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A home exterior before-and-after shows exactly how far the right exterior paint colour, a cleaner roofline, and smarter landscaping can carry a tired facade — on a brick ranch, a rendered semi, or a red-brick cottage alike.
Most of these makeovers lean on the cheapest, highest-impact moves first, so you can copy the look without a full renovation budget. Scroll the 42 home exterior before-and-after transformations below and watch for the single change that does the most work on each house.
What the Best Home Exterior Before-and-After Makeovers Have in Common
Across all 42 transformations below, the same handful of moves do most of the heavy lifting. If you change only a few things, make them these:
- Paint or render the walls. Whitewashing dated brick, smoothing tired pebbledash, or repainting a busy facade one clean colour is the single biggest before-and-after on almost every house.
- Sharpen the windows and doors. Black or anthracite frames and one bold front-door colour give a plain elevation the crisp grid it’s missing.
- Fix the roofline. A new charcoal roof, a steeper gable, or a small portico gives a flat house instant shape.
- Open the back up. Where the budget allows, a glazed rear extension or a wall of sliding doors turns a closed elevation into an indoor-outdoor room.
- Clean up the ground. Fresh paving, tidy planting, and a couple of oversized planters or lanterns finish the picture for very little money.
Most makeovers here combine two or three of these, not all five — so start with paint and the entry, then build up.
1. Black-and-White Exterior
Before: Basic Brick House Red brick with white trim and neat dormers, but the facade reads flat and dated. The shutters, narrow walkway, and landscaping are all original and overdue for an update.
After: Black-and-White Exterior Paint the brick crisp white and pick out the trim, shutters, and front door in black — the contrast alone modernizes a plain facade. The white body now frames the dormers, and black window trim adds the grid the house was missing. Widen the walkway and repeat clipped boxwood and topiary for symmetry that finishes the look.
2. Symmetrical White Facade
Before: Tired White-Render Detached White pebbledash render, a red-brick curved bay, and leaded windows — a solid detached house that reads tired. Flat grubby render, a dated balcony rail and up-and-over garage door, and a wide blank block-paved drive all pull it down.
After: Symmetrical White Facade Render the pebbledash smooth and paint it bright white, and a dated pebbledash facade turns crisp and modern-classic. Slim sash windows and a central portico with a soft grey panelled front door restore the symmetry the old bay broke. Matched bay topiary and black lanterns frame the entry.
3. Two-Storey Cottage Exterior
Before: Low Brick Ranch Painted pale brick, black shutters, and a low hipped roof mark this single-storey ranch. A straight red-brick path and flat foundation shrubs leave it looking modest and dated.
After: Two-Storey Cottage Exterior Add a second storey under a steep gabled roof and a modest ranch becomes a timeless English cottage without losing its character. White-painted brick, a natural wood door, and gas lanterns warm the facade, while a weathered wood-shingle roof and a new dormer give the upper floor true cottage proportions.
4. Shingle-Style Home Exterior
Before: Boxy White Colonial Painted white clapboard, black shutters, and an arched entry hood make a neat but ordinary two-storey colonial. A clipped hedge runs flat across the front, and the symmetrical facade sits low under mature trees.
After: Shingle-Style Home Exterior Extend a boxy colonial with a full-width columned porch and shingled wings, and a plain facade grows into a relaxed Shingle-style home. Natural cedar-shingle siding, white posts, and black windows replace the flat white clapboard, while layered boxwood and hydrangea beds ground the wider elevation.
5. Bright White-Brick Cottage
Before: Weathered Cape Cod Red brick, twin chimneys, and three gabled dormers give this Cape Cod good bones, but it reads dark and dated. A stained, mossy roof, tired wood steps, and overgrown foundation shrubs crowd the facade, and tall pines throw the whole front into shade.
After: Bright White-Brick Cottage Paint the dark brick a soft white and a shaded Cape Cod turns into a bright, coastal cottage. A new grey-blue shingle roof, a slim columned portico, and glass-panel double doors lift the entry, while clipped boxwood, hydrangeas, and blue-filled planters layer the neutral palette with texture.
