Recently, I started working with a client who wanted to revamp the facade of his house. He built the house about 10 years ago but had come to regret some of the decisions he made back then.
While there is nothing wrong with the house in its present state, there is also nothing that makes it stand out.
So, where do you start when you’re doing up the facade of your house? Most people think that a new coat of paint is enough to freshen up the exterior. Giving the walls, windows and trims a paint job will certainly help, but there is much more to it than that.
It’s important to add something to the facade that will give the house depth. This can be done by using different textures and materials. For example, a bit of timber can add interest and warmth.
Creating balance is also important. This can be achieved by making sure that whatever is on the right-hand side is balanced out by something on the left. That doesn’t mean it’s mirrored or symmetrical, it means it is visually balanced. It might be a big garage door on the left and a big plant or window on the right.
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Another thing to do is create a single focal point on the facade of the house. With the house in question, I added a detail across the parapet.
This client thought it might be a good idea to create a second focal point using the garage door, but I think it’s best to stick with just one. I love beautiful garage doors but, generally, they should be used to balance out other things visually rather than act as a focal point. Plenty of houses out there that have lots of focal points going on, but it’s rare that they work well.
You can also use landscaping to your advantage when doing up the facade of your house. If you have a visually heavy, brick house, use large, dense foliage to anchor it. If you have a visually lighter house, you can get away with plants with a more delicate structure.
So, if you’re doing up the exterior of your house, don’t just give it a coat of paint. Take into account design concepts like focal points, visual balance and landscaping to add that wow factor.