The moment when you pull into your driveway after a long day at work and gaze up at your home should be a highlight of your day. Your home is a major investment — both financially and in terms of how much time you and your family spend there — and it should feel like you. If you feel it's time to give your home's curb appeal a boost, there are plenty of exterior siding ideas available to spark creativity.

The good news is that you don't have to stick with just one style or color for your home's siding and trim. Choosing a variety of colors and textures can draw the eye to unique architectural elements and add visual interest. Plus, you can try out some bold styles that might be overwhelming if used on the entire house. These questions and answers will tell you everything you need to know about achieving your ideal home style.

A NOTE ON EXTERIOR SIDING TEXTURE AND COLOR OPTIONS

When it comes to color and style options for your home's exterior, the sky is the limit. Read our guide on essential exterior siding styles and explore our catalog of house siding colors to get a better understanding of the available choices before you get started.

Keep in mind that the exterior of your house not only reflects your personal style but also plays a crucial role in creating a lasting impression. Consider how different siding styles and colors contribute to the overall aesthetic appeal and atmosphere of your dream home as you start designing.

Don't know where to start? Check out the Hover^® Design Studio, James Hardie's personalized visualization app, to try on different product styles and colors for your home before you commit.

SHOULD YOU KEEP THE SIDING COLORS IN THE SAME FAMILY?

When designing your home's exterior, it's typically easiest to stick to one color. However, choosing multiple exterior siding colors can be a fun way to add personality to the home and to put a pop of color in your life. While the majority of homes keep siding colors in the same family, like pairing a light grey plank lap siding with charcoal shingle siding, there's no rule against choosing contrasting colors or mixing dark and light shades. It's your home — it should represent your desired look!

You can also experiment with complimentary siding and roof color mashups. A winning house and roof color combination, for example, would either match warm to warm tones or cool to cool tones to remain in the same color family and create a cohesive look.

ARE THERE CERTAIN ARCHITECTURAL STYLES THAT CAN HANDLE DRAMATIC COLOR AND TEXTURE ELEMENTS BETTER THAN OTHERS?

There are a variety of architectural home styles — Craftsman, ranches, Victorians, Cape Cods, contemporary, and the list goes on and on. Each home style lends itself to different exterior elements.

Colonial homes, for example, are traditional, symmetrical, and best suited to subtle, neutral hues. Victorian homes, on the other hand, are opulent and rife with unique architectural elements like ornate gables and round turrets. As a much more unique and eye-catching home style, Victorians would be well suited to dramatic exterior elements such as bold colors and a mix of different siding options.

No matter the style of your home, take time to consider its unique features and surroundings, then decide which elements best fit your desired aesthetic. If you have certain styles in mind you'd like to try out, use the Hover® Design Studio by James Hardie to visualize how they might look.

HOW CAN YOU USE DIFFERENT EXTERIOR SIDING STYLES OR COLORS TO SET OFF A UNIQUE DESIGN ELEMENT LIKE ROOF GABLES?

Roof gables are prevalent in many different architectural home styles. They also provide a great opportunity to experiment with a different kind of exterior siding design from the rest of the house. If you live in a modern farmhouse, for example, you might opt for navy board and batten siding on the majority of the house. To set apart the home's roof gables, you might use distinct elements such as Hardie® Shingle siding or Hardie® Plank siding to complement the board and batten siding. You could also use a compatible color in a neutral or the same family, like a light blue or cream, to further highlight the home's gables.

ARE THERE SOME TEXTURES OR STYLES THAT WON'T WORK FOR CERTAIN ARCHITECTURAL STYLES?

While certain styles or textures may seem atypical when paired with specific architectural styles, your design choices are up to you. If certain choices, like shingle siding on a modern home, aren't usually associated with one another, that doesn't necessarily mean it won't work. On the contrary, daring to step outside of "normal" design choices will set your home apart and make it that much more unique.

Gather inspiration for what styles speak to you, and work with your contractor or builder to find the right mix of products that create your ideal vision.

CAN YOU USE MULTIPLE TEXTURES OR COLORS ON PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE ARCHITECTURAL DIFFERENCES?

While it's more common to change exterior siding styles and colors to accent architectural elements, there's no rule against using one product style on the bottom of a home, like Hardie® Plank, and another product on the top, like Hardie® Panel and Trim Battens for a board and batten look. Or, using a different color or product style around an entrance area vs. the rest of the home. If you choose to use multiple colors, it's typical to use darker, more grounding tones at the base of the house and grow progressively lighter as you reach the roof. However, using darker hues at the top of the house and transitioning to lighter tones at the base can be a fun way to add a striking visual effect.

Those opting to use multiple textures on a home's exterior will likely find that a variety of textures generates visual interest — for example, pairing Hardie® Plank lap siding in a smooth finish with Hardie® Shingle in a Select Cedarmill®, wood texture.

YOUR DREAM HOME HAS NEVER BEEN CLOSER

You deserve to create an exterior siding style that perfectly suits you and your home. James Hardie offers beautifully curated collections like Statement Collection® products or Magnolia Home | James Hardie Collection products featuring ColorPlus® Technology finishes to provide long-lasting color you can count on. Offering a variety of fiber cement house siding options, James Hardie has exterior siding styles to fit every personality.

Access the Hover® Design Studio by James Hardie to visualize your house's exterior makeover and create a place you are truly proud to call home.