Updating your split level home exterior is more than just a cosmetic refresh; it’s an opportunity to enhance curb appeal dramatically, improve energy efficiency, and significantly increase your property’s value. A well-executed exterior update can take your split-level from a potentially overlooked structure to a modern, inviting, and stylish residence that stands out for all the right reasons. It’s an investment that pays dividends in both pride of ownership and financial return.
Why Invest in Updating Your Split Level Home Exterior?
Considering an update for your split-level exterior offers a multitude of compelling benefits. Unlike purely interior renovations that are only seen by guests, an exterior update impacts everyone who passes by, including potential buyers. It sets the first impression and is a direct reflection of the care and investment put into your home.
Beyond aesthetics, an exterior update can address practical issues like old siding, inefficient windows, or a leaky roof. Replacing these elements improves insulation, reduces energy bills, and protects your home from the elements, ensuring its longevity. It’s about combining form and function to create a home that is beautiful, comfortable, and resilient.
Addressing the Unique Challenges of Split Level Exterior Design
Split-level homes often present specific design challenges that need careful consideration during an exterior update. Their inherent asymmetry, multiple entry points, and potentially awkward proportions can make them difficult to update cohesively. However, recognizing these challenges allows for strategic design solutions that turn potential drawbacks into distinctive features.
A common issue is the lack of a clearly defined main entrance. With several doors often visible from the street (front door, garage door, possibly a lower-level door), it can be confusing to determine the primary entry point. Addressing this through design elements is crucial for creating a welcoming and logical approach to the home.
Making a Grand Entrance: Enhancing the Split Level Entryway
The entryway is arguably the most critical focal point when updating a split level home exterior. Because split levels often feature a front door tucked under an overhang or located off-center, it’s vital to make it prominent and inviting. This can be achieved through various methods that draw the eye and guide visitors.
Adding a portico or a larger covered porch can provide architectural interest and shelter while clearly defining the entry. Strategic landscaping leading to the door, updated exterior lighting focusing on the entrance, and a bold, stylish front door color can also make a significant impact. The goal is to create a clear, welcoming path that eliminates any confusion about where the main door is.
Balancing the Levels: Tackling Split Level Proportions
Split-level homes are defined by their multiple levels, which can sometimes lead to a visually unbalanced or boxy appearance. Updating the split level home exterior provides an opportunity to introduce design elements that create visual harmony and break up large, flat surfaces. This is often achieved by varying materials, textures, and colors across different sections of the house.
Using a different siding material or color on the lower level compared to the upper levels, adding stone or brick veneer accents, or incorporating thoughtful trim details can help delineate levels and add visual interest. Introducing horizontal elements through siding choices or decorative features can also help to ground the structure and reduce a perceived vertical imbalance.
Selecting Materials and Styles for a Coherent Look
The choice of exterior materials and overall architectural style is paramount in a successful split-level update. The original split-level design is versatile and can be adapted to various aesthetics, from a modernized mid-century look to more traditional or contemporary styles. The key is consistency and selecting materials that work well together.
Popular choices for updating split level home exterior materials include fiber cement siding, vinyl siding, wood siding, stone veneer, and brick. Combining two or three complementary materials can add depth and texture, helping to define different sections of the house and enhance its visual appeal. Consider the home’s setting, the neighborhood style, and your personal preference when making these selections.
Essential Elements When Updating Your Split Level Home Exterior
A comprehensive exterior update touches on several key components of your home’s facade. Focusing on these essential elements can yield the most significant transformation and ensure a cohesive, refreshed look. Each element plays a vital role in the overall aesthetic and performance of the house.
Prioritizing which elements to update based on budget and impact is also crucial. Sometimes, simply updating the siding and paint can make a world of difference, while other homes may require more extensive changes, such as replacing windows or redoing the roof. Identify the elements that are most dated or in the worst condition first.
Siding and Cladding: A Major Transformation
Replacing or updating the siding is one of the most impactful changes you can make when updating a split level home exterior. Old, faded, or damaged siding instantly dates a house and can also lead to energy loss and moisture issues. New siding offers a fresh start and can dramatically change the home’s perceived style.
