Just like those for interiors, trends for the outside of homes come and go and – just as inside – there are things that make the exterior of a home look dated rather than characterful.
From the exterior color scheme to the door numbers what was the height of fashion can now look passé and detract from a home’s curb appeal. Yet it’s easy to become oblivious to these outmoded features as you pass by every day.
To help you see with fresh eyes, we asked the experts to reveal the things that make a house exterior out of date as well as to provide their advice on how to change them.
7 things making the exterior of your home look dated
The outside of your home can need a refresh for practical reasons – some exterior areas of a home are prone to leaks in the rainy season, for example, or perhaps the paintwork is flaking – but there are other reasons to update it.
Things that hark back to long-gone fashions do a home’s exterior no favors when seen from the street, so we’ve put together a list of the offenders against style to be on the lookout for below.
1. Fussy front doors
The way into your home can be a relic of previous trends. ‘The front door says everything you need to know about the style of the house,’ says Seattle-based Matthew Coates, AIA, president and principal architect, Coates Design Architects + Interiors. ‘The dated ones often have busy stained glass or frilly wood finishes.’
A simple swap for something more minimalist is the answer. ‘A sleek, solid door in a bold color can instantly elevate the entryway and bring it into current times,’ says Matthew.
2. Dark or overly bright exterior paint
Some exterior paint colors signal the fashion of previous decades very clearly. ‘While yellow or dark brown were popular in the 1970s or 1980s, they can now make a house look dated,’ explains George Crew, principal of Chicago Construction and Paint Crew.
‘A fresh coat of paint in a modern, consistent color palette – such as a soft gray, warm white, or a bright blue – can quickly bring new life to a home and make it look modern,’ he recommends.
3. Ornate trim and molding
Fussy details on the exterior of a home are another reason why it’s looking out-of-date.
‘Too much gingerbread trim or excessive molding looks Victorian in a way that feels out of place now, especially when it is put on a house that is clearly not that old,’ says Matthew Coates. ‘Clean, simplified trim in contrasting colors keeps things classic yet fresh.’
Be sure to keep the whole house exterior color scheme in mind so picking the best window trim color will be easy.
4. Cursive house numbers
Though they may be smaller elements of the exterior, front door numbers can still make a statement – and that statement can be that they’re long out of date. ‘Something like old cursive-style script letters, for example, scream 1980s,’ says Rafi Friedman, president of Coastal Luxury Outdoors.
The good news is that it’s quite easy to swap them out for something more modern, Rafi points out, and it’s also a low-cost way to boost curb appeal.
The combination of a contemporary font and subtle border gives this plaque its modern yet classic look.
A simple style that will work with any era of home, this plaque comes in four classic color ways.
You can't go wrong with a simple front door number. These aluminum numbers from Lowes are available in black, gold, or silver finishes and are magnetic for quick installation onto a plaque or mailbox. An easy update you can make in minutes.
5. Lighting
If the outdoor lighting in your home is decades old, it’s time to rethink it. ‘This includes changing dated light fixtures, adding more lighting like a hanging chandelier under a portico, and making sure the bulb color is correct,’ says licensed real estate agent at Compass Andrea Viscuso, who helps clients modernize their homes to sell.
‘Warm whites and natural whites are best for accentuating greenery for landscape lighting and using for your entry sconces and chandeliers because they are easier on the eyes and have softer tones,’ she says. ‘Exterior lights are like jewelry to a house and you can really update the look, dress a home up, and change the aesthetic by swapping them out.'
6. Gridded windows and shutters
While it’s more of an investment to change them, it could be the windows that are making your home look passé – and the shutters that are with them.
‘Those small, overly gridded windows, especially those with heavy wooden shutters on the sides that don’t even match the size of the windows... those are the worst,’ says Matthew Coates. ‘Switching to larger, open-framed windows instantly gives a contemporary feel while maximizing natural light.’
And if new windows aren’t on the agenda right now, focus on any shutters. Make sure they’re scaled to the size of the window, reflect its shape, and have attractive hardware to hold them open.
7. Iron railings and concrete steps
The combination of iron railings and concrete steps definitely dates a home, says Andrea Viscuso. ‘I am sure you have seen front or back steps that are one concrete block with iron railings,’ she says. ‘This was common up until the 1990s.’
But they’re easy to update. ‘You can go over them with pavers and bluestone or replace them completely with bluestone steps or another masonry material,’ she says. ‘Also common now are wood decking for steps or faux wood steps. And change iron railings with wood or even good quality PVC.’
The impression an outdated home exterior gives won’t be one that’s positive, however welcoming and stylish the entryway and the interiors beyond. But the takeaway is that attention to its details can transform the outside of a house so that it draws attention for all the right reasons.