Tip — painting or rendering brick. Painting brick is close to permanent, so test the undertone before you commit. Pink or salmon brick needs a warm off-white — a true white reads cold and chalky against it. Choose limewash over solid paint if you want a softer, breathable finish you can still see the texture through, and save smooth render or solid paint for a crisp, contemporary look.
6. White-Brick French Cottage
Before: Taupe Lap-Sided Ranch Taupe lap siding, white posts, and a dark shingle roof make a tidy but flat modern ranch. The mid-tone siding blends into the dusk, the arched entry and small windows read heavy, and thin foundation shrubs leave the front bare.
After: White-Brick French Cottage Reface flat lap siding with pale painted brick and steep gabled peaks, and a plain ranch reads as a French-country cottage. Light grey-white brick, an arched wood door, and black-framed windows lift the whole exterior, while a wide grey accent bay and clipped foundation shrubs give the long elevation rhythm.
7. Render-and-Cedar Facade
Before: Two-Tone Brick Semi Two tones of red brick, a mossy tiled roof, and white replacement windows mark this dated semi mid-renovation. The old dark-framed patio door and small openings sit awkwardly, and the front is bare earth with building materials stacked across it.
After: Render-and-Cedar Facade Render the mismatched brick smooth white and wrap the entry bay in cedar, and a patchwork semi reads as a sharp contemporary home. Anthracite-grey windows, a wide glazed surround, and a natural wood front door anchor the middle, while a pale gravel forecourt and grey planters keep the frontage clean.
8. Restored Bay With Glazed Extension
Before: Victorian End-Terrace Bay Yellow London stock brick, a two-storey canted bay, and painted stone banding give this end-of-terrace real period character, but it reads grubby and neglected. Soot-darkened brick, tired white sash windows, an overgrown boundary hedge, and a SOLD board leave the frontage looking dated.
After: Restored Bay With Glazed Extension Restore the period bay and slot a full-height glazed extension beside it, and a neglected Victorian keeps its character while gaining light and space. Cleaned stock brick, repainted white stone banding, and crisp sash windows revive the facade, while a steel-framed glass link and cedar entry door mark the addition as clearly new. A slate roof with rooflights and a low brick wall finish the frontage.
9. Clean Porcelain Courtyard
Before: Worn Terracotta Courtyard Red terracotta floor tiles, rendered boundary walls, and a shuttered window enclose this small rear courtyard, but the whole space reads tired. Damp-stained peeling paint, a stray blue water barrel, and a cracked, discoloured tiled floor leave it bare and unwelcoming.
After: Clean Porcelain Courtyard Lay large pale porcelain tiles across floor and threshold, and a dingy courtyard reads bright, calm, and modern. Fresh white render on the walls, a black-framed window, and a slim wall lantern sharpen the space, while a row of potted olives, dracaena, and grasses in raw-concrete planters adds all the green it was missing.
10. Smooth White-Render Detached
Before: Pebbledash-and-Brick Detached Grey pebbledash render over a red-brick ground floor, an arched entry, and a two-storey bay mark this detached house — but it reads dull and grey. Weathered render, a plain white garage door, mismatched windows, and a cracked concrete drive with leaf litter leave the frontage tired.
After: Smooth White-Render Detached Smooth the tired pebbledash and paint it white while leaving the red brick exposed below, and a grey pebbledash facade turns crisp and current. A deep navy arched front door, fresh white windows, and clipped bay topiary sharpen the entry, while a clean pale-gravel drive replaces the cracked concrete and opens up the frontage.
11. Repainted Heritage Weatherboard
Before: Peeling Weatherboard Cottage White weatherboard, a corrugated bullnose verandah, and a red-painted post-and-frame make a classic Edwardian cottage, but paint failure has taken over. Flaking boards, rust-streaked verandah iron, a dark security door, and bare, cracked front paths leave it looking neglected.
After: Repainted Heritage Weatherboard Repaint the whole cottage in a soft warm white and pick out the fretwork in the same tone, and a peeling facade reads calm and cared-for. A sage-green front door, restored verandah brackets, and a stained timber deck lift the entry, while a pale picket fence and clipped hedge give the frontage a clean, heritage-correct edge.
