Traditional Home Exterior Design

The exterior design of a traditional home typically follows a single color theme with detailed landscaping and garden features. Cottage style houses are very distinguishable by their lack of straight lines and basic colors. The house looks to be constructed around the front entrance, which in turn is the focal point of the structure. The outer walls of the cottage envelope the main entrance of the home symmetrically. The final characteristic of this traditional design of your exterior home is its use of a simple triangular gable and curvy gables.

Distinctive Features Traditional Style Building

Traditionally styled buildings are distinguished by their wide courtyards and front door that wrap around a large compound. There are usually two driveways in each of these courtyards, with their ends facing the front door. These curvy edges help define the outline of your traditional home exterior. In some instances, the two driveways combine to form one large driveway that is parallel to the front door. The front door in a traditional home exterior is generally a large flat stone that is either framed or carved with ornate designs.

The columns that frame your front door are usually made from granite or some other similar material. In some cases the columns are left unadorned, while others incorporate ornate elements on the sides and top of the columns. The front doors of traditional homes are traditionally made out of solid wood, sometimes finished with ornamental detailing on the front face. Windows are always on the exterior, however, there are many variations that include folding glass panes, frosted, mirrored, or just plain white windows.

Use of Rich Colors For Exterior Walls

The use of rich tones and rich colors for your exterior wall is a very authentic method of traditional home design. Many of these homes will have rich colors such as rich browns, tans, or golds, and these colors can help create a warm ambiance within the home. If you are looking to create a more formal atmosphere, then you will want to choose the same rich tones for your walling. These tones are generally darker in color than your exterior paint. If you are simply looking to create a more relaxed atmosphere, then you may want to use white or even transparent panels.

When it comes to your exterior trim, the main thing that you will want to stick to is solid wood. This helps define the lines of your traditional home exterior design, especially when you choose trim with a rounded edge or natural grains that create a rustic appearance. You will also want to use trim that is slightly beyond the ground, so that it will be visible when the door is opened. This shows that you respect the boundaries of your home and make sure that all of your guests know that you care about the exterior details of your home.

Ways to Enhance a Traditional Exterior Look

The next thing you need to do to improve the look of your traditional exterior is to maintain your landscaping and yard in a neutral tone. The landscaping of your home should always be kept consistent and keep your home looking well kept and well maintained. If you choose to add flower beds, trees, walkways, or other landscaping features, then keep them in the same neutral colors as your walls. You should also keep your lawn and gardens in similar tones with the rest of your landscaping to improve curb appeal.

Lastly, keep your home looking well trimmed with well maintained and properly maintained columns throughout your traditional home exterior design. If you have overgrown or improperly maintained columns, then they will not only detract from the look of your design, but they will also make your home feel cramped. These unwanted column inches can take away from the flow of air through your house, causing your rooms to feel cold and congested. Also, if you have a gutter that needs to be fixed, then do not cut it on a slope, or at an angle. A sloping and angled gutter allow proper drainage for rainwater and snow runoff. If you need to replace a section of gutter, then use your traditional home exterior design plan to figure out how you should place the new section of gutter in an easy to manage way so that you don't have to rip up your grass or ruin your flower beds.

When you have finished with your home's landscaping, your last task should be to fix any leaks that you may have overlooked. Some leaks may not be visible depending on where you live, so you want to double check your work to make sure there are no leaks anywhere else around your exterior walls. With your traditional home exterior design done correctly, you should have no issues with your house leaks. This is a very easy way to improve the appearance of your yard and exterior, and if you put in a little hard work, then you should have a great looking home for years to come!