress up your planters

Just because the frost has done away with summer flowers doesn’t mean you have to go without touches of nature. White lights, spruce tips and other cold weather hardy botanicals can bring a warm seasonal flair to your doorstep.

Preserve winter interest

Keep your perennials’ stems and blooms in place for winter interest. Ornamental grasses, flowers and leaves that stay intact through the winter can offer some of the 3-D textures and dimensions that winter yards often lack.

Soften the night

Drive-bys and showings can happen after dark. Not only will you want to make sure porch fixtures are working and in good repair, it’s worth the extra effort to use lighting to warm the appearance of your home. Path lights and small window lights can project coziness, while landscaping lighting makes winter landscapes look friendlier.

Socialize your outdoor space

Help people picture the possibilities and create a corner for winter entertaining. Repurpose your patio for winter by adding a cozy fire pit along with some greens and festive lighting.

Keep walkways cleared

When your house is on the market in the winter, it’s particularly important to be diligent about clearing the walkway, driveway and any outdoor spaces such as decks and patios. Also be attentive with any ice that forms on the concrete after a thaw, so you that can treat it with sand for traction and keep visitors safe during viewings.

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Achieving a smart, polished look can be intimidating, but not if you think like a designer and break it down into the core elements. Start with a mood board to capture how you want to feel in your remade living room. Once you have captured the look you’re after, you can get started, piece by piece.

Color scheme: Begin with a color trio, focusing on shades that complement each other. Broaden your color wheel by adding softer shades and neutrals.

Walls and floors: Focus on the foundation of the room: flooring, walls and entryways.

Furniture: Start with the sofa and other key high-use furniture pieces, with a focus on quality of construction and materials. Once selected and placed, fill in the spaces using secondary pieces, such as end tables and lamps. If you’re on a budget, you can save money with lower-priced end tables, lamps and the shelves.

Textiles: Once you have the color and layout of your room, add rugs, curtains and throw pillows.

Light fixtures: Lighting needs change depending on time of day and your activity. Open curtains and a large wall mirror will make the most of your natural lighting. By night, layer in lighting fixtures that provide the right lighting for the mood. Ambient lighting for brightness, focused task lighting for reading and other cozy tasks, and accent lights to soften dark corners and emphasize focal points.

Personalization: Now that you have the basics, here’s where you can unleash your personality and preferences: Wall art, books, photographs, plants and special objects.

Pull quote: The secret to pulling off designer style is focusing on one element at a time.

• Nationally, home prices will gain 0.7% in 2023
• 39% of metropolitan markets will see price declines
• Areas with the largest corrections: Denver, Phoenix and Southern California
• Cities forecasted for largest gains: Philadelphia, New York, Washington, D.C., and St. Louis