If you’re thinking of replacing your roof, siding or windows, you’ll probably want to update your home’s exterior design at the same time. If so, take some time to look around at what other homeowners and designers have done. You can see how different colors and materials go together and decide what you like and don’t like. Here are a few tips and the latest trends to get you started.
Find inspiration all around you.
Today’s designers are creating home exteriors that blend with nature, reflect the colors and variety of our surroundings, and blur the distinction between inside and outside. Look around in your own neighborhood to see how other homeowners are combining muted, natural shades with a variety of textures and large windows. You can also find ideas online. Check out websites like Houzz, House Beautiful, This Old House or the DryHome Roofing & Siding Gallery.
The latest roofing materials combine dimension that stands out with colors that blend.
The current popular roofing color is any shade of grey. Grey is less harsh than black and blends in better with the surroundings. You can also get light grey colors that reflect heat and keep energy costs down. Other popular colors are muted blues or greens, which can complement your natural environment.
Many people are also going for designer shingles, which are thicker than traditional shingles and give your roof more character. Cedar shake shingles achieve a similar look.
Standing seam metal roofs have become more and more fashionable in the last few years as well. Although they’re a little more expensive than asphalt, they last a long time and impart a sophisticated polish to your home’s style.
Going along with the theme of mixing textures and materials, many homes combine two or more roofing materials. For example, a porch area might be covered with a metal roof while the main house roof remains asphalt. You can also add accents in copper or tin for a unique flair. Copper gutters and downspouts, for instance, look especially attractive against the light-colored siding.
Stylish siding colors go bold with contrasting trim and stone accents.
Regardless of the siding material you choose, the classic white house with black, dark blue, or green shutters has become more and more fashionable. Other trendy looks include dark colors such as navy or hunter green with white trim. The contrasting trim shows off the architecture of your home.
Many people are choosing to add stone veneer to highlight a particular feature of the house or to break up an expanse of wall. For example, you can put stone under a bay window as a focal point. Or encase front columns in stone to frame your entryway. Some homes add stone veneer to the first level and composite siding above. For a completely different texture, there are also wood sidings that can mimic a log house look.
With windows, more is more fashionable.
When you want to bring the beauty of nature inside, add windows. Homeowners are enlarging existing windows or combining smaller sash windows into sliding doors. Many are also opting for large panes with no grilles for an unobstructed view.
Accents such as sidelights and transform windows around doors are brightening up hallways as well as adding beauty to the exterior. Arches, ovals, trapezoids and other specialty window shapes are showing up in roof peaks or over doors. And clerestory windows, narrow windows placed up near the ceiling, add ambient light to a large room.
On the exterior, windows should complement the style of the house. Many homeowners today are selecting silver or copper-colored exterior trim. These neutral shades complement copper accents, metal roofs or stone siding.
Whether you’re only planning to replace your roof or you want a whole new look for your home, keep your eyes open for those details that express your personal style. Then, when you see something you love, keep the picture and bring it to us at DryHome Roofing & Siding. We’ll help you realize your vision of a house you’ll love coming home to.