12. Glazed Barn Conversion
Before: Stone Barn Conversion Coursed honey-stone walls, a steep slate roof with new rooflights, and a wide central cart opening mark this traditional barn mid-conversion. New oak boarded doors are still being fitted on black strap hinges, weathered timber outbuildings flank each side, and a bare concrete yard fronts the whole range.
After: Glazed Barn Conversion Glaze the full-height cart opening in a black steel frame instead of solid doors, and a working barn becomes a home while keeping every bit of its character. The coursed stonework and slate roof stay untouched, black-clad and oak-framed doors mark the new entries, and a pale gravel courtyard with a long dining table and festoon lighting turns the yard into an outdoor room.
13. Landscaped Brick Cottage
Before: Dated Brick-Veneer Cottage Variegated red-brown brick veneer, a faded terracotta-tiled roof, and cream timber windows date this low single-storey cottage. A spindly front tree, patchy foundation shrubs, a cracked concrete path, and a tired lawn leave the frontage looking neglected.
After: Landscaped Brick Cottage Leave the brick alone and rework the whole front garden instead, and a dated cottage reads intentional without a drop of render. Black-painted window trim sharpens the retained brick, while a checkerboard path of pale pavers set into planting, silvery drought-tolerant beds, and warm uplighting do all the work at dusk.
14. Crisp White Cape With Navy Shutters
Before: Grey-Shingled Dormer Cape Grey shingle siding, white trim, and a row of gabled dormers give this Cape good bones, but it reads flat and dated. A pink front door, a plain white spindle rail, a cracked asphalt drive, and a renovation skip parked out front leave the frontage looking mid-project and tired.
After: Crisp White Cape With Navy Shutters Brighten the grey shingle to a warm white and add navy shutters and window boxes, and a flat Cape turns sharp and classic. A new gabled portico frames the entry, dark shutters pull the dormers together, and the pink front door stays — proof one bold colour reads better against a clean white facade. A fresh dark driveway and clipped bay topiary finish it.
15. Restored Two-Tone Farmhouse
Before: Stripped Timber Farmhouse Weathered clapboard and board-and-batten siding, a tall brick chimney, and a wraparound porch mark this two-storey timber farmhouse mid-restoration. Bare, silvered timber stripped of old paint, peeling sash windows, and a rough dirt-and-leaf yard leave it looking abandoned rather than underway.
After: Restored Two-Tone Farmhouse Keep the original clapboard and repaint it crisp white with sage-green trim, and a derelict farmhouse revives without losing its period character. Restored sash windows, decorative gable timbering, and a rebuilt red-brick porch base honour the original exterior detailing, while the deep green picks out the eaves and window frames.
16. Painted-Brick Gabled Cottage
Before: Dark-Roofed Brick Ranch Red brick, a beige board-and-batten gable, and dark shutters give this single-storey ranch decent structure, but it reads dim and dated. A moss-stained roof, a tight columned entry with brass carriage lights, a leaded storm door, and a leaf-buried front bed leave the facade gloomy.
After: Painted-Brick Gabled Cottage Coat the dated brick in a soft warm cream and steepen the roofline into pointed gables, and a dim ranch reads as a crisp painted-brick cottage. An arched portico with a black gas lantern, a stained-wood door, and a bluestone path lift the entry, while clipped boxwood and seasonal planters carry a once-bare front.
17. Cotswold-Stone Rear
Before: Mismatched Chalet Bungalow White-painted brick on one wing, buff stone on a tall central gable, and white windows mark this dated chalet bungalow mid-renovation. Patchy render, mismatched materials, and a bare drive with a works van and site toilet leave the elevation looking unfinished.
After: Cotswold-Stone Rear Clad the mismatched walls in coursed honey Cotswold stone and glaze the ground floor with black-framed bifold doors, and a patchy chalet reads as a warm, contemporary home. Pale grey-clad dormers and a dark tiled roof sit above, while a wide cream travertine terrace pushes the living space outdoors.
18. Lightened Tudor-Style Exterior
Before: Dark Mock-Tudor Detached Red brick, dark-stained mock-Tudor timbering, and leaded windows date this detached house, and the heavy brown woodwork drags it down. A brown-tiled roof, stained fascias, a dark timber front door, and a wide bare gravel drive leave the frontage gloomy despite good proportions.
