Choices for the exterior of a home are just as important as choices for the interior – and they need to be done right so that your home looks as harmonious and accessible on the outside as it does on the inside. Not to mention, the sunny days call for a nice afternoon in a garden – and a nice house exterior will make the experience that much more enjoyable. However, with so many different home design styles out there, it can be a little confusing. To make things less confusing for you, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to your home’s exteriors to choose from depending on your aesthetic.
French country style
This style is inspired by the beautiful French countryside, especially Provence, a region of southern France known for its mountains, lavender fields and rustic villages. A blend of traditional elegance and rustic creativity, the style incorporates many natural elements. The origins of the French country style go back centuries – within the architecture used by the royal family. Therefore, many elements of the French country style are reflected in a luxurious and comfortable lifestyle.
The most defining aspect of French country style is the French doors – usually double doors at the entrance – which are known for being larger than normal doors. If you want to go for a more formal style, mahogany is a good choice, while knotted alder can look good for a casual look. Usually the doors lead to a patio or backyard, but they don’t have to. Another important feature that you can include in your French country house is the use of shutters. Usually painted in colors inspired by nature, such as green, blue or gray, they are the focal point of these home designs. They offer a rustic look that is close to traditional country designs, while also adding a touch of elegance.
Victorian Houses
Popular during the reign of Queen Victoria, this type of style is still hugely popular. While there are many different types of Victorian home designs, they all share some common features. Stained glass doorways are a common feature in every Victorian home. The function of stained glass allows for creative freedom, and depending on what you like, you can design it. Usually these stained glass doors have another door behind them for security reasons. However, if you don’t want to have another door behind the door, you can choose to have a burglar alarm installed. To have one installed by professionals, Click here.
Bay windows are another important detail that makes the exterior of a Victorian home feel timeless and beautiful. They are often considered the hallmark of British architecture and are often seen around many homes in the UK. These windows not only provide an aesthetic appeal, but also provide plenty of natural daylight and spacious living areas.
Tudor style houses
With origins in 19th century America, Tudor house exteriors are perfect for those looking for a fairytale house exterior. They can be adjusted to any size and can give a small imaginative country house feel or a larger English country feel depending on how they are designed. The style is known for its distinctive medieval and post-medieval features: steeply pitched roof, front gables of varying heights, decorative half-timbering and tall and narrow windows.
Typically designed for colder weather with lots of rain and snow, this type of house style is perfect for those living in the UK. They also offer a lot of flexibility when it comes to interior design as each room can have different ceilings, rooms can have different shapes and there are no creative restrictions. These houses usually have a brick exterior with exposed or painted brick. The windows often have many panels, because of the wet and wintery weather in which the style originated. If you are looking for a creative outdoor project for your home, Tudor style houses are the perfect choice for your home design.
Artisan style houses
In response to the Victorian home movement in the US, the craft movement arose out of the arts and crafts movement in Britain. The movement focused on the use of local materials and architectural choices as opposed to the highly industrially designed Victorian homes that had gained popularity and started to inflict losses on local material sellers and architects. This kind of exterior design for a home emphasizes artistic creativity and hand-crafted local materials. They can be recognized by their emphasis on horizontal lines, which contrast sharply with the verticality of Victorian home designs, spacious porches and their emphasis on earthy and neutral colors.
Some of the most commonly used colors in these home exteriors are green, cream, white, and brown. They are generally small to medium sized and place a lot of emphasis on good craftsmanship that makes them unique to the person who builds them. Most have exposed beams and brackets with wide, open verandahs and stone features, both inside and out.