If you have been waiting to renovate or design your small house exterior but do not have anything concrete in mind, you’re at the right place. This will explore various small house exterior design ideas. It covers everything from the importance of texture to color palate and landscaping.
Small houses are increasingly gaining popularity. The more obvious reason is that it cuts down on the cost. However, people are also intrigued by the idea of living in a small house. Not only does it save space and pushes one to be creative, but it also favors a more environmentally friendly way of living.
Let’s explore various exterior ideas for small houses!
1. Black Dainty Cottage
Oftentimes people will shy away from using darker-toned colors on small house exteriors. However, as you can see from the image, dark colors like dark grey or charcoal grey define the structure of the house.
A small house is a dream to decorate; you can add a lot of details to it to make it have a unique character.
Experiment with textures by using different kinds of construction materials. This house features a brick and shiplap or vinyl siding on the exterior walls.
Add design details to your house with arches and columns through well-crafted pillars.
Since we have played around with patterns on the walls, choose a crisp and clean design for the windows. A simple black frame with a colonial grid complements the look of the house.
2. A Minimalist Modern Cabin
Who doesn’t like the idea of a cabin in the woods? It is a fun way to get out of the bustle and noise of the city and spend some time among the serenity of the woods.
This small house is a combination of rustic and modern design elements.
The use of wood for the exteriors and the small patio area is a response to the natural setting. While the niche modern design, with crisp edges and angles, adds a touch of modernity to the house.
This house in itself is a two-story structure, but you can take inspiration from the paper structure itself. Look at the house welcoming the wooden patio looks. You get a stunning view of the forest and the lake from here. If you like airy open spaces like this, you must adopt this open shed patio design.
If you are going to the woods, I am certain it is not to keep the scenery out. This is why big reflecting glass windows are your best choice.
3. Cute Country House
This small house reminds me of the hobbit holes from the “Lord of the Rings.” Needless to say, this is the kind of country home that reminds one of fairytales.
This house has so much character; the shape itself is unique and inviting. It oozes a coziness.
The red cedar shingles add so much texture and pattern to the walls. The gambrel roof is not only great for space, but it also imparts an interesting framing to the structure of the house.
The distressed wood steps are like artwork for this house. The overgrown bushes around it enhance that fairytale look of it. The garden, the shrubs, and the trees are as important a part of the design as are the walls and windows.
4. Charcoal Black Small House
Here we have another example of a small house that uses a charcoal black color for its exterior. The color gives the house a crisp and neat look. The back frame windows mimic the crisp look of the walls and frame the structure well.
This house again showcases texture with the vertical board and batten siding on the walls. This is complemented by the ribbed roof of the house.
A beautiful reflecting glass door featuring a colonial grid graces the house’s front porch.
Since this is a small house, a porch is an absolute delight to spend your time relaxing in. Small houses should privilege such open spaces. Ensure your porch has some nice potted plants to add lively energy to the space.
5. White Small House
Look at this cute small white house. This house features a fairly simple but effective design. It is painted in a soothing white color and has soft, warm lighting. The color and the lighting give the house a warm, welcoming feel.
Big windows are an excellent design choice for a small house. It opens up the space and ensures that the house receives enough natural light. Not to mention that they look every bit elegant.
Shake up the classic white color choice by adding some texture to the walls. You can go for a white bricked wall or a clapboard or vinyl siding.
For a small house, a good design choice is to have a window box with beautiful flowers or herbs. You can add fairy lights to your window box if you wish.
6. Shingle Style Small House
Inspired by the shingle style architecture, this particular house is a larger structure. However, we are looking at the small house structure that is visible in the picture. For a small house, a shingle style adds some character and interest to the structure. Look at how beautiful the horizontal clapboard siding looks in that Iron Ore (SW 7069) color.
The tiny porch and the glass-enclosed entertainment area are some excellent design ideas you can borrow for your small house. A wooden door of a contrasting color is a great way to shake up the color scheme. Complement the color of the door with that of the natural stained wood of the pillars of the porch and the frame of the glass-enclosed area.
7. Black Small House with Vines
Details and Textures are things you should pay attention to in a small house. Small details go a long way when it comes to designing exteriors.
Look at this dainty little house with a tiny porch. The arch of the front porch is embraced by a lush green climbing vine. The green looks vibrant against the black and balances out the colors of the house. Other plants along the walls of the house provide the house with some organicity. A cream, clamshell, or champagne pink-colored door adds contrasting fun to the house. The vine frames the door and draws the eyed to it.
When it comes to choosing climbing vines, you can either choose a leafy green one or go for a flowering vine if that is more suited to your taste.
8. European Style Small House
Here we have a beautiful little two-story house that is constructed in the European style. The house features two kinds of exterior walls. One is a rustic stone wall exterior, and the other is a classic white wall. The contrast of the walls plays well with each other.
A beautiful window features a window box outgrown with beautiful flowers. For small houses, a window box is an excellent design choice.
A smaller house might just do away with the second story of the house.
