Five Ideas, One House: A Gallery Tour of Exterior Design
These 5 exterior design ideas work like a well-hung gallery wall: each piece is good on its own, but the magic is how they work together. Roof, siding, windows, front door, and accents all show up in the same view from the curb.
Take the docent tour of a real house, walk through the 5 exterior design ideas one at a time, and see what each project returns at resale in our region.
See All 5 Exterior Design Ideas on One House
Tap a numbered pin to stop at each of the 5 exterior design ideas on this Ohio home. Notice how every choice repeats something already on the house.
Roof
The dark shingle blend reads almost black at dusk, which lets the navy siding and white trim pop instead of fighting the roof.
Read idea 1 ↓Siding
One deep color, one profile on the main walls. The stone carries the texture, so the siding can stay calm.
Read idea 2 ↓Windows
White frames and grids repeat across both floors. The arched window over the entry is the only shape that breaks the pattern, and it’s centered on purpose.
Read idea 3 ↓Front Door
A black door with a wreath, tucked under the porch roof and framed by stone. It’s the one dark rectangle on the stone wall, so the eye lands there first.
Read idea 4 ↓Accents
Black shutters match the door, stone wraps the first floor, and trimmed shrubs line the beds. Every accent repeats a color already on the house.
Read idea 5 ↓The 5 Exterior Design Ideas, One Exhibit at a Time
Each of the 5 exterior design ideas below lists the medium we install and a curator’s note from our design consultations. Read them in order, because each one builds on the last.
The Roof Sets the Palette
Medium GAF Timberline HDZ and designer shingles
The first of the 5 exterior design ideas: pick the roof color first. It’s one of the largest blocks of color you see from the street, and it stays put for decades, so the siding, trim, and door should be chosen to work with it, not the other way around. Look at full-size samples outside, and use the GAF shingle color guide to narrow the field.
Curator’s note Gray and black blends go with almost anything. Browns and warm blends need warmer siding. See our top shingle colors.
Siding Brings the Texture
Medium CertainTeed vinyl and insulated siding
Color gets the attention, but the profile does the work. Clapboard reads classic, Dutch lap throws deeper shadow lines, board and batten adds height, and shakes soften a gable. Most handsome houses use one main profile and one accent profile, not three.
Curator’s note Put the accent profile where the eye already goes: a gable, a porch, or a bump-out. Browse vinyl siding styles.
Windows Draw the Lines
Medium Nobility Diamond and Platinum collections
Windows are the rhythm of the facade. Keep the frame color, grille pattern, and trim width consistent across the front, and line up the tops of windows on each floor. The Department of Energy also has a clear guide to deciding whether to update or replace windows.
Curator’s note Grilles should match the house style: Colonials like a grid, Craftsman homes like a few lites up top. Read about casement windows.
The Door Is the Star
Medium Masonite Belleville, Heritage, and Barrington doors
Every facade needs one focal point, and the front door is the natural choice. This is where a deeper or brighter color belongs, along with the glass and hardware that make an entry feel welcoming. Everything else on the front should support it, not compete with it.
Curator’s note If the door is the star, keep shutters quieter, or match them to the door for a planned look. Our door guide walks through styles and glass.
Accents Pull It Together
Medium Trim, shutters, stone, lighting, and landscaping
The last of the 5 exterior design ideas is the finishing layer: wide trim, shutters sized to their windows, a stone wainscot, house numbers, porch lights, and plantings that frame the walk. Small details like these are what make a house look designed instead of assembled.
Curator’s note Shutters should look like they could cover half the window. See exterior home trim and our stone cladding.
What These 5 Exterior Design Ideas Return at Resale
Good design is worth it for the way your house feels when you pull in. It also tends to pay back. The annual Cost vs. Value report estimates how much of a project’s cost is recouped when a home sells.
Front-of-house projects lead the list in our region. The entry door and stone veneer often return more than they cost, while larger projects like roofing, siding, and windows recoup a big share and protect the house too. Our home improvement ROI guide compares more projects.
The Curator’s 4 Rules for Exterior Design
Use these four rules to tie the 5 exterior design ideas together, so the front of the house reads as one piece. For a full mood board, see designing your home.
Pick the roof first.
Choosing siding first and hoping a shingle matches is the most common way a facade ends up clashing.
One star per house.
A bright door, bright shutters, and a bright garage door compete. Pick one to shout.
Repeat every color twice.
If the door is black, repeat it in shutters, lights, or house numbers so it looks planned.
Plan the whole front, then phase it.
You don’t have to do it all at once, but you should decide it all at once.
Three Generations of Curb Appeal
Wilbur Thrush founded Thrush & Son in 1960. W. Allen Thrush owns the company today, and Corey Thrush is the third generation. More than 31,000 Miami Valley homeowners have trusted us, from our Brookville headquarters and offices in Troy and Lebanon.
We install all 5 exterior design ideas under one roof: GAF roofing, CertainTeed siding, Nobility windows, Masonite entry doors, and trim. See finished homes in the project gallery and read homeowner reviews.
5 Exterior Design Questions, Answered
What homeowners ask us most when they start planning 5 exterior design ideas for the front of the house.
Which of the 5 exterior design ideas should I do first?
If the roof is near the end of its life, start there, since everything else should coordinate with it. Otherwise, choose the roof color first on paper, then plan siding, windows, and the door around it, even if the work happens over several years.
How do I pick siding and roof colors that go together?
Look at real samples outside, in morning and afternoon light, and hold the shingle next to the siding. Our Exterior Design Center has GAF shingles and CertainTeed siding side by side.
Should window frames match the trim?
Usually, yes. Matching frames and trim make windows look crisp and intentional. If you want contrast, keep it the same on every window across the front.
Which exterior project returns the most at resale?
In the 2025 Cost vs. Value report for our region, a garage door replacement recouped 282.2%, a steel entry door 235%, and manufactured stone veneer 190.6% of their cost.
Can I do these upgrades in phases?
Yes. Many homeowners start with the roof or siding and add windows, a door, or accents later. Settle the full color plan first so each phase fits the next.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. See our home improvement financing options, or ask during your estimate.
Curate Your Own Exterior
Bring your ideas to our Exterior Design Center, or we’ll bring samples to you. We’ll help you plan all 5 exterior design ideas as one look, then give you a written estimate with no pressure. Ask about financing.
Call 937-833-5136 · Office: Mon–Thu 9–4, Fri 9–2 · Michelle, our AI assistant, answers 24/7
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