After: Lightened Tudor-Style Exterior Restain the heavy timbering a warm mid-oak and swap the leaded panes for clean white casements, and a gloomy Tudor-style facade reads brighter and current. White windows and a soft grey glazed door lift the red brick, while a raised brick planter and pale resin-bound drive replace the bare gravel.
19. Moody Near-Black Victorian
Before: Yellow Victorian Cottage Pale yellow clapboard and shingle, white gingerbread trim, and a decorative gabled porch give this two-storey Victorian real character, but it reads faded and overgrown. Peeling paint, a climbing vine swallowing one corner, patchy shrubs, and a mossy path leave the frontage tired.
After: Moody Near-Black Victorian Paint an ornate Victorian a single near-black and the gingerbread trim reads as sculpture instead of fuss. Tonal charcoal on the body, spindles, and brackets unifies the busy Victorian facade, while a standing-seam metal roof and terracotta-brick porch base add warmth. Clipped ferns in stone urns keep the entry simple.
20. Clean White-Render Cottage
Before: Grubby Rendered Cottage White painted render, dark green shutters, and a green half-glazed stable door give this cottage-style house good character, but the render reads dirty and streaked. Algae staining down the walls, a dated dormer, and heavy foundation shrubs leave the facade looking tired in the low light.
After: Clean White-Render Cottage Wash and repaint the streaked render bright white, then pick out the shutters and stable door in a soft sage green, and a grubby cottage reads fresh and timeless. Crisp white walls lift the whole elevation, while a flagstone entry, clipped boxwood parterre, and layered potted greenery frame the arched door.
Tip — where to spend first. Do the cheap, high-visibility changes before the big ones. Fresh body colour, a new door colour, updated light fixtures, and house numbers cost little and show up in every photo — commit to a new roof or siding only once those are done. Match each move to the home’s real architecture, not the trend of the moment, or the “after” dates fast.
21. Brick Extension With Sliding Glass
Before: Half-Rendered Terrace Rear Yellow-render walls part-finished, London stock brick behind, and a white French door mark this terrace rear mid-build. A raw concrete patio strewn with tools and materials, a bare boundary, and a timber pergola frame going up leave the whole garden a working site.
After: Brick Extension With Sliding Glass Add a pitched-roof brick extension with a wide sliding-glass wall, and a half-built terrace rear becomes a bright indoor-outdoor space. Warm reclaimed-style brick ties the addition to the neighbouring stock, while a raised porcelain terrace, built-in kamado bench, and potted olives make the small garden usable.
22. Restored Fieldstone With Garden Room
Before: Neglected Fieldstone House Rough coursed fieldstone, a steep gambrel-style roof with a gabled dormer, and multipane sash windows give this fieldstone residence real historic character, but it reads neglected. Peeling white window frames, a dilapidated glazed sunroom, and an overgrown, leaf-strewn stone terrace leave the rear looking abandoned.
After: Restored Fieldstone With Garden Room Repoint the historic fieldstone and rebuild the failing sunroom as a crisp painted-timber garden room, and a neglected fieldstone house reads restored and alive. A new slate roof with standing-seam copper, black-shuttered sash windows, and a pale shingled wing frame the stone centre, while boxwood beds and a terrace dining area ground the rear.
23. New England-Style Detached
Before: Dated Tile-Hung Detached Buff-brick ground floor, a broad tile-hung roof, and a bulky white-boarded box dormer date this detached house. Small dark windows, a heavy monopitch porch, and a plain block-paved drive under overhanging trees leave the facade flat and dark.
After: New England-Style Detached Clad the upper storey in soft greige weatherboard and paint the ground floor crisp white, and a dark, dated box reads as a bright New England-style home. Fresh white shutters, glazed doors, and a slim central portico lift the entry, while a pale gravel drive and clipped lavender edge replace the old block paving.
24. Double-Storey Extension Rear
Before: Brick Detached Rear Red brick, a hipped tiled roof, and white replacement windows mark this brick detached rear before work. A small single-storey projection, mismatched patio doors, and a lawn strewn with steel lintels and paving leave the elevation cramped and mid-renovation.
