When designing our dream home, we often spend most of our energy designing the interior and neglect the external details. A spectacular exterior will stand out and reflect the general style of the house. Beautiful house exterior design can be complemented with attractive architectural features.

Unique details can include beautiful landscaping ideas, gorgeous exterior color combinations, outdoor lighting, charming fences, and a spacious porch. These all enhance the beauty of your home’s exterior design and improve its curb appeal.

Types of Exterior Design Details

unique exterior design details

Whether your home is traditional, modern, or contemporary, exterior design plays a critical role. It allows homeowners to make a great first impression but also add value to their homes. There are a ton of great ideas you can implement to spruce up the exterior of your home. 

1. Architectural Features

There are plenty of options for the use of different materials when it comes to a home’s exterior. Wooden facades have gained popularity in the past few decades because of their natural appeal. Wood accents look beautiful on many types of architecture from farmhouse to contemporary. Whether it’s columns, siding, front door, fence, soffits, or garage doors, find a place and embrace the wood trend.

To make the exterior of your home truly unique, showcase a combination of many materials working together to define the architecture. Stone walls can be used on the ground floor with exposed concrete on the upper floors. For a natural element add wooden shades to glass terrace railings. This mix of exterior details makes a statement.  

2. Window Trim

A lot of thought should be placed into your window choices. Windows play a big role in the way a home looks and feels both inside and out. Spacing, layout, size, and shape are factors that are typically considered when designing the windows on a home. Window trim can add just as much excitement and energy to the finished look of a home.

Exterior window trim is a small detail that can make a world of difference to the look of your home. There are many different ways to use exterior window trim ideas to create a lasting effect. There are three elements to consider when selecting exterior window trim options: design, color, and trim style.

  • Window Trim Design: Lines, edges, shaping, and continuity with other architectural features are all things to look out for when considering different exterior window trim designs.

  • Window Trim Color: While some homeowners like their exterior window trim, soffit, and front door to match perfectly, others like to take a more complementary approach by using the exterior window trim as an opportunity to create contrast with surrounding siding, doors, and other architectural features.

  • Window Trim Type: This can be measured up by material choice. While vinyl and wood are classic favorites, alternative approaches to exterior window trim styles, like stone, are also available.

Not all exterior window trim has the same uniform cut. You can try a flared top to create visual intrigue and dimension. This approach works particularly well with white exterior window trim and on homes that have unique angles already integrated into the architecture. A multi-design approach includes basic trim on one window and ornamental shutters on another window.  

3. Landscaping

Plants, shrubs, and trees provide shape and color to accentuate the architectural features of a home. A unique landscape is well-tended, in proportion to the house, and elicits an emotional response. Landscaping professionals know materials and construction methods and have the experience to create exquisitely landscaped gardens.

The use of hardscape and landscape materials in articulating the outdoor space is key. Materials should have a wonderful blend with the architectural materials. When selecting hardscape materials for a patio or deck, you should consider the scale, color, and texture. You need to know if you’re building a patio to accommodate large parties or simply a family of four. Color can be used to either complement the finishes inherent in the home or contrast with it. 

In designing the landscape, planting the same elements of scale, color, and texture are used. Plantings are arranged in groupings and masses with contrasting colors and textures. Rather than thinking in terms of shrubs, groundcover, or flowers, think in terms of movement, contrast, and large brushstrokes of color.

4. Lighting

Strategically placed outdoor lights add to attractive house exterior design and curb appeal. Well-designed and efficient outdoor lights illuminate walkways and stairs, driveways, green lawns, blooming shrubs, beautiful flowers, and trees. 

5. Interesting Doors

Creating impressive curb appeal turns your home into an attractive and desirable property. Your door should be the focal point of your home’s exterior. For an inexpensive exterior design option, homeowners can use bright paint colors to show personality through their home’s front door. You can opt for neutral colors in a wood tone or iron with unique architectural designs to make your home stand out. 

Homeowners are also choosing wider doors and large sidelights. Other creative ideas to add uniqueness to exterior home details include new door hardware, an attractive mailbox, a beautiful address number sign, or a chair on your porch, add uniqueness to outdoor home details. 

6. Front Porches

Tiny stoops are no longer the norm. Homeowners want more porch seating and enjoy lounging in the front of their homes. It’s a good way to see what’s happening and meet new neighbors.

7. Contrasting Garage Doors

Well-made garage doors with architectural details like windows and paneling are great for boosting curb appeal. One way to highlight your garage doors as a design element is to paint them a contrasting color to the rest of the house. 

Designing Your Home’s Exterior

Your outdoor home decor should be just as attractive and carefully planned as interior decorating. Contemporary colorful materials, unique architectural details, attractive fences, and landscaping ideas create beautiful homes and emphasize your house design style. Home exterior elements vary widely based on several factors. The lifestyle of the homeowner is first among these. 

Exterior house design can be difficult because there are so many elements that need to work in concert with one another. What works for one house might not work for another. To guide you in designing or revamping your home’s exterior, here are a few tips for approaching your exterior design. 

Plan the Design

It’s important to start by defining a direction for the whole project. The answers to the following questions will help you determine the costs and set a budget for these exterior design projects. 

  • What am I trying to accomplish by my home design? 

  • Do I want a more traditional or contemporary style? 

  • What styles have I admired in the past that I’d like to incorporate into my home? 

  • What do I want to convey about myself through this home?

  • What aspects of the exteriors are not working for me right now? 

  • Can any exterior features be fixed with paint or landscaping?

  • Do I need to invest in some construction work? 

Do Some Research

Take time to figure out what you like and dislike. Doing research ensures that you’re thinking critically about your home, which helps avoid costly mistakes later on. Some helpful resources for starting your research process include Pinterest. This is a great place to go for all kinds of home inspiration. You can hire a consultant. It can be helpful to get a second opinion of a professional.

Color Scheme

One of the trickiest aspects of the exterior design process is choosing a color scheme. When choosing a color scheme for your home, be mindful of how many elements need to be included in that color scheme. If your home has siding, work from the idea that the siding is the foundation of your color scheme. Choose that color first, and then add on.  You also have to consider the look and feel of the surrounding homes.

It is recommended to use painting samples on your house to make sure you’re happy with the color. If you want to use two main colors for your home, have the darker color closer to the ground. This anchors the home and helps it to look more natural. Everything else on your home’s exterior, whether it’s trim, stonework, or a door color, should be added in colors that complement and elevate the main foundational color.

MaterialsChoosing the materials for your home can also be difficult. If you want to use more than one material, limit it to two different materials. Use the visually heavier structural materials like brick and stone on what would look like the main house. Use visually lighter materials such as siding and stucco on areas that protrude from the main body of the house. 

Make Your Home Beautiful

Does your home need a facelift? If so, Banner Construction can turn your dull home into a gem. Our exterior home experts can guide you on color, materials, and design elements that will take your curb appeal to the next level. 

From premium siding products to high-end replacement windows, Banner Construction can make your home the envy of the neighborhood.  Contact us today for a free consultation.