If you’re building or renovating, an eye-catching and durable home exterior should be front of mind. “The façade of a home sits at the top of most people’s priority lists,” says Cathleya Buchanan, Marketing Director of James Hardie.
“A home’s façade does more than just look good – it’s there to protect your home and your family from the elements and to provide thermal insulation,” she adds. An enduring trend defining home exteriors right now is fibre cement cladding, as this long-lasting building material inspires a modern, minimalistic design.
So, how can you use exterior cladding to create a bold statement? For a stress-free and design-savvy renovation, follow our expert guide to styling your home’s façade with cladding.
1. Achieve a modern and minimalistic style
When it comes to contemporary design, less is always more. “Focus on clean lines, little ornamentation, and pare back with only a few finishes that contrast well with one another. To bring through continuity, paint all the finishes in one colour,” advises Cathleya.
“Functionality is just as important as ‘the look’,” she adds. “Lightweight fibre cement products provide long-lasting beauty for homes as they are resistant to fire, impact, termites, rotting and warping – with minimal maintenance required.”
2. Think about texture
Who said you can’t mix multiple cladding styles? “The beauty of working with cladding is that you can enhance different aspects of the property through different profiles,” explains Cathleya.
To achieve a stunning modern front, Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding is a pre-textured fibre cement panel with a smooth, natural sand texture. Compared to traditional brick walls, this refined look is uncluttered and inspires a sense of calm. Combining this with different cladding profiles – such as the vertically grooved panels of Axon™ Cladding – is the key to an interesting streetscape.
3. Choose a striking colour scheme
A distinctive colour palette is the quickest way to define the style of your home, especially when using large format panels. “Hardie™ exterior cladding range by James Hardie comes primed and ready to paint to any desired colour, so it’s easy to add personality to your design style,” says Cathleya.
For a contemporary look, opt for bold, monochrome colours to accentuate the clean lines of cladding. Or for a fresh coastal scheme, stick to crisp white paint and create interest with different textures.
4. Focus on garden design
It’s vital to select the right greenery and outdoor flooring to complement your walls. To enhance an architectural modern home, Cathleya recommends establishing a refined garden with thickened plants such as yucca, succulents, and dragon trees.
“To create a coastal haven and tropical feel, opt for birds-of-paradise, palms, bamboo or frangipanis,” she suggests. “For an Aussie alternative, use agave plants for a bold look. Contrast these colours with light white or dark charcoal pebbles around potted plants.”
5. Light up your exterior
Use detail in outdoor lighting to spark areas of interest, highlight texture and set an ambient scene. “Directional lighting can create interesting shadow lines on the cladding to bring it to life, as well as highlight surrounding greenery, playing a crucial role in your home’s atmosphere,” Cathleya says. For a dramatic look, use garden lights to enrich the Linea™ Weatherboard cladding with its horizontal shadow lines.
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