A home's facade is one of its most defining features, serving as a first impression and setting the tone for the entire structure. A well-designed facade not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also integrates seamlessly with the overall architectural style, improves energy efficiency, and increases property value.
Whether you prefer a sleek, contemporary look with glass and steel or a warm, inviting appearance with timber and brick, the right facade can elevate your home’s design while complementing its surroundings. Here, we’ll look at some of the most important aspects of facade design, including material selection, entryways, and lighting, and their impact on property value.
Selecting the Right Colours and Materials
While materials establish texture, structure, and longevity, colours influence mood, visual balance, and the home's ability to blend into or stand out from its environment. Together, these choices set the tone for the entire architectural design.
Brick
Durable and timeless, bricks offer a classic appearance and are available in a wide variety of colours and textures. From rustic reds to sleek greys, bricks can suit both modern and traditional facades.
Cladding
Versatile cladding options, such as timber, composite panels, or metal, add texture, contrast, and a contemporary appeal. Colour choices can range from natural timber tones to bold, painted finishes for added impact.
Concrete
Known for its strength and industrial character, concrete is often used in minimalist and modern designs. It can be left raw for a rugged look or tinted to introduce subtle colour variations.
Glass
Perfect for contemporary homes, glass facades create a bright, open feel and allow natural light to flood interior spaces. Darkened or frosted treatments can add privacy and a touch of sophistication.
Timber
Timber introduces warmth, richness, and an organic feel to facades, blending beautifully with natural landscapes. Stains and finishes can enhance or soften the timber’s inherent colour.
Steel
Often used for industrial or cutting-edge designs, steel provides sleekness and durability. Powder-coating options offer a range of colours to either highlight or soften the material’s strength.
Render
Rendering provides a smooth, uniform finish that can be tailored with colour to suit any style, from crisp whites for coastal homes to earthy tones for a more grounded appearance.
Choosing the right combination of materials ensures that your facade not only looks beautiful but also effectively withstands environmental conditions.
When choosing colours, it’s important to consider complementary tones that work with the natural surroundings, the roof material, and even the landscaping. Neutral palettes tend to age gracefully and appeal to a wider audience, while bolder tones can create striking visual statements when balanced carefully.
Popular Material and Colour Combinations That Work
Here are two common combinations that demonstrate balance, contrast, and harmony.
Timber + Face Brickwork:
Timber brings warmth and organic texture, while face brickwork offers strength, durability, and timeless appeal. Together, they create a facade that feels both grounded and welcoming.
Concrete + Glass:
This pairing is perfect for modern architecture. The solidity of concrete contrasts beautifully with the openness of glass, creating a bold, minimalist facade.
Creating a Welcoming Entryway
A well-designed entryway should be welcoming, functional, and harmoniously connected to the overall architecture. It not only sets the tone for visitors but also enhances the everyday experience for those who live there. Consider the following aspects.
Door Style
Your choice of front door can become a defining feature. Different door styles create different impressions.
Single Panel Door: A clean, minimalistic option ideal for compact entryways.
Double Door: Two doors opening from the centre create a grand, formal entrance — perfect for luxury homes aiming for a dramatic arrival.
Pivot Door: Rotating on a central pin rather than traditional hinges, pivot doors make a bold statement and suit contemporary, high-impact designs.
Glass Panel Door: A solid frame with partial or full glass inserts, used across both traditional and modern styles to let in natural light while maintaining privacy and elegance.
Path and Landscape
A well-designed pathway should create a clear, intuitive approach to the entry door, avoiding confusion or visual clutter. Strong visual direction guides visitors naturally toward the entrance, reinforcing the sense of arrival. Incorporating landings, threshold transitions, and subtle level changes helps create a strong entry sequence, adding to the overall experience. Attention to scale and proportion ensures the pathway feels comfortable and elegant, maintaining a human scale that blends practicality with aesthetic appeal.
Complementary landscaping — including greenery, feature lighting, and decorative elements — further strengthens the connection between the facade and its surroundings.