9. Modern Small Lake House
Here we have a house that features the design of modern architecture. The design is neat and sharp. There are no ornate arches or columns in the house.
The house privileges open, well-lit spaces that look out on the breathtaking view of the woods and the lake.
The color scheme is soft white and cream. There is some texture on the front façade with what seems like log lap cladding.
The open area on the front is the perfect space to spend your evenings in. The house Itself flaunts mirrored walls to give an uninterrupted view of nature. The clean black framing of the windows/walls delivers a crisp, modern, and edgy design.
10. A Rustic Small Wooden House
A beautiful blend of rustic charm and modern luxury, this is a wonderful small house to draw your inspiration from,
When it comes to a small house, I cannot stress enough the importance of open spaces like this spacious porch. The wooden floor porch provides ample space to relax in nature. You need minimalistic furniture on the porch.
The exposed beams on the ceiling add an old-school rustic flair to the house. These beams complement the horizontal wooden lattice on the entrance.
Big reflecting glass windows that double up as walls are a must-have for a place like this. You do not want to shut out the beautiful view.
11. Modern Big Window Small House
This structure is a great inspiration for a small house exterior. A blend of an old cottage and a clean, modern design, this house is one to grab the attention of everyone.
Built on a stone foundation, the house features a glass house-style living space. The room gives a stunning view of the surroundings.
The Black frames of the windows enhance the lines and edges for a modern appeal. On the other hand, the roof of the house gives it a cozy cottage feel. The beautiful black color enhances the neat modern aesthetic.
12. Tiny House with Front Porch
Trailer or container-style tiny houses are all the rage these days. While they can make for comfortable living spaces, their longevity still raises some concerns. But small homes can take design ideas from container home exteriors.
You can install a latticed wall on one side of your small cabin house, which can be used as a vertical garden. Besides that, a wooden porch will be one of your best decisions for a tiny house.
The horizontal wooden siding on the front wall introduces texture to the house. A window that opens onto the porch can also serve as a breakfast bench with some clever design modifications. All you need is some chairs and a table that opens up to the porch. Add a deck to the back or the side, and decorate your space with some potted plants.
13. White Small House with Spacious Porch
We have another example of a small house with a spacious porch to spend some relaxing evenings and afternoons. The house features a classic design with some horizontal siding. The color scheme of the house is soft, with a natural wood-toned porch that flaunts a crisscross balustrade. All the colors of the house are in an elegant harmony. The house features a beautiful French door that provides one of the two entrances to it.
Install warm lighting in and around the house to further add to the welcoming warmth of the place.
Add some comfortable furniture to the porch, and you can even invest in a porch swing. Add some plants to the porch to introduce a touch of nature to your house, and your cute white house is ready.
14. Poplar Bark Siding Small House
This is perhaps one of my favorite designed exteriors for a small house. It is not just the interesting of the kind design that makes it so appealing, but also the effort put into landscaping that makes it a top choice for design inspiration.
This house features the rustic allure of poplar bark siding on the walls, which gives it its unique texture. The grey of the windows and the doors complement the walls perfectly. Cedar shake roof adds another layer of texture and color to the roof. The walls and the roof together exhibit an organic charm.
I even love the distressed wooden fence enclosing the garden area. It is tasteful and rustic and goes with the vibe of the house.
Sprawling green lawns with shrubs, flowers, and trees along the house provides a nice balance. At the same time, the small lake mirrors the southern charm of the house.
15. The Tiniest Small House
If you don’t just want a small house but are looking for exterior design ideas for a tiny house, this might be the inspiration you are looking for.
This house has natural wood-toned walls with horizontal siding. You can choose the siding of your choice. You may also use bricked or wood shingle walls. Two-toned walls are another option you might want to explore.
The grey doors and windows complement the texture and the color of the wall. The windows are clean, reflecting glass windows. You can add some air plants or tillandsias on either side of the door. This adds an organic touch to the house exterior.
16. A Japanese Style Modern Small House
This modern small house takes its inspiration from Traditional Japanese Houses. The design is fairly simple, with a dark grey (blue-toned) roof and white walls. Big glass windows allow enough natural light to enter the house all through the day.
There is nothing too ornate in the design. The framing of the windows is sleek. This is an example of traditional design meets modern minimalism.
What delights me about this house is the landscaping. The landscaping design has three main elements: the well-kept grassy lawn, the fine red gravel arc, and the coarse stone and gravel area. The landscaping provides a beautiful balance of colors and textures. The log wood seats are an impressive blend of rustic and modern niche design.
Conclusion
A small house exterior allows one the opportunity to get creative. When it comes to small house exteriors, one thing to remember is to privilege open spaces like porches and decks. These spaces are going to be a good investment.
When it comes to color schemes, darker colors like charcoal grey and black can make for an impressive exterior.
Landscaping designs can make a lot of difference to your exteriors; they should not be neglected. Lush gardens or stone and gravel pavements can introduce texture to your home. You may also opt for textured walls. They add intrigue and character to your home.
We hope you have already made a note of your favorite ideas. With these few tips, you’re ready to envision your small house exterior.
