Curb appeal doesn’t just apply to the front of the home. Your custom home should look exquisite from every angle of its exterior. This applies to the front, side and back—as well as individual elements like exterior doors, patios, decks and landscaping.
As we’ve done with other elements on this blog before (e.g. lines, shapes and floors), let’s look at how the exterior element of design plays a role in the overall look of the home.
Why Is The Exterior Important?
The exterior is a piece of the puzzle in your custom home’s design. It’s a big piece, to be sure, as it will dictate the first impression of your visitors. When anyone arrives at your custom home, they’ll observe details like how well-maintained the yard is, the designs and colors of doors/windows and the overall style of the home itself. This sets up expectations for the rest of the home and your guests’ impression of it.
How The Exterior Impacts Home Design
There are several ways the exterior of your custom home impacts its design, but we’ll focus on three of them today: customization, protection and convenience.
- Customization: The exterior of the home is your first chance to show off personality and make a first impression. Customize the look of both your landscaping and the building to impress your guests and tell a story.
- Protection: Your exterior needs to be as functional as it is beautiful. Exterior custom home elements like the roof, doors and windows protect interior elements, as well as your family and belongings. Functionality always plays a part in home design.
- Convenience: Will your exterior be easy to maintain? Convenience is another factor in deciding home design elements like the height of windows, complexity of landscape design and time-consuming outdoor projects.
Custom Home Exterior Ideas
So, what are some examples of what you can do with a custom home’s exterior? Here are a few best practices we’ve come across over the years:
- Siding: protect from wind damage and give your home curb appeal with siding
- Roofing: choose a protection grade, color and look that fits the rest of your home
- Windows: try to find the right combination of energy efficiency and size
- Painting: a splash of color is occasionally appropriate, but go for timeless hues
- Landscaping: avoid complex lawn and garden area patterns to keep maintenance easy
If you’re interested in learning about more elements of design, contact us today for a consultation.
