If you’ve been wondering how to update a brick house exterior and boost your street appeal without knocking it all down and starting again — you’re in good company. You absolutely can modernise a brick home exterior and make it feel high-end — by getting a few key design elements right.
👇👇Designed by Hotspace👇👇
1. Start with the Style — and Use Pinterest to Help
Before you choose colours or cladding, it’s important to get clear on the overall style of home you want to achieve.
A great starting point? Pinterest. Simply search for the roof type your house has (hip roof, gable roof, etc.) and the style you’re drawn to (Contemporary, Modern, Coastal, Hamptons, Mid-century etc). This will help you visualise what’s possible and ensure your home’s transformation feels cohesive from top to bottom.
2. Paint or Render? What Works Best for Street Appeal
When it comes to how to add street appeal to a dated brick home, one of the biggest decisions is whether to paint or render the existing brickwork (or leave the brick as it is). Many of our clients leave some or all of the brick and this can work very effectively as you can see in the image above. If you do choose to cover the brick;
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Painting is fast, relatively affordable, and gives that fresh, clean look — especially in whites, soft greys, or greige.
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Rendering gives a more solid, contemporary feel and hides any patchy or dated brick patterns. It’s a bigger investment, but often worth it for a complete transformation.
Whichever you choose, it’s a huge step in updating your brick house exterior and lifting its entire street presence.
3. Use Cladding to Add Layers and Texture
Want to modernise your brick home and make it look more architectural? Cladding is your best friend.
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Vertical cladding (like James Hardie’s Axon) creates height and a fresh, contemporary look
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Horizontal profiles can lean coastal or classic, depending on the finish
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Use cladding selectively — on an upper storey, entry feature or garage face — to break up the brickwork and create dimension
It’s an easy way to add contrast, texture, and that all-important designer edge.
4. Create a Standout Front Entrance
Your entrance should be more than just functional — it’s the focal point of your home’s facade.
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Add a modern portico or extended eaves
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Use statement lighting and a quality front door
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Frame the entry path with structured planting for a sense of arrival
These upgrades can increase your street appeal dramatically and create a warm, inviting welcome.
5. Don’t Skip the Landscaping
When people talk about exterior renovation ideas, they often forget the power of landscaping.
Simple changes — like fresh mulch, new garden beds, a modern path, or replacing tired fencing — can make a huge difference. Your facade and front yard should work together to tell one cohesive story.
6. Get the Look You Want — Without Changing the House Itself
This is where smart design makes all the difference. Most of my clients want to update their brick house exterior but don’t want to touch the floorplan or move walls. And you don’t have to!
By layering colour, texture, form and proportion — and making small but impactful tweaks — we can sometimes create a result that feels almost brand new.
I’ve designed hundreds of home facade transformations that kept the original bones of the home, but completely changed how it feels.
If you’ve been gathering ideas for months (years?) and going round in circles — and you’re ready to stop second-guessing and just know exactly what to do — get in touch via the link below.
I’ll help you make confident decisions and ensure every dollar is well spent.
👉 https://hotspaceconsultants.com/preliminary-enquiry/
Jane