According to HGTV's "Curb Appeal" host, Sasha Andreev, owning a great home starts with a great first impression. It's all about what your house looks like from the outside.

Whether you live in a suburban home or a more urban environment, HGTV’s hit show “Curb Appeal” can provide great ideas to make the most of your home’s appearance at a low-cost.

I caught up with Sasha Andreev at the 3-day Washington Home & Garden Show happening this weekend at the Washington Convention Center, where he provided me with a few simple and inexpensive ways to transform outdated homes and liven up the outside of your house to create that coveted "curb appeal."

His suggestions include:

1. Add color to your front door. This is especially important if you are trying to sell your house. Paint the door a brighter color than your home, don't let it blend in with the rest of the trim.

The Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District, in partnership with the Leesburg Environmental Advisory Commission (EAC), will be offering four rain barrel workshops for Leesburg residents during April and May 2012.

Rain barrels are an economical and practical way for homeowners to conserve water and save money. In addition, they reduce runoff, as stormwater is collected before it picks up sediment and contaminants that pollute area streams and rivers which drain to the Potomac River and eventually to the Chesapeake Bay.

The rain barrel workshops will be held at Tuscarora Creek Park (425 Solitude Court SE). The workshop dates and times are:

From Merrifield Garden Center:

These seminars are great ways to learn more about the world of gardening, and they are fun and interesting activities during the winter and early spring months. Here are some free seminars coming up this month:

Saturday, January 21

Merrifield Location- Find Your Garden Style, 10 am

Merrifield Garden Center Design Team

Get an overview of various garden styles, such as Formal, English Cottage, Modern, Japanese, Southern, Naturalistic, etc. Pick your favorite style and learn how to achieve the look with plants and construction.

Fair Oaks Location – How to Grow Houseplants, 10 am