The exterior of a home is often the very first thing that anyone ever notices about a home. Yes, long before anyone ever sets foot inside and takes a gander at your wares, they can get a fair sense of what the inside will look like based on a first glance at the exterior. We’ve seen too many homes that fail to provide a good first impression to not understand that the exterior can be a turn-off before one ever steps foot inside.
And we suspect it is because the exterior was never really much of a priority. However, we have also seen what happens when each and every detail of the exterior is thought through to provide just the right amount of polish to a property of just about any size to leave a great first impression for years to come.
To make your home look great, there are often only a few relatively inexpensive changes that are needed. And they often have to do with really understanding the details of your exterior.
Start With the Shape of the Home
Every exterior design begins with the structure itself. Roof pitch, window placement, porches, columns, and architectural lines all influence the home’s character.
A home with a steep roof line will have a more traditional or cottage-like look and feel. A home with a very flat roof line would have a more contemporary look. We see so many homes that try to fit a certain style or look, but really the home just wants to be itself. By painting the trim a different color from the rest of the exterior and drawing attention to the columns and/or archways, for example, by painting them a bold color, and updating the outdated railings on the porches by painting or staining them a new color, we can give the home more definition and bring out the home’s unique features and architecture.
A fresh paint job of the trim in a contrasting color to the siding can really make the architectural features of a house stand out. Painting the columns of a porch a deep, rich color can really make them pop and add a lot of curb appeal. Replacing old and worn-out railings on a porch can give a house a more up-to-date look and really enhance the exterior of the home.
The Roof As A Design Feature
The roof is one of the biggest exterior features of any house, and even though we try to keep it out of sight and push it out of our minds while we dream of a remodel, the roof is something that we can’t ignore. Not only does the type and color of roof affect the look of the exterior of the house, but it can also affect how energy efficient the house is and affect how long the roof lasts.
For example, the clean vertical lines of standing seam roofing pair especially well with the crisp geometry and streamlined shapes of modern homes. This roofing style can also complement rustic, farmhouse, and transitional exteriors, depending on the color, finish, and surrounding materials. More traditional roofing options may create softer visual lines, but regardless of style, the roof should feel connected to the rest of the exterior. The strongest choice is one that works harmoniously with the siding, trim, and surrounding landscape to create a cohesive overall look.
Choose roofing that will be visually tied into your home’s exterior. Be sure that the color and texture of the roofing material are going to be in line with the siding on your home as well as the landscape in your yard. If the roofing is going to look out of place against the rest of the exterior design elements of your home, then it is best to explore other choices.
Build a Cohesive Color Palette
If using multiple colors on the exterior of your home, use two to three different shades that go together in terms of how light and dark they are. One color should be the dominant color and used for the majority of the exterior, and then use the other two shades to add contrast and definition to the home by using one as the trim and the other as an accent.
While there are many different designs to choose from, there are some combinations that work better than others. In modern homes, neutral colors on the siding paired with darker colors on the trim are a very popular design and look crisp and clean. In more traditional homes, warmer colors on the siding, such as red, brown, or tan, can give a welcoming look. In either case, the front door is a good place to add a strong accent color to draw attention to the entry.
To make your decisions about your exterior painting color, view samples of your paint choices against your siding in different lighting conditions throughout the day. Because of the way that light interacts with your paint and other exterior materials, what looks great in your house may not look as great outside in the sun.
Enhance Window and Door Details
For more personality, consider colored or specially formed windows and doors for your home. Typically black-formed windows give the house a very contemporary look. Many older homes have the divided panes; these homes are typically the classic homes or houses with a lot of traditional architecture in their homes.
Give special attention to your front door. While often overlooked, the front door is a focal point of your home’s exterior and can easily be renewed with updated hardware, new exterior light, and a fresh coat of paint. Even the simple things like new house numbers and evenly placed planters on either side of the front door can make for a great first impression and enhance the overall beauty of your home’s exterior.
This type of home improvement does not have to be expensive. For example, simply updating your house numbers, and having two matching planters on either side of your front door is a simple and affordable way to instantly create a great first impression and bring attention to your front door, which is the focal point of your home’s exterior.
Complete the Look With Landscaping and Lighting
Garden design brings external space to life and connects your home to the surrounding environment. Well-designed planting frames a home to bring out its best features. In addition to this, carefully designed paths lead visitors to your front door, making sure that they have a positive experience of arriving at your home.
Outdoor lighting is equally important. Wall lights, pathway fixtures, and subtle landscape illumination can improve safety while highlighting the home’s best features after dark.
There is a key element of consistency involved with good exterior design. The home’s roof, color palette, siding and trim, windows, door, and landscaping all need to express one cohesive look. The more the elements of the home’s exterior work well together, the more well thought out the home will appear from the outside.
