Most Trendy Designs for your Exterior
Most homeowners are so focused on making the interior design of the house look good that they forget that the exterior is the first thing people will notice.
Most homeowners are so focused on making the interior design of the house look good that they forget that the exterior is the first thing people will notice. If the exterior doesn’t make an appeal to people passing by your house, homeowners won’t even have the chance to show off the inside of their home. Improving curb appeal isn’t just for show but in case you decide to sell your house in the future, it’s a good idea to build up sales as early as now with a few trendy additions to your house.
1. Dress up the front door with color
Doors don’t always have to be a boring neutral color. In fact, when choosing colors for your exterior painting, it’s always easy to work it out by starting with the front door’s color. You can paint it any shade you want, even an eye-catching neon green. The trick is to pair it with more neutral shades and consider other architectural elements and materials as well. Most houses with a brick or stone facade, for instance, can have a door in any color because the bricks act as a neutral. Another tip is to mellow down the color. Instead of using bright mustard yellow that would clash with the other colors of the house, try mellowing it down and use a paler yellow.
2. Re-think your garage doors
Typically garage doors would be made of aluminum or fiberglass, but if you want to add to your house’s architectural appeal, using glass or wood. Glass is just sophisticated, however you use it and wherever you use it. While not everyone has a Buggati or a Rolls Royce to show off, glass garage doors are still a great addition to a home especially if your house has a lot of wooden features. If you’re worried about privacy, used frosted glass on the bottom and keep the tops clear to let sunlight in.
Wooden garage doors with horizontal planks will perfectly pair with other wood elements in your house and it also gives off the retro mid-century appeal that will never be outdated.
3. Add warmth with fully-lit porches
A well-lit porch and pathway actually provides safety to homeowners when it’s dark and wards off potential burglars. Create symmetry and draw the eye to the front door by placing two similar sconces or lanterns either side of the door. Want to make it even more dramatic? Use oversized lighting that can be better seen from afar. Adding a lantern or even a chandelier in your porch can really create statement. If you want to make it appear invisible, pick a fixture color that’s the same as your exterior painting. If you have steps, leading up to your front door, add in lights to those as well.
4. Use shutters that actually work
A lot of beautiful colonial homes have shutters as one of their architectural features but these shutters are there for display and don’t actually work. At most times, it lies flat on the wall without any purpose other than to add beauty. The real purpose of design is to be aesthetically beautiful with a purpose so make those shutters come alive. In tropical climates, louvered windows serve to let fresh air in while shading the inside from the sun. To make it stand out, paint your shutters in a different color or pair it with your brightly colored door. Pair those shutters with window or plant boxes with fresh flowers or vines to liven up the whole house.
5. Use brise soleil, awnings or trellis
In architecture, brise soleil is a feature of a building or house that deflects sunlight. Architects like Le Corbusier have used it, evident in the palace of assembly. If that’s too fancy, an awning serves a good purpose too. Contrary to what other people think about awnings, it’s not just for bistros. Window awnings can reduce heat and make areas like patios cooler in the summer. It comes in a variety of shades and patterns that will go well with your exterior. Trellises function the same way but are more aesthetic especially when filled with crawling vines.
6. Revamp your house numbers
Look at the different styles available for house numbers that make it easy for the mailman and delivery guys to locate. Large and oversized numbers not only make a statement, they can be seen across the street if you have a large front yard. Spelling it out as forty instead of 40, is an alternative to the usual numbers and is great if your address only has one or two digits.
7. Update your landscape
If you have a huge front yard, it makes sense to make it more oasis-like for people to appreciate. Consider working together with a landscape architect and make use of plants and flowers that attract bees or butterflies. Add water features like fountains for a soothing sound.
Lastly, maintain your exterior. Any design or feature you add to your house will be useless if you can’t maintain your house exterior. Updating chipping and peeling paint and power washing the facade will help make your home a pleasing sight to look at.