New Home Siding Trends for 2021

The material you choose to finish your home with is arguably the most important decision you’ll make in determining its design and aesthetic appeal. While architectural style obviously comes into play, the exterior cladding can create everything from a rustic, country look to a sleek and modern finish. In addition to defining the look of your home, the exterior finish also provides protection from the elements and can significantly impact your return on investment.

There are a myriad of choices of finishing materials on the market, but one that is emerging as a growing trend is siding. Wood siding (originally called clapboard) dates back to the early 17th century, but the last few years have seen a modern-day resurgence in the use of siding. This is in no doubt due to the almost limitless options available with siding now, such as widths, profiles, textures and colors, to name a few, that make it so much more versatile than materials like brick or cement. Here are some of the trends to look for in today’s home siding.

Vertical Siding Applications

If you’ve looked at recent modern fence designs you’ve probably noticed a shift in popularity from vertical fences to horizontal screens. The opposite is happening with siding. While some vertical profiles like board and batten have been around for decades, more and more designs are incorporating vertical applications to create clean lines and striking accents. At The Decking Superstore we have a number of profiles that can be installed vertically (as well as horizontally and diagonally), that will create a stunning look- particularly around entryways and windows.

Siding Texture

Creativity in siding extends beyond just the orientation of the boards. Shape, and in particular, the texture of the siding is playing an emerging role. Some cement-composite products offer a texture that is close to real wood, but it’s hard to beat the range and natural look and feel of the real thing. Products like Western Red Cedar siding and Ipe siding have textures that can be both felt and seen and add another level of detail and depth to a home’s look and curb appeal. Softwoods like cedar range from a completely smooth textured face to what’s called rough sawn, in which the blade marks of the circle saw or band saw are left showing, to a rougher headed texture that is created in the milling process using roughened planing knives. 

Darker Colors and Accents

One of the big advantages of designing with siding is the wide range of color options available to you. Many composite siding products are manufactured in a variety of colors, so there’s no painting or staining required. Natural wood siding takes stains and finishes extremely well, so you have the versatility of finishing your home in literally any color you like. In recent years there has been a move toward darker tones, as well as contrasting dark hues with lighter colored finishing materials for a very dramatic effect. Many designers will also work with both natural and artificial lighting and the color of the siding to create incredibly eye-catching results.

Green Choices

With growing awareness and concern for global warming, making environmentally friendly choices is becoming more of a necessity than just a trend. Fortunately, many siding products are manufactured in a way that leaves a small carbon footprint, and some even help reduce greenhouse gases. Wood siding like Western Red Cedar is completely sustainable and actually stores carbon, and reforestation continues the carbon removal cycle, making it a very green choice. 

Mix and Match Siding Profiles

Incorporating different and even contrasting siding profiles onto your homes’ exterior is a fantastic way to emphasize architectural features like windows, entries, gables, and dormers. Although mixing and matching isn’t really a new trend, the variety of choices in materials, colors and profiles available today can make for some truly unique and stunning designs. While there’s really no limit on the ways you can mix siding, you will want to consider maintaining a coherent blend of shapes, sizes and your color palette so as to not stray from your home’s architectural style.

Without question there’s a lot to consider when it comes to siding and choosing what’s best for your home.  At The Decking Superstore we can help with professional advice on siding material and style, installation, and just about anything else you’ll need to create a finished look you’ll love for decades.

Ready to get started? Contact us at The Decking Superstore today.
*Photo credit for header image courtesy of:
Architect – Kim Smith + Bo Helliwell, Helliwell + Smith • Blue Sky Architecture and Photography – Heath Moffatt & Peter Powles Photography