If you’re looking to add curb appeal, an easy and inexpensive place to start is with a mailbox makeover.

My Aunt asked me if I could build her a new mailbox;

Adding curb appeal - Mailbox Makeover

She’s had this one for over 20 years and as you can see it’s seen better days. She let me take it with me so that I could replicate the measurements, style etc.

Adding curb appeal - Mailbox Makeover

As I got to work on the mailbox makeover however, I noticed that this box was made of oak.

If you don’t buy wood, you might not know that oak is not easy or inexpensive to come by. A cedar version would have been okay, but it would never compare to oak.

I decided to sand this one down to see what condition the wood was in and (thank goodness) it was absolutely perfect. It was just the finish that had aged – no rot anywhere to be found.

I couldn’t believe my luck because I was expecting there to be a considerable amount of damage. If you don’t get this lucky when giving your mailbox an update then you might just want to look for a website that lets you buy mailboxes online. If you get a metal one, it can’t rot!

Adding curb appeal - Mailbox Makeover

Thank you again Rockwell for my Jawhorse – it was invaluable clamping this piece down to work on.

Adding curb appeal - Mailbox Makeover

Gorgeous right?

The scrollwork wasn’t as easy to sand out, but the extra time and effort were well worth it when you see the results:

Adding curb appeal - Mailbox Makeover

I used Minwax Red Mahogany – which leans a bit more to the brown side than the other reds they offer.

Adding curb appeal - Mailbox Makeover

I photocopied the front of the mailbox before I sanded it so that my Aunt could re-paint the tulips and butterflies if she wanted – I can paint and stain, but not with any kind of artistic talent.

I added 4 coats of outdoor-appropriate polyurethane, hand sanding with 320 grit between layers and she’s smooth as a baby’s bum!

Adding curb appeal - Mailbox Makeover

Need a before and after to show the improvement (in both the mailbox and the curb appeal)?

Adding curb appeal - Mailbox Makeover

Not too shabby, and a big improvement.

Adding curb appeal to your home doesn’t have to be big-budget or labour-intensive – sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest impact start with a mailbox makeover and work your way up.

Check out this cutie I saw as I was leaving my Aunt’s neighbourhood:

Adding curb appeal - Mailbox Makeover

Yup, another project on my never-ending wish-list.

Have a great one!

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One Response

  1. Great transformation. I agree that “blinging” up the mailbox is an easy way to add curb appeal. Unfortunately, ours is bricked into a pillar so my only option is changing out the flag, which I may just do! Loving the cute little town mailbox too. Visiting from Made By You Monday.