Mixing Textures for a Unique and Stylish Home Exterior
By: Hannah Warne
While mixing textures on your home exterior may seem intimidating, it’s the perfect way to reflect your style. From blending classics like stone and brick to creating an innovative combination that’s all your own, there are limitless ways you can combine siding styles and accents to create a look that’s unique to your home.
Read on to discover our favorite ways to mix home exterior textures to add depth, dimension, and style.
At brick&batten, our experienced team of designers will help you expertly bring your dream home to life. We’ll help you find the perfect textures to incorporate into your exterior and stylishly blend them together to execute your exterior vision! Learn more about our virtual exterior design services.
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#1 // Stone and stucco
Mixing two vastly different textures like stone and stucco helps create a dimensional, dynamic exterior design. While stone siding comes in many varieties, they all share a few common traits; they infuse the exterior with an organic, earthy feel that can be nearly impossible to achieve with other siding styles. Stucco siding, on the other hand, offers lightly textured finishes that easily blend with other styles.
Together, these two create a high-contrast look. To create a more cohesive finish, consider painting both siding styles in the same hue for a consistent color palette, like Classic Light Buff by Sherwin Williams in the example above. This creamy white hue gives the home a classic look while still allowing the mixing of textures to stand out.
#2 // Vertical siding and wood paneling
Playing with the orientation of your siding can help you create visual interest and added texture to set your home apart. While classic lap siding runs horizontally, consider installing it vertically instead to add height and dimension to your exterior. This is especially impactful for single-story or ranch-style homes.
Mix in horizontal wood paneling to add another geometric element to contrast with the vertical lines. In the example above, the wide, vertical planks offset the thin, horizontal wood siding to create a unique finish. The same wood finish extends to the deck, creating a harmonious outdoor space and a cohesive overall look.
#3 // Brick and stone
Mixed masonry is a natural pairing for your home exterior. Classic combinations like brick and stone create a versatile look that is both modern and timeless. Instead of using classic red brick and light stone that creates a high-contrast finish, consider painting your brick a similar shade to your preferred stone siding. This creates a more contemporary feel and allows you to curate a more strategic color palette.
The example above features Westhighland White on the stone, Oyster White on the brick, and Urbane Bronze on the trim — all by Sherwin Williams — to create a beautiful, neutral color palette that will withstand the test of time. Copper gutters and a walnut front door finish the high-end look.
#4 // Metal siding, stone, and cedar
Don’t limit yourself to only two siding styles when mixing textures. Adding a third finish may be unexpected, but when done right, can make your exterior look even more dynamic. For a modern feel, opt for metal siding finished in a bold hue like black. This approach gives your home an industrial edge. Organic textures like wood and stone help offset the metal to create a balanced look.
In the example above, dark gray stone continues the moody color palette, while rich cedar planks draw the eye immediately to the front door. Black trim and design details like modern sconces and house numbers round out the exterior and complement the trio of textures.
#5 // Stucco and brick
The subtle texture of stucco and the dramatic impact of brick make the perfect unexpected pairing. While stucco homes have a slight texture, they appear almost smooth from afar. Brick, on the other hand, adds a geometric finish to your exterior.
Consider incorporating two types of brick — classic red brick and a painted version like in the example above — for even more dimension. A neutral color palette of Greek Villa by Sherwin Williams and Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore allows the mixing of textures to stand out even more.
We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.
#6 // Lap siding and stone
Lap siding is a classic for a reason. This simple, impactful siding style is typically made up of overlapping horizontal boards that give a home a traditional look and feel. Often used for Cape Cods, Colonials, and Victorian homes, it can be painted in any hue to help bring your exterior vision to life.
To create a contrasting look, consider incorporating stone accents with your lap siding. While you can add a high-impact look that covers a large area of your home, you can also opt for more subtle details like stone columns flanking the front door as in the example above. The stone helps tie together the exterior color palette and mixing textures adds depth to the otherwise classic look.
#7 // Shake and lap siding
Shake siding is the perfect way to add texture to your exterior. These overlapping pieces of wood offer a layered effect, giving your home a classic feel. But to update your exterior with a more modern twist, consider mixing and matching your shake with lap or plank siding, too.
This mixture of linear shapes takes traditional materials and makes them feel new. Especially when mixed with horizontal and vertical siding like in the example above, you can breathe new life into your existing shake siding. Finish with wood accents, like columns, garage doors, and planters, to add a natural touch.
#8 // Chevron brick and stone
While brick and stone is a classic combination, there are always ways to make it more unique. Instead of a classic offset brick pattern, consider brick siding in a chevron or herringbone pattern. This dynamic option has a zigzag orientation that sets it apart from its classic brick counterpart. Especially when paired with natural stone, it blends geometric lines with organic shapes for a beautifully unexpected finish.
Consider painting your chevron brick a color that complements the natural stone. Like in the example above, we painted the brick in Porpoise by Sherwin Williams with accents in Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore, accenting the creamy and deep hues of the stone. The result is a facade that is elegant and cohesive.
Mixing textures for your home exterior transformation
Whether you opt for a classic combo or prefer something a bit more unexpected, mixing textures on your exterior can help transform the look of your exterior. But it can be challenging to find the perfect pairing when choosing from nearly endless options. Luckily, the experts at brick&batten can help you bring your vision to life and create your dream home.
With our exterior home design services, our team will help you find a beautiful combination of textures and colors for your home or business exterior! We’ll partner with you to understand your exterior vision and make it a reality. Start your project today!
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