You likely think about the exterior of your house as a peek or preview into your personal style. But the aesthetics and trends that we bring to our living spaces change and evolve.
So whether your home's exterior has started to show signs of wear, you're looking for a fresh take, or you just want to go for a whole new style, a modern home exterior could be the answer.
In this article, we’ll explore how to modernize the exterior of your home, from subtle tweaks that can breathe new life into classic architecture to total transformations that may reinvent the exterior of your home.
Read on for 10+ ways to give your home a more modern curb appeal and where to begin.
As homeowners, it's easy to become accustomed to the appearance of our homes, often overlooking signs that our exteriors may require an upgrade. Luckily, several key indicators can help you determine whether your home could benefit from an exterior upgrade.
Here's how to recognize if your home’s exterior may be in need of a refresh;
Installing fiber cement siding is a popular choice for modernizing your home's exterior, due to its versatility and range of benefits that can enhance both the appearance and functionality of your residence.
Fiber cement siding is available in a variety of finishes, textures, and colors, allowing you to achieve a sleek and contemporary look that aligns with modern design trends.
Some benefits of fiber cement siding like Hardieplank include:
Plus, Hardieplank is less expensive when compared to other premium siding types, like cedar, but offers the same look.
To achieve a modern look, you’ll want to stay away from wood grain patterns and opt for a smoother surface and a smaller reveal. For example, mid-century modern siding has a 6-8 inch reveal, whereas more traditional siding has a larger reveal.
If you’re looking for modern siding options, the 6-inch smooth Hardieplank would make an excellent design choice.
Lifetime Remodeling Systems boasts over 25+ years of experience designing and managing exterior home remodeling projects, including dozens of Hardieplank siding installations.
On top of being a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor, we’re also considered the top exterior remodeler and siding contractor in Portland, Or.
Can your home accommodate an accent wall? If so, that wall will draw guests in toward the entry door.
Stain-grade cedar or hardwood is great for entry areas as it can really warm the space up, but also produce an impactful effect when combined with the modern siding look.
The combination will really pop, especially on ranch homes.
Paint color is a simple, yet powerful, factor that can help modernize your home’s exterior.
The right choice of paint color can instantly transform the look of your home, making it feel fresh, contemporary, and aligned with current design trends.
Gray shades, along with gray-blues, blacks, and whites, are more modern options, especially when paired with a stained accent wall or a porch ceiling.
Paint is a personal, low-cost, and immediate way to modernize home exteriors.
Removing arches and squaring off any windows, garages, brick arches, etc. can quickly work to modernize a home.
Modern architecture often embraces clean lines, simplicity, and minimalism. The intricate curves and details of arches can sometimes clash with the minimalist aesthetic, and work against a modern facade.
Replacing your windows with the addition of dark-colored windows is a great way to modernize a home.
This upgrade can work to transform the overall look of your home while enhancing its:
Modern exteriors are all about sleek silhouettes. A 3-inch trim size gives a smaller, cleaner look compared to a standard 4-inch or a 6-inch often seen on a craftsman home.
The color scheme is important here as well, and a monochromatic look — where the window trim and corners are the same color as the siding — will help achieve a modern aesthetic and help dark windows have more of a pop.
Garage doors are often a last thought and many homeowners resort to traditional or dated options. This detail may be the “weakest link” when it comes to your home’s exterior.
By replacing your garage doors with more modern options, you can up your curb appeal and your home’s value.
Consider:
Fixtures, i.e. porch or garage lights, house numbers, door hardware, mailboxes, and walkway lights, can all be updated in an attempt to modernize your home.
Be mindful of font styles, color, and shape to really give the finishing touch and complete your modern theme.
When selecting modern fixtures for your home's exterior, opt for simplicity and functionality. Choosing a cohesive design and a consistent selection of fixtures can enhance your home's curb appeal and convey a contemporary aesthetic.
Sleek and clean lines are hallmark characteristics of homes with a modern style. This type of design focuses on simplicity, minimalism, and a sense of open space.
When looking at the exterior of your home, you may focus on adding clean lines:
All of these seemingly small details can have a big impact when you take a step back.
Landscaping is a powerful element when you look at how to modernize your home’s exterior.
You could consider adding some strategic shrubs or plants up against your home or creating those telltale clean lines with flower beds or walkways leading up to the home.
Just be sure to avoid blocking any windows or added lighting features and keep the layout as clean as possible.
Luckily, there are many ways to modernize your home by updating your roof with more modern materials and colors.
Opt for roofing materials that align with modern aesthetics, including:
Materials with sleek and clean lines will add to the modern look you're after, while neutral shades like gray, black, white, or muted, earthy tones can give your home a fresh and contemporary curb appeal.
For many homes, the entryway is the architectural focal point of the home.
Enlarging the entry and adding a porch or enclosure that accents the rest of the home can be very impactful, and is a great option for modernizing a home that’s not symmetrical or has an entryway that otherwise goes unnoticed.
Dated asphalt or gravel can drag down the appearance of a home.
Modernize your home by replacing any pathways to the home with:
Organizing your driveway and/or walkways in straight lines, grids, or simple repeating designs can help you achieve a more modern look.
From meeting to providing estimates to designing, building, and closing out a project, Lifetime Remodeling Systems ensures you’re completely satisfied with the entire experience, which is why our work and our products are backed by our Lifetime Warranty.
We strive to be your contractor for life, and our team is dedicated to providing professional estimates and unbeatable customer service while delivering the modernized exterior you’re dreaming of.
Our customers have complete control, and we’re here to help guide any decisions if needed, over any and all aesthetic choices made, all of which can be seen before work begins thanks to our HOVER technology.
Below, you’ll see a home that could use some modernization as it has outdated arches, old wood windows, dated garage doors etc...
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