This small project in the Portage Bay neighborhood of Seattle replaced an existing garage with a functional living room. Tucked behind the owner’s traditional bungalow, this modern room provides a retreat from the house and activates the outdoor space between the two buildings. The project houses a small home office as well as an area for watching TV and sitting by the fireplace. In the summer, both doors open to take advantage of the surrounding deck and patio. Photographs by Nataworry Photography

Kiln Creek Apt Garage

Stillwater Design Group

Front view of storage shed, distressed wood, and sliding barn exterior barn doors. With the red faded wood and reclaimed wood siding.
Photo of a small country two-storey brown exterior in Boise with mixed siding, a shed roof, board and batten siding, a metal roof and a brown roof.

Goat Shed

DeWitte Construction

Goat Shed with sliding door
Inspiration for a small country exterior in San Francisco with wood siding, a shed roof, a metal roof and a grey roof.

Villa Lågenergi

Åre Arkitekt AB

Large scandinavian two-storey red exterior in Gothenburg with wood siding and a shed roof.

Rénovation d'un salon dans une ferme

AT-MD Atelier d'Architectures

Recherche d'équilibre entre l'existant conservé et l'intervention
Design ideas for a country brick white house exterior in Lille with a shed roof, a tile roof and a red roof.

Kiln Creek Apt Garage

Stillwater Design Group

View of the storage shed with the red faded wood and the distressed wood exterior.
Inspiration for a small country two-storey brown exterior in Boise with mixed siding, a shed roof, board and batten siding, a metal roof and a brown roof.

Kiln Creek Apt Garage

Stillwater Design Group

This apartment garage; has a distressed wood and stone wood exterior, reclaimed wood trusses, and a red faded wood. With barn doors for the main garage as well as as the garage for a motor home.

Kiln Creek Apt Garage

Stillwater Design Group

Back view of storage shed, distressed wood, and reclaimed wood siding, with the red faded wood.
This is an example of a small country two-storey brown exterior in Boise with mixed siding, a shed roof, board and batten siding, a metal roof and a brown roof.

Kiln Creek Apt Garage

Stillwater Design Group

This apartment garage; has a distressed wood and stone wood exterior, reclaimed wood trusses, and a red faded wood. With barn doors for the main garage as well as as the garage for a motor home. With a beautiful landscaped circular driveway.

Rénovation d'un salon dans une ferme

AT-MD Atelier d'Architectures

Double Galandage asymétrique
Country brick white house exterior in Lille with a shed roof, a tile roof and a red roof.

Kiln Creek Apt Garage

Stillwater Design Group

Winter view of the home and storage shed.
Photo of a small country two-storey brown house exterior in Other with mixed siding, a shed roof, a mixed roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Rénovation d'un salon dans une ferme

AT-MD Atelier d'Architectures

Recherche d'équilibre entre l'existant conservé et l'intervention
Country brick white house exterior in Lille with a shed roof, a tile roof and a red roof.

Rénovation d'un salon dans une ferme

AT-MD Atelier d'Architectures

Création d'un bow-window en suspension
Inspiration for a country one-storey exterior in Lille with painted brick siding, a shed roof, a tile roof and a red roof.

Rénovation d'un salon dans une ferme

AT-MD Atelier d'Architectures

Double Galandage asymétrique entre intérieur et extérieur, entre salon et terrasse
This is an example of a country brick white house exterior in Lille with a shed roof, a tile roof and a red roof.

Barn Exterior Design Ideas with a Shed Roof

The front exterior of your home – the driveway, front yard, verandah and entrance – is a fantastic place to start making that all-important first impression on house guests. Even mailboxes and house numbers can have a wonderful way of grabbing people’s attention. The architectural design should reflect the overall style of your house and the family that live there; while your choice of materials will help your house blend in with its surrounds. Browse the photos on Houzz for ideas and inspiration for the exterior of your house, and strike up a conversation with the architects and designers of your favourite picks. You’ll find house designs for contemporary, eclectic, modern, traditional styles and more.

How do I decide on the exterior style of my home?

Your location, overall sense of style, budget and current home layout will dictate the style of your exterior. If you’re renovating a period home, the materials and features you use should reflect the date in which it was built, while a unique colour scheme could add contemporary flair. New homes may prefer to look to modern or contemporary designs with structural simplicity, whereas, if you live by the ocean, a beach-style design may better suit your locale. That’s not to say you can’t build a new home that has period influences. If you’re a traditionalist, you can borrow architectural details from the Art Deco period, for instance, or use finishes that reflect more of a Scandinavian style, too.

What exterior house colours and materials should I use?

Traditional homes typically use brick and timber building materials, while stone, board-formed concrete and metal cladding are popular contemporary options. Again, the materials you use will depend on your location and the statement you want to make. Your budget will also affect your choice. Vinyl siding is affordable and easy to install, while stone is more expensive but durable and low maintenance. If you’re not ready to renovate but want to update the exterior of your home, you can still paint it. Look to your neighbours when choosing exterior house colours. Consider the streetscape and what type of colours are already in use, firstly, so you don’t replicate next door’s shade; and secondly, so you don’t stand out like a sore thumb. If you’re renovating a period home, you could paint features or intricate details in a bold, standout hue. Front doors, garage doors and window trims also look great in eye-catching colours, even if the rest of the house’s facade is neutral.

How can I maximise my home’s street appeal?

To spice up your home’s architectural design, landscape the surrounding area with plants and pathways that accent the style of your home. If you just need a quick revamp, look at your cement and pavers – these can split and crack over time; and repairing or replacing them can do wonders for your street appeal, especially if it’s a large area like your driveway. Plants, garden paths or low walls can can also add structure to your front yard. Light up your home with sufficient outdoor lighting to make walking up to the front door easy at night. You could use bollard lights along your entry path, or replace tiny wall sconces with statement pendant lighting at the entrance or on your verandah. Decorative elements such as house numbers, mailboxes and doormats will also add character. And if you're looking to sell your house, it may be worth hiring a stylist to help make the most of your property.