Fiber cement siding, like James Hardie, is a popular choice known for its durability, resistance to pests and rot, and excellent fire rating. It comes in various styles, including lap siding, shakes, and vertical panels, offering design flexibility. Vinyl siding is a more budget-friendly option that requires minimal maintenance and comes in a wide array of colors. Wood siding offers classic charm but requires more upkeep. Incorporating details like shake siding in gable ends or stone veneer on the lower level can add texture and visual interest.
The Role of Windows and Doors in Exterior Updates
Windows and doors are more than just functional openings; they are critical design elements that significantly impact the home’s facade and energy efficiency. Replacing old, inefficient windows is a smart move for reducing heating and cooling costs, but it also provides an opportunity to enhance the home’s style.
Choosing the right window style and updating the front and garage doors can unify the design and add character. Consider the home’s overall look and the desired style when selecting these elements. They should complement the chosen siding and trim colors, contributing to a harmonious exterior design.
Choosing the Right Window Styles
Window styles can greatly influence the architectural feel of a home. For split levels, popular options include double-hung windows, which offer classic appeal, or casement windows, which can provide a more contemporary look. The arrangement and size of windows are also important considerations when updating a split level home exterior.
Adding decorative trim or grilles to windows can enhance their visual appeal. Consider whether you want windows with a lot of panes (divided lites) for a traditional look or large, unobstructed panes for a modern aesthetic. Pay attention to how the windows relate to the overall massing of the house and whether their placement helps balance the different levels.
Front and Garage Doors: More Than Just Access
The front door is a key focal point and should be inviting and reflective of your style. A new front door in a bold color or a unique design can dramatically boost curb appeal. Material options include steel, fiberglass, and wood, each offering different benefits in terms of security, insulation, and maintenance.
The garage door, often a large and prominent feature on a split-level home, also plays a significant role in the exterior design. An updated garage door can complement the front door and the overall architectural style. Options range from traditional panel doors to modern flush panels or carriage house styles with decorative hardware and windows. Don’t underestimate the impact of a well-chosen garage door on the overall aesthetic when updating your split level home exterior.
Completing the Look: Roof, Landscaping, Lighting, and Color
While siding, windows, and doors are major components, several other elements contribute significantly to the overall success of an exterior update. The roof, landscaping, outdoor lighting, and the paint/color scheme tie everything together, creating a polished and inviting look.
These elements can enhance the architectural features, soften the home’s lines, provide curb appeal, and ensure the home looks its best day and night. Neglecting these details can diminish the impact of even the most extensive siding or window replacement project.
The roof, though sometimes overlooked from street level, provides a crucial backdrop for the rest of the exterior. Its color and material should complement the siding and trim. Modern roofing materials offer improved durability and energy efficiency.
Landscaping is essential for anchoring the home to its site and softening its typically rectilinear forms. Foundation plantings, mature trees, and strategically placed shrubs and flowers add color, texture, and visual interest. Creating inviting walkways and outdoor living spaces also enhances curb appeal and usability. Thoughtful landscaping can camouflage less attractive features and highlight the home’s best assets, becoming an integral part of updating your split level home exterior.
Outdoor lighting provides safety and security but also allows you to highlight architectural features and landscaping after dark. Uplighting on key architectural elements, path lights along walkways, and decorative fixtures at the front door and garage add warmth and sophistication to the exterior. Proper lighting extends the enjoyment of your home’s exterior beyond daylight hours.
Finally, the color scheme unifies all the elements of the exterior update. The body color, trim color, accent colors (for doors or shutters), and roof color must work together harmoniously. Choosing the right colors can emphasize architectural details, make the house appear larger or smaller, and reflect your personal style. Consider the fixed elements you aren’t changing (like brick or stone) and select colors that complement them.
The Rewarding Journey of Updating Your Split Level Home Exterior
Embarking on the project of updating your split level home exterior is a significant undertaking, but the results can be incredibly rewarding. A well-executed update transforms a potentially ordinary house into a stunning, modern home that you’ll be proud to own. It enhances curb appeal, increases energy efficiency, resolves design challenges, and most importantly, boosts your property’s value significantly.
Whether you focus on major structural changes like adding a porch or simply refresh the look with new siding, windows, and a thoughtful color scheme, the impact of an exterior update is undeniable. It’s an investment in your home’s future, providing lasting beauty, protection, and enjoyment for years to come. Start planning your split-level exterior transformation today and unlock the full potential of your unique home.