Keeping up with the latest home design trends is just as important as regular home maintenance for many homeowners. While most remodeling effort is made to keep up with interior decor styles, it is important to note that the exterior of your home might need updating as well. Changing the look of your siding, roof, exterior paint color, and windows can really boost your home’s curb appeal and keep your home looking modern. Let’s take a look at some of the current exterior remodeling trends making headlines in 2017.
Siding
Homeowners today have more options than ever when it comes to siding, thanks to ever-changing manufacturing improvements. One new choice on the market is vinyl and polymer siding that mimics actual woodgrain. These shingles age just as well as solid-colored vinyl and polymer siding, and are much more affordable than real wood. The material is available in several styles and colors, and can go for up to ten years before needing to be repainted.
Another new option gaining popularity is stone veneer. This siding is molded from real stones and created to mimic natural colors and textures but at a more affordable price. This type of siding lends itself well to a new trend of mixing and matching colors and textures. Two tone houses and exteriors mixing a combination of materials, like shingles and lap siding, are beginning to take off in progressive neighborhoods. Ideally, you should try to find finishes that complement one another and subtly blend together.
Roofs
Homeowners are increasingly paying more attention to energy-efficient materials. For those energy-conscious homeowners thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membranes or metal roofing are excellent options. TPO is designed for use on flat roofs. It is highly reflective and reduces the solar heat gain of the home, thus keeping your home cooler. Metal roofing materials also lower energy bills by reflecting radiant heat. These are offered for both low-slope and steep-slope roofs. Another benefit is that this material is resistant to extreme weather, fire, mildew and other factors that can wreak havoc on other types of roofing. Metal options include aluminum, copper, stainless steel and zinc, and are sold as either panels or shingles.
Exterior Color
The dominant exterior home colors continue to be neutrals. However, taupe and brown seem to be becoming more popular than the grays of recent years. Warmer palettes that are reminiscent of wood tones are being named colors of the year by several manufacturers. Pantone’s latest Color Report cites their top colors for 2017 offer “a mixture of vitality, relaxation, and the great outdoors.” Trendsetting homeowners can translate this to colors like the neutral Hazelnut, deep green Kale, and the blue Niagara.
White continues to work as a popular trim color to make windows and doors stand out. An unexpected alternative is to use a lighter main color with darker accents for a noticeable contrast. If you are looking for a more dramatic option, try a gray, tan, or beige base with light-colored trim and add accents in red, dark blue, black, or rich brown. When it comes to working with siding, it is best to use a trim color slightly lighter than your siding to maximize the impact.
Windows
Transitional living is the new buzzword for the indoor/outdoor trend where interior and exterior spaces are designed to flow together. To effectuate this design, windows and doors are merging and evolving into sliding glass walls, such as the Weiland from Anderson, folding glass doors, and bi-fold doors. This transitional design is appealing to homeowners of a wide range of demographics, but particularly popular in locations boasting mild weather year-round.
Another major trend in window design is a contemporary aesthetic. This does not mean so much modern materials, but rather a balance with nature and the environment. Popular contemporary windows offer clean sight lines and thin profiles. They are cleaner and more minimalist. These windows are found in warm natural colors like bronze, gunmetal, and clay.
Trying On Trends
If you are unsure about adopting one of these new trends for your own home, try using HOVER before you commit. HOVER creates a 3D model of your actual home and allows you to discover different siding, roofing, paint colors, and windows options so you can confidently decide what works best on your home.
To get a free 3D model of your home, download the HOVER app today from the App Store or Google Play and simply take a few pictures of your house.
