They say don’tjudge a book by its cover, but let’s be honest, noone ever bothers to inspect a home with a sorry-looking house facade.
The exterior design of a home is so important in revealing to the buyer, or nosy onlooker, what kind of property lies beyond itsfront doors.
From modern house facades to classic house facades, we’ve chosen our favourite home exteriordesigns from properties around Australia to get those facade ideas flowing.
1. Set a theme
There’s nothing more striking than committing to a theme with your facade. Whether it’s modern or heritage – minimalist or industrial, let the facade shine by allowing its personality to shine through.
Read more: Victorian facade ideas
If you’re lucky enough to live in a home with period details then let them shine by highlighting their detail with differently-toned paint.
Designed in the early 1850’s this home celebrates its heritage by using paint to subtly highlight the detail in the facade. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
2. Play with texture
Homes with glorious textural materials such a stone sit better within the landscape, especially when they’re built with local materials.
Read more: Modern double storey house facades
Consider using stone in tones that fit with the surrounding area to make your home look like it’s always been there.
Texture such as stone makes for a much more regal facade like this stunner in Sorrento, Vic. Picture: realestate.com.au
3. Let the details sing
If you’re not a massive fan of colour then consider using paint minimally to highlight parts of the facade to draw the eye in.
Got some fancy heritage metalwork? Use a modern colour to really make these unique details pop.
Discover more facade ideas with brick
In an otherwise restrained palette, the blue tone makes this facade in Glebe pop. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
4. Don’t forget the garage door
There’s nothing worse than forgetting one little element in your house facade design and having it let down the entire look.
Read more: Single storey facade ideas
Consider opting for a timber garage door, which will pair beautifully with the rest of the design.After all, your cars deserve a pretty place to live too.
Timber garage doors are a special touch that makes a difference to the whole front of this house. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
5. Don’t be afraid to exaggerate
If you’re lucky enough to have a home that’s been architecturally designed then don’t be afraid to accentuate its lush design features.
Use sculptures and landscaping to mirror and exaggerate its shapes and lines to make it even more striking for passers by.
This Brighton home isn’t afraid of showing some flair in its modernist-themed design. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
6. Don’t forget the nature strip
If you’re tight on space in the front of your home then look no further than the nature strip for adding a pop of greenery to your facade design.
Before you plant it’s always a good idea to get council permission, but often they’re more than happy to allow for this. It means your chance to add some lush greenery to the facade just grew by at least a few metres.
This home in Glenelg takes advantage of its nature strip garden. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
7. Mirror, mirror
It’s one of the most underestimated design tools out there, but when its used successfully it can really pack a punch when it comes to facade design.
Symmetry can be your best friend if you’re looking to make a statement with the front of your home.
Follow through with the fence and the garage and you’re onto a winning (and eye-catching) combination.
Symmetry is one of the most pleasing design elements as seen in this French provincial-themed home in Brighton. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
8. Windows to the soul
Windows can spark joy just as much as any other element on a home’s facade so don’t forget considering them in the rest of your design.
Timber frames will give a natural feel, while black speaks to a more modern aesthetic.
Windows at the front can beautifully frame an otherwise plain house front. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
9. Get beachy keen
Love the Hamptons style but live nowhere close to the beach? Never fear.
A simple paint job can take a home to new stylish heights no matter where you live.
A home in regional NSW looks straight out of the Hamptons with the help of a new lick of paint. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
10. Be romantic
If you’re really looking to create impact, then consider growing a climbing plant on your facade.
It will mean extra work to keep it in check, but could pay off in spades with stunning spring blooms that will create heavenly scents while you’re enjoying the outdoor space.
Adding a climbing plant with some gorgeously romantic blooms really sets the mood, just like this Mont Albert home. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
11. Go large with lavender
Looking for a more simple landscaping solution totransform yourhouse exterior? Try lavender.
