The change of seasons is upon us, with a respite from summer’s oppressive heat as Mother Nature updates her color palette with bold and vibrant hues. Why not get your home into the spirit of the season with the latest exterior home design trends inspired by nature itself? HomeWise has collected some of this year’s most popular exterior design trends. Which ones will give your home an eye-catching update?

Incorporate nature into your exterior home design

Nothing compares to the beauty of the natural world with its rich textures and hues, and 2023’s most popular design trends allow us to explore the great outdoors from the comfort of our own homes.

Stone in its natural shape is replacing concrete sidewalks or porch surfaces, decorative gate posts, property borders, outdoor kitchens, and more. Wood that has been stained to show its rich grain and texture adorn front porches as columns and is used for window boxes, terraced lawns, and shutters. Traditional privacy fences are giving way to hedgerows, dubbed “living fences,” that add texture and interest, as well as simplified upkeep year after year. 

For the exterior of the house itself, blended materials and textures make a striking impression and exude warmth. Textured shingles, wooden siding, brick, and stone all commingle on the house’s exterior and provide your home with incredible curb appeal.

If you’re looking for a small upgrade, container gardens and potted plants are popular adornments for walkways, porches, and stairways. They provide a focal point in landscaped areas of your lawn. Additionally, containers are portable, so on those cold nights (and when the snow begins to fall) those containers can be brought inside your shed or garage for protection from the elements.

Choose bold and contrasting colors

In the recent past, design styles called for a monochromatic palette of grays or white. Not so anymore! Color has made a comeback, and the drama created by contrasting colors is a welcome sight after nothing but muted shades. Look for focal areas to bring in nature’s more dramatic shades: blue, green, maroon, and brown. Some options include:

• The front door- draw attention to your home’s point of entry and invite guests to stop by with colorful paint. 
• Shutters- update your shutters to fit the windows they adorn (even if they are purely decorative). Consider painting them in a dark color to contrast with a lighter finish on the house.
• Trim- White has been the go-to color for trim over the last couple of decades, but dark, dramatic trim and accents, such as door and window frames and chimneys, are challenging the status quo.
• Foundation- if your home has a brick or block foundation below the siding or brick that comprises the rest of the exterior, painting it in a dark color can make the rest of your house really stand out.

Pro-tip: Choose one of these color elements to incorporate, not all of them concurrently. Less can be more, and designers recommend that the total exterior upgrade include no more than three elements. Paint counts as one of them.

Make home a sanctuary

If anything good came from the COVID-19 pandemic, it was certainly the new appreciation with which we learned to view our homes. What began as a necessity helped us realize that home is much more than just the place we return to at the end of the day. This is the place where we live, connect, unwind, work, and play. Home is meant to be our sanctuary and a place of rest, and these exterior home trends facilitate this concept beautifully.

• Places of respite- cozy seating nooks on the porch, a two-person swing dangling from an old oak tree, a bench under a pergola covered in flowering vines. Where can you incorporate places for quiet conversation or private meditation in your own backyard?
• Water features- think beyond a full-sized swimming pool. Perhaps your lawn is better suited for a plunge pool or your back deck is the perfect place for a hot tub. Mimicking nature with small pools and fountains also adds a calming and spa-like quality to your outdoor space.
• Personalize your space- do you spend your Saturdays grilling out and playing yard games with family and friends? Dedicate a space for a grilling pad and a smooth, sodded area for cornhole and bocce. Do you like to begin your days with yoga, weights, or another workout? Set up a shaded space with the equipment you need for the workout you love.
• Sensory experience- the natural world rejuvenates us by tantalizing all of our senses. Let the senses guide you as you plan a garden or pathway of gravel or stone pavers, aromatic plants, and visual variety in height, color, and texture. If you can incorporate edible plants too, you’ll enjoy the optimal sensory experience.

Pro-tip: Regardless of trends, your home is a reflection of you, your family, and your lifestyle. Embrace the designs that bring you joy, and comfort, and enhance your quality of life.

DIY or CTP (Call the professionals)

Many of the exterior home trends in fall 2023 are do-it-yourself projects you can tackle over the weekend, and there’s a real sense of satisfaction in seeing the byproduct of your labor. However, when it comes to major structural improvements or when your demanding schedule prevents you from having time, HomeWise Roofing and Exteriors is here to help with those upgrades that will make your home a place of comfort, beauty, and personal pride. Give us a call. We’d love to help you design and execute your perfect exterior home design.