After: Double-Storey Extension Rear Extend upward with a matching double-storey rear addition, and a cramped elevation gains space while keeping its period character. New brick and a hipped roof tie into the original so the join barely reads, while white French doors, a rooflit single-storey link, and a clean porcelain terrace with potted olives open the house to the garden.
25. White Scandi-Barn Frontage
Before: Dated Terrace Frontage Cream render, dark timber-trimmed balconies, and a shallow cantilevered porch mark this two-storey linked terrace house, but it reads dated and cluttered. Grubby walls, an open carport crowded with vehicles, exposed utility units, and a bare paved forecourt leave the frontage messy.
After: White Scandi-Barn Frontage Reclad the porch bay in a crisp white gable and pale brick, and a cluttered terrace front reads calm and modern. A vertical-batten gable, black-framed glazing, and a natural-wood pivot door lift the entry, while a resurfaced forecourt, white planters, and concealed uplighting turn a messy carport into a clean arrival.
26. Soft-Grey Clapboard Cottage
Before: Plain White-Clapboard Cottage White clapboard, black shutters, and a broad central brick chimney give this low cottage tidy bones, but it reads plain and neglected. A dated metal porch awning, peeling trim, a sagging roofline, and a bare leaf-strewn yard leave the frontage looking tired.
After: Soft-Grey Clapboard Cottage Reside the cottage in soft grey-green lap siding and pull off the dated awning, and a plain facade reads calm and current. Fresh black shutters and white window trim sharpen the retained brick chimney, while a new architectural-shingle roof and a tidy mulched bed with brick-edged path lift the once-bare front.
27. Extended Bay-Fronted Semi
Before: Bay-Fronted Brick Semi Red brick, a two-storey square bay, and leaded bay windows date this bay-fronted semi, and the frontage reads tired. A brown-tiled roof, an ivy-covered flat-roof garage, mismatched windows, and an overgrown front garden behind a low brick wall leave it looking neglected — SOLD board still up.
After: Extended Bay-Fronted Semi Raise a matching-brick loft dormer and convert the tired garage into living space, and a dated semi gains storeys of room while keeping its bay-fronted character. New white shutter-style windows, a sage-green front door, and clean block paving with a planted border replace the ivy and overgrowth, and the brickwork ties old to new seamlessly.
28. Oak-Framed Garden Room
Before: Cottage With Dated Conservatory Red brick, a steep tiled roof, and a hipped dormer give this country cottage solid character, but the rear reads tired. A white uPVC Victorian-style conservatory, a plain glazed back door, a satellite dish, and patchy worn paving leave the elevation dated.
After: Oak-Framed Garden Room Replace the tired uPVC conservatory with an oak-framed garden room under a glazed roof lantern, and a dated rear becomes a warm, light-filled extension. Natural oak posts, full-height glazing, and bifold doors open onto a resurfaced terrace, while new flower beds and a rattan dining set turn the cottage garden into an outdoor room.
29. Rendered Chalet Bungalow
Before: Sprawling Dark-Brick Bungalow Dark brown brick, a wide low-pitched roof, and small dated windows spread this long dormer bungalow long and flat across its plot. A heavily moss-stained roof, an overgrown shrub border, and a cracked leaf-strewn drive under a low tree canopy leave the whole frontage dim and neglected.
After: Rendered Chalet Bungalow Skim the dark brick with a soft off-white render and add a pitched oak porch, and a dim bungalow reads as a bright, welcoming chalet. Grey-framed windows and shutters, a natural-wood door, and cleaned tile-hung dormers lift the long facade, while lavender and allium borders and clean block paving replace the overgrowth.
30. Black-and-White Rendered Semi
Before: Rendered Semi With Garage Grubby white pebbledash render over a red-brick ground floor, a two-storey bay, and a projecting garage extension mark this semi. Algae-streaked render, a mismatched white front door, tired windows, and a cracked crazy-paving forecourt leave the frontage looking dated.
After: Black-and-White Rendered Semi Smooth the tired render bright white and pick out every window, the garage, and the front door in black, and a dated semi turns sharp and high-contrast. Crisp white walls reset the two-storey bay, black-framed windows add a bold grid, and clean block paving replaces the crazy-paving forecourt.
