Style Spotlight: Dark Exterior Home Designs

At Eastbrook Homes, we always have our finger on the pulse of the latest home design trends. While past conventions have often tended toward bright, neutral colors as the foundation of a home’s exterior, a dark exterior paint job has gained rising popularity with homeowners in recent times.

With the right accents and a few small design tweaks, a dark exterior can both make your home a visual standout while also drawing attention to the more subtle home elements that might otherwise be lost. Follow along as Eastbrook Homes explores this home design trend and all the ways it can be leveraged to create a memorable, yet inviting, home.

Creating a Unique Look

Painting your home a dark exterior color creates an instantly iconic look that stands out from the crowd. The key to this home exterior is contrast; the dark trim and siding color often contrasts with the surrounding neighborhood, drawing the eye to the daring design.

That contrast plays to the strengths of a modern, sleek home design, drawing attention to the architectural features that define a home’s form. Crisp lines and angles, as well as unique textures on the roof and exterior walls, are accentuated by the stark difference between the color of the home and the horizon it’s set against. When paired with a more traditional home design, a dark exterior brings together the clean, sharp look of modern architecture with the cozy feel of an Americana or ranch-style home. The dark tones themselves can also contribute to a warm, homey atmosphere, creating a look that’s simultaneously welcoming and inviting while also appearing kempt and well-defined.

This look is also undoubtedly unique, making a home with a dark exterior a recognizable neighborhood landmark that will be memorable to both mainstay neighbors and visiting friends.

Eye-Catching Details

It’s not just the home itself that is highlighted by a dark exterior, but also the external decor and vegetation that adorn the outside of the home. While dark colors draw attention to the profile of the home via its contrast with the surrounding neighborhood, they also serve as a backdrop that allows other exterior elements to stand out. The home becomes a canvas that elevates the finer details of seasonal decorations and unique design choices.

Neutral exterior colors cause all the features of a yard and porch to blend into a single visual element, but with a dark exterior the vivid blooms of flowers, the lushness of green lawns, and the striking shapes of hedges and shrubs become more visually prominent. Additionally, a dark exterior home can emphasize various landscaping features, such as stone pathways, water features, and decorative elements, which harmoniously complement the overall aesthetic without becoming lost in a homogenous design.

Seasonal decorations, too, are more stunning when set against dark tones. The pastels of spring and the rich warm colors of fall contrast equally with a dark exterior in a way that minimizes the need for lavish décor, instead allowing small, simple accents to carry the weight of creating an appropriately festive home.

Adding More Color

While black might be the first thing that springs to mind when preparing a dark exterior paint job, you can achieve the same effects with richer tones of deep blues, greens, and reds. Pursuing a dark exterior through these colors strikes a softening balance between the stark contrast created by an all-black home and the blended, unifying nature of more neutral colors. 

In addition, you can ease into the aesthetic by accenting a darker color with brighter-colored details like window trims, shutters, or the front door. Set against black or navy blue, even neutral colors on these elements will appear as a splash of brightness that livens up the outside of your home. This lets you keep the versatility of rotating seasonal accents without the pressure of needing additional elements to add color to an otherwise bland home.

At Eastbrook Homes, we have an abundance of move-in ready homes featuring a dark exterior design, as well as a selection of home plans to choose from and customize during your home-building journey. Connect with us today to begin the buying process for your dream home!