Thishardy-growing perennial willpump out beautiful lilac-coloured blooms year after year,keeping your entryway delightfully awash with their sweet perfume.
Facade colour ideas: A sea of purple welcomes visitors at this Toorak home.Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
12. Create layers
If your place is set on a sloping block then let the landscaping do the work of creating interesting layers and spaces at the front of the house.
By using retaining walls and smart planting you can use the slope as an asset, instead of something that may put some buyers off.
Subline spaces are created with the smart use of retaining walls, stone and low-maintenance plants. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
13. Add awning to match
An estate of grandproportions, such as the 1935 Tudor-style manor Bonnington, calls for traditional details in a facade.
Striped awning, to match the timber framing of the roof structure, is perfectly in tune with the classic style of this commandingfacade design.
A classic facade designfor this stately home at 8 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill.Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
14. Don’t be afraid of colour
There’s much to love about this Alex Popov masterpiece, but the impressive facade is surely up there.
Ignoring the striking cement sculpture flanking the garden path for a sec, Popov has also been bold in his use of colour, inserting an orange front door behind a slatted Corten steel and glass screen.
51 Coolawin Road, Northbridgehas an inspiring exterior colour scheme.Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
15. Go the grey
It feels like everyone’s doing it – even Buddy and JasintaFranklin– butthere’s a reason painting your house dark grey has risen infavour.
Greyhas become the modern exterior colour scheme for houses du jour, especially properties with period features. It complements white and garden greenery, isnatural tonedand lets period features do the talking without screaming ‘look at moi!’ in the manner of dated tri-colour schemes.
Stuck for facade colour ideas? Grey works wonders in this Hawthorn abode. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
16. Get low, get low
Live ona sloping block and wonderhow you can still say‘wow’ with your home exterior design?
Embrace the mystery of the partially hidden home with clean lines and nondescript colours. Focus on the overall impact of the design andpassers-by will be intrigued by the sneak preview they do get of your split-level home.
Maintain a sense of mystery by keepingfacade design low-key like this Balmain pad.Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
17. Learn to lovea bold front door
Want to make a name for your homein a sea of bland-coloured bricks and weatherboard?
Choose a traditional timber door and get yourself a tub of paint in yourfavourite primary colour – whether it’s bright blue, fire engine red or lipstick pink. There’s nothing more enticing than a boldfront door.
A very London-looking facade at259 Fitzroy Street, Fitzroy.Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
Want more front door inspiration? Read our great how-to on getting a dreamy front door.
18. Trytall, dark & handsome
Ever fallen for a tall, dark and handsome… house?
Yup, us too. This hot property in Alphington, north east of Melbourne, has dark and stormy zinccladding and tall, broad picture windows. Swoon.
As far as exteriorcolour schemes go, all-black works wonders at30 Shiers Street, Alphington.Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
19. Lead them up the garden path
If you’ve got the land size, setting your home back from the street behind a long and winding path can be just the thing to build intrigue and anticipation around it.
A beautifully paved path can be done yourself with a weekend’s work – the efforts being well worth it.
See more of our favourite stunning entranceshere.
Build anticipation with a garden path, as seen at 19 Victoria Avenue, Unley Park.Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
20. Replace a ricketyroof
It sounds simple, but replacing a rickety old roofis one of the surest ways to elevate a home facade.
Added bonus–a solid roof does wonders for your home’s structural integrity!
21. Plant a grand old tree
You don’t want to shroud the view of your outer house design altogether, but planting a grand old dame of a tree in your front yard can really add a sense of prestige. Advancedtrees can cost a fortune, so buy plantings if you have the patience to watch them grow.
Big oaks and maples are regulars in the gardens and front pathways of generous estates, like thissandstone beauty in Burnside, SA.
What lies beyond the beautiful tall tree at19 Nilpinna Street, Burnside? Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
Check out more amazing dream homes in our lifestyle channel.
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This article was originally published on 2 Jan 2018 at 9:00am but has been regularly updated to keep the information current.
