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Today’s post is brought to you by Lana Hawkins.
Every year comes with a slew of fresh and exciting ideas on how to re-imagine the exterior of your home. While some trends come as fast as they go, others capture the timeless charm and have much more longevity to them. Also, we have noticed that some prominent trends that have been stealing the show in interior design are now coming to the forefront of the exterior realm.
The possibilities are near endless and they give you a chance to make a great first impression on guests, buyers, renters, etc. Moreover, you can set the stage for the hotter part of the year, when spending plenty of quality time outdoors is preferable.
So, let’s take what’s in store for 2018.
Image source: theenglishgarden.co.uk
Lively texture
Texture is making its way into the limelight again. This trend manifests mostly in the form of contrasting and self-patterned textures. If you want to go for the former style, you can use different levels of gloss of the same material and let their contrast tell an engaging story outside. The latter approach reflects the growing popularity of bricks and elongated shapes in particular. It holds the power to breathe new life into the stale exterior and allows homeowners to proudly display their craftsmanship.
Red brick
Speaking of bricks, we should take a moment to acknowledge their big comeback. Namely, for quite some time, red bricks were associated with heritage buildings and unassuming suburb construction. Nowadays, however, their premium and warm finish is used in a completely new way: not for building from scratch, but to accentuate the form of the building. Many designers and architects utilize it to deliver a dash of contemporary style, alongside other curated materials.
Image source: gardenia.net
Natural finishes
The beauty of modern exterior design lies in its diversity. Brick is not the only game in town: natural finishes are being exposed in their raw beauty instead of being suffocated under coats of heavy paint. This trend echoes the resurgence of interest in mid-century modern houses. The paragon of natural materials is typically finished with a clear, natural, or slightly stained coat. It is given a chance to shine and leave a lasting impression.
Landscaping and curb appeal
Landscaping is a trend that has been with us for years now and shows no signs of fading away. This year, the peripheral elements of the house will be spruced up and given even more space on the center stage. I am talking about repainting the front and garage doors, fixing the fence, building a stone patio, investing in outdoor lighting, clearing the driveway, mowing the lawn, and other improvements. You can check out innovative trends such as expert design landscaping in North Shore to get inspired and stay on top of the game in 2018.
Image source: pinimig.com
Attention-grabbing centerpieces
Today, many houses feature striking focal points, such as fire pits, lavish reflection pools, or other water features, like fountains. Outdoor rooms continue to be popular and encompass stunning new functions and elements one usually finds indoors. At the same time, natural elements like plants, flowers, and trees are the essence of the fresh exterior look. Considering that it won’t be long until nice weather reappears, this is a good moment to extend your living space and make it possible to migrate outside.
Neutral colors
When it comes to the color palette, you have a wide spectrum of choices. If you want to keep up with the latest trends, though, stick to neutral tones that are clearly dominating. Grays, beiges, and off-whites are more popular than ever. Furthermore, to bring some more character and enhance the modern look, designers and homeowners subtly implement building materials that are within one color palette. The prime examples of this are dark gray roofing, silvery concrete, and gray bricks.
Image source: pinimig.com
Externalize the beauty
As outdoor design and landscaping continue to evolve and dazzle, homeowners are supplied with an ever-growing pool of ideas and concepts. From cutting-edge remodels to small tweaks, there is no shortage of projects to take on. So, it’s time to add life to the tired design and turn a new leaf.
Make sure to take into account your wants and needs, and plan for improvements and renovations. You have an opportunity to make a huge design statement and blow people away. Just bear in mind that the more cohesive the style is, the longer it will retain its beauty.
Author’s Bio: Lana Hawkins is an architecture student and the editor-in-chief on Smooth Decorator. She enjoys writing about interior decoration and landscaping. Lana is interested in sustainability and green building, and that’s where she gets most of her inspiration from.