31. Modern Farmhouse Exterior
Before: Plain White Ranch White clapboard, black shutters, and an attached double garage make a sound but plain single-storey ranch. A low dark roofline, small windows, a dated storm door, and a bare lawn under mature trees leave it modest and characterless.
After: Modern Farmhouse Exterior Reclad the ranch in white board-and-batten and add a black-framed gabled glass bay, and a plain single-storey home gains real modern-farmhouse presence. A dark standing-seam roof, a wood-post entry canopy, and a black door sharpen the long facade, while white rose borders and gravel edging replace the bare lawn.
32. Unified Painted-Brick Facade
Before: Brick-and-Stone Entry Tower Tan brick, a full-height mixed-stone entry tower, and an arched wood door give this large two-storey home a heavy, busy facade. Dark iron carriage lanterns, a steep hipped roof, and a mixed material palette leave the front feeling dated and top-heavy despite fresh foundation planting.
After: Unified Painted-Brick Facade Unify the busy brick and stone under one soft creamy white, and a heavy, mixed-material facade reads calm and current. Painting the tan brick and stone tower the same warm tone lets the arched entry, dark lanterns, and steep roofline read as features, while a brick path and clipped low planting settle the front.
33. Bluestone Terrace Rear
Before: Dark-Sided Rear Porch Dark grey lap siding, white trim, and a two-storey screened porch mark this tall three-storey home mid-renovation. A worn timber deck being torn out, a dated screened enclosure, and a sloping, patchy back lawn leave the rear looking tired and mid-project.
After: Bluestone Terrace Rear Swap the worn deck for a wide bluestone terrace and open the porch to a rail balcony, and a mid-project rear becomes a finished outdoor room. Retained charcoal siding and white trim read crisp against the pale stone, while festoon lighting, powder-green dining chairs, and fresh mulched borders make the sloped garden usable.
34. Brick Home With Oak Gable
Before: Tired Pebbledash Bungalow Grey pebbledash render, a dark tiled roof, and small dated windows mark this low dormer bungalow. A crumbling porch, a cluttered flat-roof garage, overgrown boundary shrubs, and bin-strewn hardstanding leave the whole frontage neglected and dark.
After: Brick Home With Oak Gable Reface the dull render in warm brick and open the main gable with a full-height oak-framed glass wall, and a dark bungalow becomes a bright, characterful home. A raised oak entry porch, black-framed windows, and cleaned tile-hung dormers lift the elevation, while block paving and cottage-garden borders replace the old hardstanding.
Tip — choosing an exterior white or off-white. Whites shift hard outdoors under open sky, so test big swatches on more than one elevation before you commit. A north-facing wall reads cooler and wants a warmer, softer white; a bright south-facing wall can take a crisper one without going stark. Aim for a light reflectance value (LRV) in the high 70s to low 80s for a soft, liveable white — anything near 90 can glare in full sun.
35. White Transitional Estate
Before: Gutted Brick Colonial Red brick, three storeys of symmetrical sash windows, and a row of pedimented roof dormers give this colonial real grandeur, but it sits mid-gut-renovation. A stripped central entry open to the frame, patched brickwork, excavators, and skips across a brick forecourt leave the facade raw and unfinished.
After: White Transitional Estate Refresh the brick in soft white and rebuild the entry as a two-storey columned portico, and a raw colonial shell reads as a polished transitional estate. Black-framed windows, dark shutters, and a glazed double door sharpen the pale facade, while clipped hedging and a banded paver motor court finish the grand approach.
36. Flat-Roof Glazed Extension
Before: Rendered House With Conservatory White painted render, a hipped tiled roof, and full-height rear windows mark this detached house, but the back reads dated. A white uPVC Victorian-style conservatory, worn patio slabs, and clipped box balls edging a plain lawn leave the elevation looking tired.
After: Flat-Roof Glazed Extension Trade the dated conservatory for a flat-roofed rendered extension with full-width bifold doors, and a tired rear becomes an open-plan living space. Crisp white render ties the addition to the house, while a wide porcelain terrace, potted bay trees, and a rattan lounge set turn the garden into a proper outdoor room.
