Exterior Home Color and Design Trends 2021

2020 certainly had its challenges. As we look toward 2021 and beyond, it’s easy to feel hopeful about what’s to come. In the world of home design, there certainly is a lot to be excited about. New and evolving design and color trends are emerging, representing a shift in home aesthetics that’s intriguing and hopeful. Though we (hopefully) won’t have to spend as much time in our homes this year, it’s thrilling to plan for the upcoming renovation season to ensure our homes look their best. The new year is a great time to start planning for the renovation season, and this year’s trends give you a lot to consider. Personal taste and individuality are always key in home design, but here are some of the trends coming up in 2021.

Warm Elemental Neutrals

When it comes to exterior paint, the trends we’re seeing are moving toward neutral colors that blend well with the elements. This means colors like charcoal gray, sage green, and deep navy are extremely popular. Creamy white is also a huge contender. Though white will never go out of style, picking one with the right undertones gives a home that 2021 look we so love. It appears that our time-honored neutrals are trending warmer, so choosing whites and grays with yellow or red undertones rather than the cool tones that have been dominating neutral palettes in recent years.

Windows Everywhere

Not only do windows make a home appear more mid-century modern, but a style also that has made a comeback in recent years, they provide amazing light. Recent interior design trends rely on ample natural lighting, so the move toward homes with more windows makes a lot of sense. The key to adding windows to your home is to ensure that you’re respecting your home’s architectural style. Without following the architectural guidelines of your home, extra windows can look awkward. If you flow with the existing style, however, additional windows will look both trendy and timeless.

Paint It Black

Black exteriors are sweeping the design scene, with many traditional-looking farmhouse-style homes bucking tradition and painting their exteriors black. The chosen exterior dark colors play well with the elemental neutrals we mentioned before and look incredible paired with natural wood accents. The dark color makes accents pop and looks ever so edgy and cool.

Straight Lines

Where curved archways and radius windows were popular for a while, architects and designers have done a 180 into the world of straight lines. These windows and straight awnings do wonders in giving a home a modern look. If you’re looking to prepare your home for the next decade, straight-line features are a great way to do it.

Contrast

The absolute best way to give your home a pick-me-up and stay on-trend at the same time is to use the power of contrast. A great simple way to do this is painting your garage door dark if you have a light-colored home and light if you have a dark-colored home. Garage door contrast is specifically coming up in 2021 design trends. If you’re looking for a bigger change, using contrasting colors on different peaks and elevations of your home creates an incredible aesthetic that automatically turns heads. Contrast is a great way to highlight architectural features like pergolas and multiple roof peaks or levels.

Natural Wood

As we mentioned with the black exterior trend, natural wood makes a huge appearance as an accent. Even though the wood does look amazing with black, the trend spans across homes of all colors. These features are especially impactful on homes with those warm environmental neutrals; as a nature-based palette, these colors match well with wood. Many homeowners are also using natural wood siding to highlight aspects of their home and break up the monotony of single-color exteriors. This adds a touch of modernity while accentuating the features that are already there.

Metal Roofs

When it comes to roofs, trends are moving toward metal over shingles. Not only do metal roofs look more modern, but they are also more eco-friendly and blend better with the neutral colors in the 2021 trend book. They are long-lasting, making them a sound economic decision, and add modern character to most homes. Coming in a variety of colors and styles, these roofs can enhance any home style.

Painting Brick

Earthy neutrals are prevailing once again, so many designers are shying away from the dated look of red brick. Instead, these same bricks are painted in the year’s trend colors such as creamy white, black, and charcoal. This gives the brick a cleaner, modern look that’s bound to be on-trend for years to come.

When it comes to home design trends, it’s important to take them with a grain of salt. Some of the trends might resonate with you, and some might not. The best looking homes are the ones in which the owner took the trends they like and made them their own. These homes are attractive but also have character and feel individual to the homeowner. If you’re struggling to choose which designs to pick, architectural designers and contractors can help you solidify your vision and make your dream house come to life. No matter how big of a renovation you’re anticipating, the new year is a wonderful time to hunker down and start dreaming.