Your home's façade is the perfect place to inject a sense of your personality, a glimpse into what lies beyond the front door. A reflection of you and your style, the façade of your home sets the tone for your interior choices that follow.
Your façade should feel like a warm welcome home, reflecting your style in a way that's uniquely yours while bringing a sense of comfort and pride every time you return.
On top of this, street appeal, privacy and property value can all benefit from a well-designed home façade. So consider your façade options carefully, ensuring they're right for you, your lifestyle and location.
Why your home façade matters
A house façade is the front-facing exterior of a home, typically seen from the street. It includes elements such as the structural outline, roof shape, entryway, doors, windows, balconies and exterior materials, all of which work together to showcase your unique style.
One of the most visually important parts of house design, many people choose their home façade first. It sets the tone, reflects your personality, creates a welcoming entry for your family and makes a lasting impression on visitors and passersby.
A thoughtfully designed house façade boosts kerb appeal, making your home distinctive in a competitive market. The ideal selection draws the eye while complementing its surroundings.
Understanding façade design vs. floor plan
Making the first impression, your home façade will showcase architectural details that reflect styles like modern or coastal, alongside your personal touch. Meanwhile, the floor plan shapes how you experience everyday living. It determines the interior layout, ensuring functionality, comfort and suitability for your lifestyle.
These two elements should complement each other. When starting a new home build, choose a façade and floor plan that work together harmoniously for a cohesive, balanced home design.
Façade selection made simple
Choosing your home façade is an exciting step in building your ideal home. Many buyers have a vision for their new home and a shortlist of favourites when visiting a Display Home. After selecting a façade design, they explore floor plan options.
Others may start with the floor plan, then consider complementary façade options. These pre-selected façades streamline the building process, saving time and reducing costs associated with customisation. If you're unsure, our sales consultants are ready to assist!
When choosing a façade design, there are several factors to consider. Your personal style, the neighbourhood vibe, the durability of the materials, your budget and how well the design suits your location and climate will all come into play. Use our Façade Visualiser tool to experiment with colours, materials and textures until you find the perfect façade.
Exploring popular house façade options
Traditional house façades
Traditional home façades exude timeless elegance. Featuring symmetrical designs, pitched roofs, ornate entryways and classic materials like brick and stone, these classic facades reflect a rich architectural heritage and stand the test of time. Using these traditional design elements creates a warm and inviting exterior, making your home feel welcoming and ideal for family living, while also boosting curb appeal and resale value.
Modern house facades
Modern house façades prioritise simplicity and innovation. Featuring clean lines, bold shapes, sharp angles and sleek materials, these façades are a perfect blend of form and function. Large windows invite natural light and flat roofs add a striking architectural edge.
Coastal façades
Coastal home façades capture the effortless beauty of beachside living. Natural materials like weatherboard and timber are used to create a relaxed, inviting vibe. Coupled with soft hues that reflect the sand and sea, the beauty of coastal façades is their laid-back elegance and connection to the environment. Large windows and open verandas are perfect for breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the coastal lifestyle.
Hamptons-style façades
Favoured in Australia for their relaxed yet sophisticated appeal, Hamptons-style façades often feature weatherboard cladding and neutral colours. Their light, airy aesthetic is designed for relaxed and refined living. A Hamptons facade features a combination of natural textures and a fresh colour palette, bringing about a sense of warmth and tranquillity.
Select the right façade for your home
Creating your ideal home façade design is your chance to blend style and function. From materials to decorative elements, every choice makes a difference and shapes the character of your home.
Elements that shape a modern home facade
- Roof style: Your roof will define your home's silhouette. Think about whether you want a flat, modern roof or a more traditional design.
- Entryway and front door: Often the focal point of your home's exterior, ensure your entryway and front door make an impact.
- Materials: The materials you choose will make a huge impact on your house's essence and durability.
- Windows: Both practical and stylish, windows bring light to your space while framing your home's personality.
- Balconies and verandas: These outdoor spaces are crucial for indoor-outdoor living.
Pro tips to help you perfect your modern house façade
Choose your materials wisely
Choosing the right mix of materials can transform your external walls from ordinary to extraordinary. Plantation Design Studio Manager, Di Gaffney said: “Using the right mixture of textures or colours on your facade is key, with the magic number being three."
For instance, combining durable brick, organic timber and sleek metal creates a striking contrast of textures and colours, bringing together warmth and modern sophistication.If energy efficiency is important to you, our 7-star energy-efficient designs can help you reduce your energy bills and make the eco-friendly choice. And don't forget maintenance. Timber cladding and weatherboard cladding may need re-staining or painting over time.
Pick the perfect colour scheme
The right colours will bring your house façade to life. While lighter tones create an open, airy feel, darker shades add sophistication and elegance. A modern coastal façade, for example, features soft whites, blues, greens and greys to reflect the relaxed nature of beachside living. No matter what façade style you go for, use consistent colours across finishes like the garage and front door to ensure your home's exterior is well-balanced.
Match the façade to your needs and lifestyle
Choosing the right façade means matching it to the way you live. If you love hosting, go for a design that opens up your home with big windows or sliding doors. For a busy family, low-maintenance materials like brick or render are a smart choice. Outdoor enthusiasts? Enjoy a double-storey façade with a balcony, perfect for adding extra living space and soaking up the fresh air.
It's also important that your home façade matches your interior style. The home's exterior sets the scene for what's to follow, so make sure it flows with the look inside. Sleek, modern house façades pair well with contemporary interiors, while a classic facade works best with more traditional or antique décor. When both align, your home feels inviting and cohesive.
Complement your local area
While you may want your home to make a statement, it should also respect the surrounding architecture. Look at the styles and materials used in your neighbourhood. Aim for a design that complements the local area rather than stands out for all the wrong reasons. Making this choice will add long-term value to your property, with the sense of cohesion a more desirable factor for potential buyers.
Pay attention to the little things
The little details make all the difference. Elements like door hardware, window framing, lighting and landscaping add character and elevate the façade's overall design. Make your home feel inviting and personal with a feature wall or varying textures. These finishing touches reflect your unique style while boosting your home's street appeal. Take time to consider every detail. It's often the subtle additions that transform a house into a standout home.
Consider design guidelines and local regulations
Before choosing your home façade, check estate guidelines, local regulations and council rules. While most new house façades won't require planning permission, it's important to confirm with local authorities. Estate covenants may apply. These rules ensure consistency within the neighbourhood and preserve its character. Some areas may limit façade styles, such as requiring a mix of materials or excluding full brick designs. Your builder will need to submit your façade design for approval, and you may need to make adjustments. Understanding these requirements upfront helps avoid delays, surprises and extra costs later on. The team at our display homes can help walk you through what is and isn't allowed in your estate. Don't worry, we are here to help.
Make your home's exterior a style statement
Your home façade is your first opportunity to make an impression and express who you are. The right façade sets the stage for the rest of your home. It should balance style and function, complementing your floor plan and its surroundings while adding that wow factor.
Every detail, from materials to finishes, shapes the look and feel of your home. A façade that blends beauty with practicality will stand the test of time.
If you're thinking about your home façade and need some inspiration, explore [our collection of beautiful home designs. This is your chance to create a façade that perfectly reflects your dream home.
