We all want a stunning house that will stand out from the background of others, but we also want it to be combined with its surroundings and the surrounding area.

The process of registration of the exterior can be quite complicated, you need to choose colors, materials, balance shapes and lines - this is not a job for beginners.

Have you ever wondered what makes the appearance of an attractive home? Why do some houses on the street make you stop and admire their beauty? It is more than likely that some of the key design principles were taken into account when decorating these stunning houses. Yes, in any design, interior or exterior, you need to follow some simple design rules in order for the final result to please the eye.

Let's look at the 10 basic principles of the exterior that will help you build your home:

1. Form balancing and symmetry

As in any kind of design, balancing and symmetry play an important role in the correct design of space. The facade of any house must retain some semblance of balance for proper design and pleasant appearance.

Whether it's a Georgian-style house with its attractive symmetry, where the doors are located in the center, and all sides of the windows are the same or a dwelling where the balance is achieved by means of roofs with sharpened lines or skylights that are evenly distributed over the facade.

There are many ways to achieve proportionality of the home exterior - some require obvious symmetry, and some less noticeable. Anyway, the design of a properly designed house must be proportionate and balanced.

2. The form follows the function

Louis Sullivan, the mentor of Frank Lloyd Wright, coined the phrase, the form follows the function. In fact, this means that the purpose of the building should be the starting point of the design.

What is the purpose of your home? How do you plan to use it? Think about all the needs of your family, and then decide what should be in your home to meet these needs.

The appearance of your house will reflect the interior that you have chosen. Maybe you are an artist who prefers large windows, because you need natural lighting to draw / create. Perhaps you need an extra room above the garage, so on the facade of the house there is an additional dormer window that balances the overall view. Always remember that The design of your interior also affects the exterior.

3. Materials and textures for home

Given the variety of options, it is difficult to decide which materials should be used when decorating an exterior. How to choose between cedar tiles, vinyl siding, aluminum, brick, wood, plaster, steel ...?

The best option is a combination of strength and aesthetics. Of course, you want the exterior of the house to reflect your personal style. Are you a guy / girl from the suburbs? Then you can use stone or cedar shingles. Are you a modern minimalist? Choose preference from smooth steel inserts or simple wood panels.

In order to avoid costly mistakes, it is always better to consult an experienced designer. Also, there are many visual online applications that give you the opportunity to see how the material you choose looks like before you invest in its purchase.

4. Color combinations in the exterior

Oh, how wide is the color palette. How do you decide which color is more suitable for the decoration of the facade? Do you prefer bright or basic shades? In any kind of finishing work, the choice of color is of paramount importance - it can, both hide faults, and emphasize them.

Company Sherwin Williams believes that a reliable and effective principle of placing colors, is the use of two shades of one color, differing by a couple of tones. A lighter or darker shade can be used for decorating the facade or for finishing, based on your taste. The third, contrasting color, you can decorate the door, focusing on it.

Color can highlight many of the features of your exterior. Paint your porch in a bright and fresh white color to create a feeling of comfort or make the house too tall visually shorter by painting its upper part with dark colors and the lower one by lighter ones. There are many ways to hide the weaknesses of the home and emphasize the strengths with the help of paint games.

5. How to choose the right roof

The roof should be strong, so choosing the right coating is more than choosing the color and shape.

There are so many building materials, different cost and different lifespan. Such materials as slate and tile will look perfect, but you must remember that they are quite heavy, so make sure that your house will withstand this load. Tiles, perhaps, are most popular due to the low cost and ease of installation. Surprisingly, the tree is also suitable for this purpose and will serve you as much as the tile (25 years). Slate and metal are expensive and heavy materials, but they are great for decorating some structures.

Despite the abundance of options, not all of them correspond to the budget and the overall design. Always take into account the cost, durability, weight of the coating and how it will be combined with the rest of the exterior.

6. How to choose a garage door

Some do not consider the garage door as part of the overall design of the house, but they are not right. Manufacturers of garage doors, Wayne Dalton, recommend that buyers check their online manual before choosing a garage door for the house.

In addition to design, you should find out about the insulating qualities of the door, the security system, the durability of spring structures, guarantees and cost.

Having understood all the intricacies of the mechanism, you can enjoy a choice of design, suitable for your home. It can be a clean, classic steel door or a cozy home door with a carriage - there are a lot of options.

7. Which windows are best to choose

Also, like garage doors, your home windows are more than just a functioning part. Windows - as if the soul of your home, a shining light, warming everything that is in these four walls.

First of all, the windows that you choose should be strong. Secondly, your windows should reflect the character of the house. Modern houses look presentable with huge, floor-to-ceiling windows without wings, while traditional houses are more suitable for symmetrically arranged, white, rectangular windows

Other important factors include: the level of transmitted UV radiation, protection of personal space, proper ventilation, ease of cleaning and appearance. Consider all options in order to choose a strong and aesthetically attractive "soul" for your home.

8. How to style a porch

The most common question: what color is it worth to paint the front door? As was previously described, it is better to choose colors from one palette of different shades for painting the entire house and finishing small details. While the third, contrast, color is suitable for decorating the door.

You can choose a bold, contrasting color, absolutely contrary to the rest of the house or choose a shade lighter / darker than the base colors. But if you want to stand out, it is better to choose a color much darker or lighter than the facade of the house.

In addition to color, there are a number of other things that can refresh your porch and tell you about the style of the house: lighting, plants, a bell, a knob for a knock at the door, a rug, chairs on the veranda - all this will add to the general appeal of the entrance to your house.

9. The meaning of the landscape

Improvement of the garden plot is much more than just dig in one tree in front of the house. More often than not, these are successfully placed plants that give the house the same mind-boggling look that distinguishes it from the rest.

It is rather difficult to choose suitable plants, therefore we advise you to be guided by the features of the soil and the region of residence. Landscapers are usually well versed in all kinds of plants. They know where it is best to plant them and even can make a plan of the landscape for your yard.

Think about your yard and start planning the arrangement of the garden today. Remember that it takes time to plant the plants and their habituation, so be patient. The earlier you start, the better.

10. Sanctify Your Home

Do not let the house fade in the dark. Good lighting plays an important role in the safety of the home and will make it attractive at night. In addition to standard fixtures located near the entrance door and garage, it is worth placing them around the house.

Choose lighting that matches the style of your home. Traditional houses look good with lamps similar to lanterns, which are better placed above the front door and garage. Angular lighting is usually installed at the entrance to modern homes. Think about how the features of your home can be emphasized with the help of night lighting.

The picture below shows a well-lit house; there are lights on the stone steps (this will protect you from falling and add to the overall attraction), the lights near the pots and garage.

Although the design of the exterior - the work is not easy and involves many mistakes, the main thing is not to give up and be patient. Use our advice regarding color, materials, shape and purpose, balance and symmetry, lighting, doors, gardening, windows and roofing.

Remember that there are many online applications that can show you a virtual picture of what your project will look like. It's always better to think about it again before you commit.

What materials for the exterior design are your favorites? Do you have unique details in the design of the facade?