Insider tips for creating exteriors to last!

I’ve built over 7000 homes, so I’ve seen plenty of exterior design trends come and go. It can be hard to keep up, and the last thing you want to do when you’ve invested your hard-earned savings in a new home is feel pressure to constantly update it. 

The good news is, some exterior design features make the kind of impact that lasts generations. They’re a safe bet for resale appeal and will give you and the family years of enjoyment until then. 

Versatile textures 

Our love of multi-faceted texture inside our homes has finally spread to the outdoors. In the last five years we’ve grown more comfortable diversifying external textures, with transformative effects. 

Using a blend of different materials in our facades has added welcome dimension and personality to properties, while helping no single home feel alike. Contrasting and self-textured patterns are especially popular, creating layers and visual interest. 

Comfortably neutral 

While interiors are getting bolder, exteriors are doubling down on cool, calm neutrals. Greys, beiges and off-whites reign supreme outside our homes, and we’re getting more sophisticated in how we deploy them, using a spectrum of colour, light and shade within each neutral palette. 

Neutrals help a building fit organically within its extended environment – an effect increasingly demanded by home owners. This tilt toward calming, minimalist exteriors is only likely to continue as we seek to live more intuitively with our surroundings. 

Brick it up 

Bricks are a perennial favourite for home construction, and they have undergone a style revolution in the last decade.  They now come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, colours and textures, and can be configured to reflect trends of the moment, while offering a sturdy foundation over time. 

A new generation is waking up to the timeless appeal of the red brick facade, drawn to its innate strength and adaptability, while others are experimenting with multi-coloured bricks and a variety of finishes. 

Imperfections 

We all want to live in well-built homes, but that doesn’t have to come at the expense of personality. In a world where so much is mass produced, we like our homes to feel somewhat special, even if they’re the same style as others. 

Just as artisanal and homemade products have surged in popularity over the years, so too home buyers are keen to see the tiny bumps, lines and imperfections in the exteriors of their home. Natural, textured materials offer this in-built imperfection and remind people that while their home is model in all the important ways, it’s also one-of-a-kind. 

Low-maintenance 

Who has time to constantly work on the house? Even for those who love to potter and DIY, time is fleeting. 

Buyers expect new properties to be fashioned with low-maintenance features and materials that let them focus on living life to the fullest. Look for products that are light-weight, resistant to the elements, and are straightforward to take care of, such as Colorbond and aluminium windows. 

Survivability 

Quality homes have always been built to last, but the conditions they’re expected to endure are evolving. In the already harsh Australian environment, new homes are utilising construction systems to support efficiency and durability over the long haul. 

Solar capability (panels, solar tiles and battery facilities), water tanks, lightweight steel framing and fibre cement are just some of the materials and features shaping future Australian homes. Though materials technology will continue to evolve, sustainable exteriors are here to stay.