Tips to Designing a Home’s Exterior

Driving through a new neighborhood, you might take the time to notice all of the lovely architecture or stonework on the houses and pick out ideas and designs you love. Maybe it’s because you’re designing your own new home or you just love looking at how houses are constructed. Whether you’re a fan of antique thin brick corners or a cottage style facade, there are a few guiding principles for the exterior of any home. These help builders and designers ensure every house looks its absolute best when construction is done.

Design Principles

The first rule of home design is balance and symmetry. Think of traditional style homes you see around your town. Do they typically have a front door in the center and a window on either side? That’s because this creates a balanced picture of the home. More modern homes are leaning toward asymmetrical designs, but that doesn’t mean they’re breaking this rule. Even asymmetrical homes, with the door off to one side, find ways to balance the other side of the house with windows, structural features, or the materials used such as bricks or stucco.

Color is another important consideration. For example, if you’re building a house out of red bricks, you might not want a cherry red roof as well. The materials a house is made of factor into the color schemes that best suit the overall image. Using contrasting colors can create stark complements between materials and make your home stand out. White trim is a fan favorite because of its simplicity, but colored accents are another way to individualize your home.

Next, you’ll have to think about choosing the functional elements of your home so they complement your aesthetic choices. This means picking a roof shape and shingle color that accent your overall design. If you’re going for high ceilings and a tall exterior, think about using a peaked roof instead of a flat one. Even the garage door can make or break a beautiful looking home. Pick a color that complements the established scheme, and think about what texture you want it to have. Do you want it to be smooth, paneled, or slatted? Finally, be sure to pick windows that match the feel of your house. A modern-designed house with Victorian windows would look out of place.

When designing a home, remember the exterior can be just as important as the interior. Consider these design principles to keep you on the right track.

 

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