9 Curb Appeal Trends You Might Regret Sooner Rather Than Later

Home trends come and go. You wouldn’t put orange shag carpeting in your living room, for example, or replace your kitchen appliances with new ones in an avocado green color. We can’t imagine putting wallpaper borders along the ceiling of our master bedrooms today, either. Some decorating trends should stay in the past where they belong, and outdated exterior home trends are no different.

If you’re planning an update to your home’s exterior, here are some trends you’ll want to leave in the past.

While contrasting on a home’s exterior are big right now, don’t go overboard and use too many hues. Instead, pick two contrasting colors that complement each other well, such as dark blue siding with a bright orange door.

“Now, some homeowners are taking this exterior motif to the next level with full black and white elevations. This look is somewhat related to the black modern farmhouse trend, but is a stunning exterior design in its own right,” according to James Hardie, a producer of high-fiber cement and fiber gypsum building solutions.

Over the past few years, home exterior colors have been all about gray, gray, and more gray. While grey homes aren’t completely out of fashion, home design company Brick and Batten says that using an unusual shade of the hue will keep your home looking fresh and updated. For instance, grays with warm undertones or hints of other colors, such as greens and blues, are gaining in popularity.

The big news about shutters? Not every home needs them. Sure, they still look great on farmhouses, but too often they can make your home look too cookie-cutter. Instead of shutters, consider installing wide trim around your windows—it’ll give your home clean lines and a more modern look.

Related: 5 Things to Do with… Wood Shutters

Iron is a material that ages well, but it doesn’t mean that it stands the test of time in terms of home trends. Depending on your home’s style and how they are used, iron railings can look outdated. If you’re looking to upgrade a railing, says Brick and Batten, consider upgrading to a cable railing, horizontal, glass or X-railing.

Glass block windows let light in while also giving you some privacy, but they can also give off a ‘80s vibe—and not in a cool, retro ‘80s way. Today, designers are finding ways to breathe new life into block windows. Architectural Digest notes that some designers are using glass blocks as a type of accent wall that lights up a home’s interior. Another designer paired glass blocks with terrazzo to achieve a modern look.

Sidelites are those tall windows on either side of a front door that were popular in the 1980s and 1990s. While they do let a lot of natural light into a home, sidelites scream “20th century.” For a dramatic modern entry, instead try a double front door, or a big picture window next to the front door.

Related: 10 Welcoming Front Door Paint Colors

Brass has come and gone in fashion, and now has come back a bit. This is one trend that can be too much of a good thing, however. Instead of having all brass outdoor fixtures, for example, use the material sparingly. Caitie Smithe, a design coordinator, told Realtor Magazine
that brass works best when used in small doses. Too much can create a “too matchy-matchy” look, says Smithe.

If you have border shrubs like boxwood as part of your landscaping, your curb appeal may need an update. Boxwood and border shrubs can often look overgrown and outdated, especially if they predate you living in the home. Since these shrubs need to be trimmed frequently, it can be tough for homeowners to keep them at the right size and shape. For less fuss and upkeep, try replacing boxwood with hydrangea, holly or juniper. Be sure to find a species that works well for your soil type, climate and sun-shade environment.

Related: 9 of the Best Shrubs for Any Garden

The pandemic has caused more people to spend more time at home, which has translated to homeowners upgrading their outdoor spaces. In fact, according to a report from Research and Markets, the outdoor furniture market is poised to grow exponentially between 2020 and 2024. If you still have cheap outdoor furniture, now’s the time to let it go and spring for an upgrade.

Related: 12 Kitchen Trends You Might Regret