2026 Exterior Design Trends (That Actually Hold Up)
Every year around this time, people start asking the same question: “What’s in?”
Truthfully, our clients don’t usually ask this question. By the time someone reaches out to Su Casa, they’re typically past chasing trends and are looking for a home that will feel timeless.
That said, plenty of homeowners are still stuck in trend-land. If that’s you, try swapping the “What’s in?” question for this one: “What’s a smart exterior choice that won’t make me cringe in five years?”
Exterior decisions for your home are some of the hardest ones you’ll make. They’re typically expensive to change, impossible to ignore, and once your home is built, everyone suddenly has an opinion—neighbours, family, even strangers walking their dogs.
Most homeowners want their house to feel current without being tied to a very specific design moment. Decisions driven too heavily by trends tend to age quickly, while decisions made without any market awareness can quietly affect resale down the road.
As we look toward 2026, here are three exterior design directions we see taking shape and why they pair so well with a timeless design approach.
01/ Traditional Forms
We’re seeing a renewed interest in traditional exterior forms; well-proportioned homes that rely on forms and rooflines that have already stood the test of time.
Think pitched roofs, layered materials, and more depth across the front elevation. Take, for example, this Su Casa home in Manitoba, Canada; notice the varying depths; notice how the overall massing of the home achieves balance.
Homes like these don’t rely on novelty to carry them. They age predictably, work in a variety of neighbourhoods, and tend to hold their value.
/02 Softening Colours
For a long while, black-and-white exteriors ruled the world. They were bold and decisive, but also unforgiving (especially the permanent exterior elements like stone...) making it harder to course-correct later.
We’re now seeing warmer palettes come back into the conversation—browns, muted greens, softer beiges (basically earth tones), like this Su Casa home in BC, Canada.
The warmer palettes aren’t a throwback, but a way to add richness and flexibility. These colours also tend to play better with natural materials and shifting light conditions (and we are all about the light!)
/03 Coloured Windows
Last but not least is window colouration. This is evolving too and fits naturally into the shift in exterior colouring.
In the same way that straight black and white is no longer the answer for an overall exterior, it's not necessarily the answer for windows either. The same softer tones like warm browns and French greys are being used to help windows blend into the overall exterior of a home, rather than shouting for attention.
We love this shift, as timeless is not obnoxious. Timeless is subdued and classic. Check out one of our home designs below in Virginia, USA that demonstrates everything we’re talking about: pitched roofs, balance across the massing, layered materials, a warmer colour scheme, and softer window colouration.
P.S. this home is up for publication in a major magazine—fingers crossed it makes the cut!
Andy's Designer Insight: Paint is Just Paint
Here's what Andy has to say about this:
"I say yes, yes, yes to all of the above. BUT. Remember that paint is just paint; you can update a colour at any time, relatively cheaply. So know that there's hope if your home is feeling a bit out of date; just changing the colour can totally transform it.
The thing that is not cheap to change is the actual structure; the form. You gotta get this right, and that's where we can really help. In terms of materials, your windows, stone or brick will also cost a pretty penny to change, so take your time with those decisions.
And yes, home design trends are shifting away from black-and-white exteriors, however, IMO black windows are extremely versatile and blend with many colour schemes. So, in my world, they're still timeless, and we still design with them."
The Takeaway for 2026 and Beyond
So, there you have it. You're equipped heading into 2026, but don't forget: the exteriors that age best are defined by massing, proportion, and how the home sits on its site. When those fundamentals are done well, finishes can change over time.
If you’re planning a home for 2026 and want help sorting through exterior decisions with longevity in mind, we’d love to help you think it through properly.
Book a consultation with our team to start the conversation.