7 Ideas for Great Rustic Home Exteriors
The exterior of your home is the first thing people see when they arrive. Therefore, you want your home's exterior to make a statement, and you need the right design idea to create your perfect exterior. There are countless styles to consider, but one that has been popular for generations is the classic, rustic home style.
Rustic style homes have long been a popular style, drawing from nature through the use of natural materials and colors, both inside and out. Even the simplest of rustic style home exteriors can create a warm, inviting atmosphere for you and your visitors.
The great benefit of rustic homes is that there are countless possible exterior house design ideas to consider. Here are seven great ideas to consider for your rustic home exterior design.
Rustic Exterior House Design Ideas
1. Choose Synthetic Wood Shingles
When people think of rustic style homes, they usually all have one thing in common: real wood. But these days, people are looking for safer and more environmentally friendly building materials for their homes. That doesn't mean you can’t have the rustic look of wood, however. If you are considering alternatives to natural cedar shakes or wood shakes you may want to check out synthetic wood shingles.
2. Use Wood Shingles as Siding
For a really rustic look, you can cover your whole home in wood or synthetic wood shingles. Whether you make them different colors or one single color, a fully wood-shingled house can create quite an image. By using the shingles everywhere, there is no question of whether or not it’s a rustic home.
Darker wood shingles can create a powerful image, especially when contrasted with white trim. Lighter wood shingles can offer an equally powerful and warm look, that is much more classic.
3. Create Contrast
Creating contrast is another of the rustic exterior house design ideas to consider. By creating contrast, you are making a clear distinction between the roof and the rest of the home. It also makes it more of a classic design, since the contrast will be a simpler, more straightforward look.
One of the most popular ways to create contrast is to have a darker roof, paired with white or light-colored siding or paint on the sides.
4. Mix Wood and Stone
While wood is one of the stars of rustic home exteriors, it is not the only material you are likely to see. Another very popular material you can use for a rustic style home is stone.
Stone is a material that people have used since medieval times, and while it can seem cold, when done right it is warm and inviting. One great way to help warm up a stone exterior is by combining it with wood. The stone can be an accent piece, while the rest of the home's exterior is finished with wood panel or shingle siding.
5. Sharp Rooflines
Rustic homes are popular all over, but they are favored in Northern areas, where people design them as mountain-style homes. These homes are known partly for their roofs–the roofs are more angular, to prevent snow from piling up and adding weight to the home.
While this is, first and foremost, a safety consideration, it does not mean it cannot also work for rustic exterior house design ideas. Sharp, angular rooflines create a unique look that helps homes to stand out from the rest.
6. Add Lots of Windows
While it is not necessarily an idea unique to rustic home exteriors, adding lots of windows is a great design idea for rustic homes. Rustic homes are usually in beautiful locations, with amazing views that you won't want to miss. But, of course, you cannot just live outside all the time to enjoy those views.
You can, however, install large, open windows facing your property's view. Having plenty of windows–even in the form of a window wall–means you will have no problem enjoying the views from any part of your home.
7. Go With a Unique Home Shape
While rustic home exterior design usually makes you think of a traditional style, you can still get creative. While cabin-style homes are common, consider something a little more unique in terms of the shape of your home.
You can choose a modular-like design, where the home has sections of varying sizes. Or, try a fairy tale-like home with rounded accent areas and a little tower for a design that will really stand out.
When it comes to the shape of your home, there are countless possibilities. Of course, you need to ensure the design is practical and meets HOA and area guidelines.
Rustic-style homes have been around for ages and aren't going away anytime soon. These homes are beautiful and can feel so much warmer and welcoming compared to other styles of homes, especially modern ones. Even better, they are a versatile style that allows you to create all sorts of great designs.
These are just a few of the great rustic exterior house design ideas that you can consider for your own home. We hope you find some rustic ideas that can really add a special touch and make your home truly yours.