Portico and Awnings
Adding a portico or awning over the entryway provides practical shelter from the elements while enhancing the visual impact. These features can introduce depth, shade, and architectural interest, making the entryway more inviting and proportionate to the overall facade design.
Choosing the Right Lighting Option
Proper lighting plays a significant role in both the beauty and functionality of a facade by highlighting architectural features and enhancing security. Key lighting options include:
Ambient Lighting: Soft and evenly distributed lighting that creates a welcoming atmosphere.
Accent Lighting: Spotlights or wall-mounted fixtures to emphasise unique design elements, such as textured walls or columns.
Pathway and Landscape Lighting: Illuminating walkways and garden areas to enhance both safety and aesthetics.
Smart Lighting: Automated or motion-sensored lights that provide convenience and improve energy efficiency and security.
Consistency with Design
A well-planned facade should be consistent with the overall home design, whether you choose a modern or classic style. Maintaining coherence between the facade and interior elements creates a harmonious look. Key factors to consider include:
Roof Design
The shape, pitch, and material of the roof should complement the facade's style and materials. A contemporary home might feature a flat or skillion roof with metal cladding, while a traditional design might call for a gabled roof with terracotta tiles. The roofline is one of the most visible elements from the street, so ensuring it ties into the facade helps maintain design coherence.
Windows and Doors
Placement, sizing, and framing styles should work with the overall look of the home. Larger panes and slimline frames suit modern, minimalist designs, while traditional homes often feature more structured, symmetrical window arrangements with classic mullions and trims. Doors, both front and side, should echo the materials and proportions used elsewhere in the facade.
Colour Palette
Choosing the right colours is crucial for achieving a unified and balanced appearance. Some popular facade palettes include:
Neutral and Earthy: Warm whites, soft beiges, light greys, and terracotta tones create a timeless and welcoming feel.
Cool and Coastal: Shades like navy blue, soft green-blue, crisp white, and driftwood grey bring a relaxed, breezy character perfect for coastal homes.
Bold and Moody: Deeper colours such as charcoal, deep teal, brass or gold accents, and burgundy create a more dramatic, high-end impression.
Tip: To balance colours effectively, use the 60-30-10 rule:
60% dominant colour (for main surfaces like walls)
30% secondary colour (for doors, garage doors, trims)
10% accent colour (for feature elements like front doors, planters, or decorative screens)
This approach keeps the facade visually interesting without feeling overwhelming.
Proportions and Symmetry
A consistent approach to proportions ensures the facade feels balanced and inviting. Consider the relationship between solid surfaces and voids (windows, doors, openings), the alignment of architectural elements, and the visual weight of materials. Even asymmetrical designs should feel intentional and well-resolved, with a sense of rhythm running through the facade.
When all these elements — roof, windows, doors, colours, and proportions — are considered together, the facade feels integrated and complete, creating a home that looks impressive from every angle and feels cohesive inside and out.
Facade Design and Property Value
An attractive, well-maintained facade can significantly increase the market value of your property. Potential buyers often make their first judgment based on curb appeal, making the facade a critical selling point. Investing in a high-quality facade offers several benefits:
Higher resale value: A stunning exterior can boost property desirability and command a higher price.
Energy efficiency: The right materials and design features can improve insulation, reducing energy costs.
Low maintenance: Durable materials and smart design choices lead to lower upkeep expenses.
Personal satisfaction: A beautiful home facade enhances pride in ownership and enjoyment of the property.
To Conclude
A home's facade is more than just an exterior. It’s an important design element that influences first impressions, enhances architectural character, and increases property value. Careful choices around materials, colours, entryways, and overall design consistency help create a facade that feels welcoming, balanced, and enduring.
When each element works together, the result is a home that not only looks exceptional from the outside but also feels cohesive and well-thought-out throughout.
How Ausplan Can Help
At Ausplan Design Group, our approach to facade design combines aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability to create visually stunning and structurally sound exteriors. Whether you are building a new home or renovating an existing one, our expertise ensures that your facade complements your vision and enhances the overall appeal of your property.
