The exterior of your home deserves as much of your creativity as the interior of your home. The colors, styles, and accents you choose should represent your personal style and leave you feeling like you're driving up to a brand-new home! With the range of colors and styles available from James Hardie®, modern window and door replacements, and architectural flair, you'll be able to create a unique combination of exterior updates that's just right for your home.
Redesigning the exterior of your home can be as transformative as a full interior makeover. Start with a vision of how you want your home to present itself. Classic and sophisticated or modern and eye-catching? Maybe a little of each?
Consider the architectural style, the neighborhood vibe, and, most importantly, your personal style preferences. It’s about creating a balance between standout and blend-in. Think about color schemes, materials, and landscaping that enhance the structure and style of your home. Collect ideas online and take pictures of homes you admire, noting the details you like. This will make it easier when you're ready to work with an exterior remodeling company to design your home's exterior updates.
Updating your home's exterior can be as simple as a new paint job or as involved as installing new siding or windows. Focus on key elements like the front door, windows, and siding. Small changes like new lighting fixtures, updated house numbers, and a refreshed mailbox can also make a big impact.
Consider the overall curb appeal and how each component can enhance it. Upgrading elements like your garage door or adding exterior remodeling touches such as decorative stonework can also significantly boost your home's value and visual appeal. Enhance your exterior home renovation ideas by incorporating exterior design trends that will transform your home’s curb appeal in 2024.
Updating your home's exterior is much like an interior remodel. There are more design elements than you might think, and you'll want them to all coordinate to create one cohesive picture. Let's go detail by detail to discuss them all, starting with siding.
Siding is like the canvas that all other elements are built upon. Your siding color and style (or styles, if you like to get creative) will affect all the other elements you choose, like trim, windows, and architectural elements.
White homes, blue homes, tan homes: all beautiful and classic. But some homeowners want to mix things up. Mixing siding styles and colors can give you a more custom look that represents your personal style. Get in touch with your creative side and learn about some of our favorite color and siding design ideas loved by Chicago homeowners like you.
Many homeowners are mixing and matching siding and trim colors for a stylish result. With James Hardie siding and trim, there are plenty of colors to choose from to get just the right combination. Color experts created the vast ColorPlus Technology palette to create beautiful, durable siding and trim colors that all complement one another, no matter their range from light to dark, and warm to cool. This is great for the homeowner who wants to lean into the new trend for siding, which is a two-tone color palette.
The latest style in two-toned combinations is high-contrast. Here are the most popular siding and trim combinations from James Hardie:Choosing only two colors to play with can be tough when there are so many great combinations out there. Luckily, the James Hardie specialists at Smardbuild are well-suited to help find your perfect color combo.
Get all the benefits of fiber cement siding with the natural beauty of wood grain that brings warmth and traditional charm. It's ideal for achieving a classic yet updated appearance. The wood look is particularly effective in environments where blending with natural surroundings is the goal. It’s also versatile enough to be used in everything from quaint cottages to modern farmhouses, and when paired with the right exterior house colors, it creates a timeless facade that appeals to a wide range of tastes.
Also called Shaker siding, this style is perfect for adding texture and intricacy, often used in Cape Cod and craftsman homes. Shingle siding can be used as an allover siding but also stands out as an accent siding, such as on a gable. Traditionally, Shaker shingles were made of cedar. Today, you can achieve the same interesting pattern, with or without the wood grain texture, and benefit from unmatched durability with fiber cement siding.
Classic and clean, lap siding is great for a streamlined look that complements modern and traditional homes alike. It's a popular choice for those seeking a low-maintenance option that still offers the flexibility to adapt to various modern house colors and styles, ensuring a sleek and attractive exterior.
Adds height and drama, enhancing the architectural lines, and is perfect for modern industrial designs. This style of siding is an excellent way to add visual interest and can make a building seem taller. Vertical siding is also part of the exterior siding design ideas that cater to both aesthetic appeal and practical functionality, offering a distinctive look that can set a property apart from its surroundings.
Mixing siding types and styles can set your home apart from the rest on your block. James Hardie siding and trim come in a variety of styles. What types of siding styles are there to choose from for mixing and matching?
Did you know you could also mix siding textures? Plank lap siding in the Cedarmill texture gives you a natural-looking woodgrain. Siding in a smooth texture gives your home a sleek feel. Both textures are available with a beaded edge for a little something special.
Hardie Shingle siding comes in Straight Edge panels for a modern look and Staggered Edge panels for a more traditional shingle look.
Hardie Panel vertical siding is also available in the Cedarmill and Smooth textures, but also Stucco and Sierra, which is another woodgrain texture.
Windows and doors are like the jewelry of your home but also serve a greater purpose in how comfortable your home can be. Replace your windows and doors with energy-efficient models that are also highly stylish to reap the biggest benefits.
Upgrading your windows is more than just a facelift for your home—it's a strategic renovation that can elevate both the function and the style of your living space. New windows can significantly enhance energy efficiency with double or triple-pane glass that reduces heat transfer and drafts, helping maintain a consistent temperature indoors and cutting down on heating and cooling costs. Multi-pane windows also cut outside noise.
For a style update, consider choosing modern house colors for the window frames, like deep green or beige. Installing new trim or shutters can complete the look, providing a refined finish that boosts your home’s curb appeal and aligns with 2024 exterior house trends.
Choose a bold color or a unique design for your statement door to catch every eye that passes by—this little change can spruce up your facade and even boost your home's value. And why not double the impact with double front entry doors? They can make your entryway feel grand and are super practical too—think easier moves and better flow. Plus, opting for doors with energy-efficient features matches the growing trend toward greener, energy-efficient homes. This simple swap could refresh your space and save on energy bills, all while keeping up with the latest exterior design trends.
Adding architectural details can elevate your home’s design, infusing it with unique character and enhancing its aesthetic appeal and functionality. Here's how different elements can boost your curb appeal:
Soffit and fascia are not just there to make your roof look neat, they're important for ventilating your attic and keeping moisture out of your rafters. A lot of homeowners miss how essential these are for keeping your home in tip-top shape. Plus, they really polish off any exterior home renovation ideas, tying the whole look of your roofline together nicely.
Trim is like the frame for your house's features—it outlines your windows, doors, and corners, adding depth and a bit of drama. You can match it with your home’s exterior palette or go bold with contrasting colors to make things pop. It's a big deal in exterior design trends, adding that extra zing that makes passersby take a second look and boosts your curb appeal.
Eaves do more than just keep you dry, they add a whole layer of style to your home. As a design element, the shadows they cast bring out your home's features by adding dimension. It's all about playing with light and shadows to complement your color palette and spice up your architectural style.
Columns really make your entrance grand, bringing that elegant, timeless feel to your home’s exterior. They’re fundamental in transitional style exterior looks but can be modernized to match 2024 exterior house trends, too. Beyond just looking majestic, they’re structural heavy lifters that keep your porch or entryway sturdy and stunning.
These add a rugged, natural element. Stone veneers offer the aesthetic of natural stone but are lighter and often more cost-effective, making them ideal for adding a touch of style without the hefty price tag. They also blend well with a variety of trending exterior house colors, like earthy greens and timeless beige, and can be used to highlight architectural features like archways or columns, enhancing the home’s overall curb appeal.
You're unique, so why shouldn't your home's exterior be, too? At Smardbuild, we're your Chicago area James Hardie® experts. Whether you're in Naperville, Addison, Elmhurst, or Arlington Heights, we've got you covered. We've served homeowners across the Greater Chicago area, leaving them with both exterior and interior remodels that they absolutely love. Contact us to schedule a consultation to find out what Smardbuild can do for your Chicago home.