A home facade is another word for the exterior design of your house, specifically the front side that faces the street. That’s why we talk about “street appeal” or “curb appeal” being so important when designing your new modern home because the facade is the first impression people will see when walking or driving by.

While you might not judge a book by its cover, people often do make assumptions on the value and interior design of your home, based on its exterior design. That’s why it’s important to give your home exterior colours and style, as much consideration as you do the interior, and to make sure the materials and design of both complement and match perfectly.

If you’ve nailed your interior design but are not sure if your new home’s exterior matches up, we’ve got nine practical and aesthetic home facade design ideas that are bound to give your home project, head-turning street appeal… #letsgo

1. Make An Entrance

The key to impressive street appeal is all about the first impression — making a memorable entrance to your home is all about considering the finer details to make sure they’re high-quality and match the facade design and overall home style.

Some of the first things visitors and onlookers will be greeted with are your front fence and gate, front door, and house numbers. Investing in a custom front door that stands out in the street can provide instant wow factor, and the perfect focal point for your house facade. For house numbers and letters, choose colours and materials that complement your home exterior design, and match lighting or other features, so that everything feels connected and cohesive.

2. Texture + Pattern

One of the most effective ways to add visual interest to your home design facade is with texture and pattern, as it adds depth and can be done using a range of home exterior wall types and home exterior finishes.

Utilise home exterior materials and cladding like battens, weatherboard, panels, stone, brick or glass which add texture, grounding and a dynamic look to the exterior of your home. You can even achieve a minimal, exterior design and modern house facade, when adding pattern, just be sure if minimal style is on your agenda, to choose simple, neutral or monochrome colours for any bricklaying or stonework. It can have just as much impact and draw the eye to your home’s facade as using coloured and more traditional stone and materials.

3. Symmetry + Balance

To create a sense of balance and harmony, you can emphasise or add symmetry on your home facade design. The eye naturally loves the repetition of lines and shapes, and a symmetrical home frontage will always feel balanced and timeless.

You can achieve balance in your home’s facade by aligning windows and doors evenly, as well as opting for a few select materials and repeating them throughout your exterior design — so that the eye naturally travels across the entire facade instead of one particular focus point.

4. Integrate Greenery

Landscaping and planting are often left to the end when building or renovating, but prioritising natural green elements in your facade design will not only make it stand out in the street, but also work to soften hard materials like exterior brickwork, aluminium and stone… making your home look and feel more purposeful and integrated into the site.

Add nature to the front of your house by incorporating greenery and landscaping elements like hanging plants, built-in planter boxes, vertical gardens and feature tress, or if space is a commodity, a simple grouping of large planters at the front door can be equally effective and create the wow factor that’s lacking.

5. Neutral Colour Scheme

When it comes to selecting the exterior colour scheme for your home or design project, we follow the same principles as we do when designing interior spaces — neutrals all the way!

Why do we love neutral exteriors so much? A neutral colour scheme is the best investment! - ensuring a classic, timeless house design that will stay on trend for years to come… plus it also sets the tone for what to expect in your house interior. And the secret to achieving interior and exterior design cohesion? Keep your color scheme consistent from inside to out — opting for similar colours, tones and materials, and where possible, continue the same finish from inside to outside, for the ultimate indoor/outdoor flow.

6. Add Depth

One of the key elements in creating a designer home facade is depth. Incorporating variations in height and depth at different levels results in a home exterior that’s visually appealing and interesting to look at.

You can add depth to your home’s facade by offsetting front walls, using cladding in varying depths, adding a balcony or windows, integrating hoods or awnings and with a range of features like battens and screens. Adding depth can start early in your home design, by designing rooms on your facade at different planes. Or if you’re renovating and stuck with what you have, a simple exterior design idea like adding a roof or hood to your front entryway can make all the difference, and really level up your existing home facade.

7. Feature Lighting

Outdoor lighting has come a long way, with so many beautiful, modern lighting designs that not only add practicality but actually improve the overall exterior design, too.

Exterior lighting can highlight architectural features and enhance the ambience of your facade by incorporating a strategic lighting plan. Use uplights, downlights, and spotlights to illuminate key areas and textures, and exterior wall lights and softer lighting to create ambience and visual interest after dark.

8. Prioritise Functionality

Functionality should always be front of mind when designing or adding features and materials to your home facade. Consider factors such as privacy, ventilation, and energy efficiency, choose durable materials that require minimal maintenance and invest in features like insulated windows and efficient lighting fixtures for longevity.

In terms of elements to include in your facade design, consider a covered entrance or porch for weather, a clearly defined entry and path, as well as house numbers that are visible night and day. And consider adding a gate to your front fence to achieve both security and formalise the entrance to your home.

9. Street Appeal

Achieving street appeal is the ultimate goal when designing your home’s facade. You want your home’s exterior design to shine from the street and stand out amongst your neighbours (for the right reasons, of course).

All the features above, including a neutral colour scheme, balance and symmetry, depth, texture and pattern, when combined successfully, achieve that coveted street appeal for a home. Once you have a basic plan for your home facade, work to add those extra touches and introduce the right materials that will stop people in their tracks. And if your budget is limited or home is reasonably new, and a large revamp is not feasible, use planting, hedges + lawns, fencing and even change small items, such as your front door handle. All these elements together can completely transform or elevate your facade design and the overall look and feel of your home’s first impression.