37. Crisp White-Render Semi
Before: Brick Semi Mid-Refurb Red brick, a low tiled entrance canopy, and a half-height brick porch wall mark this semi partway through refurbishment. New anthracite-grey windows and a black composite door are already fitted, but stripped-out white doors, rubble, and building bags heaped across the front leave it clearly mid-project.
After: Crisp White-Render Semi Coat the red brick in smooth white render against the new anthracite windows, and a mid-refurb semi turns sharp and high-contrast. The white walls throw the black door, frames, and tiled canopy into relief, while bay topiary and a cleared block-paved drive finish a once-cluttered front.
38. Contemporary Brick-and-Render Facade
Before: Render-and-Brick Bay Detached Grey roughcast render over a red-brick ground floor, a two-storey curved bay, and an arched brick entry give this detached house dated bones. Deep-red timber garage doors and French doors, mismatched windows, and a crazy-paving drive leave the frontage looking tired despite good proportions.
After: Contemporary Brick-and-Render Facade Rebuild the dated bay into a flat contemporary front with an integral garage and full-height glazing, and a tired detached house reads sharp and modern. A red-brick base, white-render upper storey, and anthracite windows and door replace the old render-and-red-door mix, while clean tarmac and block-paved edging finish the drive.
39. Painted Brick With Oak Porch
Before: Tile-Hung Brick Terrace Dark red-brown brick, first-floor hanging tiles, and white uPVC windows mark this linked terrace house. A boxy white plastic porch, a plain slab door, and overgrown shrubs crowding the entry leave the frontage dated and closed-in.
After: Painted Brick With Oak Porch Brighten the dark brick to soft white and replace the plastic porch with an open oak-framed one, and a closed-in entry reads warm and welcoming. A sage-green glazed door, retained hanging tiles above, and potted herbs with a stacked-log store lift the approach, while the white brick brightens the whole ground floor.
40. Rendered Rear With Bifold Extension
Before: Stripped Semi Mid-Build White painted render being hacked back to bare brick, a tall chimney stack, and a small side projection mark this semi mid-renovation. Patchy exposed brickwork, a propped temporary flue, a mismatched extension, and a plot cleared to rubble leave the whole elevation raw and unfinished.
After: Rendered Rear With Bifold Extension Finish the stripped walls in warm off-white render and add a single-storey rear extension with full-width bifold doors, and a building site becomes a bright living space. Black-framed glazing and industrial pendant lights sharpen the render, while a wide porcelain terrace and rattan lounge set open the house onto the garden.
41. White-Render With Black Windows
Before: Pebbledash Bay-Fronted Detached Grey pebbledash render over a red-brick base, a two-storey square bay, and a hipped tiled roof mark this bay-fronted detached. Grubby, cracked render, a sagging porch canopy over a yellow door, tired white windows, and an overgrown weed-strewn front garden leave the frontage neglected.
After: White-Render With Black Windows Skim the tired pebbledash to bright white render and pick out the windows and door in black, and a neglected bay-fronted house reads sharp and contemporary. A new loft gable with rooflights, a tiled porch canopy, and a sculptural black entry door lift the front, while clean grey resin paving replaces the overgrown garden.
42. Cream-Render Cottage-Style Front
Before: Pebbledash Detached With Garage Coarse grey pebbledash render, a two-storey square bay, and a brick garage extension mark this detached house. Dated leaded windows, a wood door under a shallow canopy, a plain white garage door, and a wide block-paved drive leave the frontage flat and dated.
After: Cream-Render Cottage-Style Front Cover the coarse pebbledash with smooth cream render and pick out the front and side doors in green and plum, and a flat facade gains cottage charm. Fresh white windows, wall-trained climbers framing the openings, and a gas lantern over the green front door warm the entry, while the garage reads recessive in matching cream.
Home Exterior Before-and-After: FAQ
Which exterior makeover adds the most home value?
A new roof and fresh siding or paint return the most — industry ROI data consistently ranks exterior projects above interior remodels — because buyers read them as proof the house has been cared for. A new garage door and a mid-priced steel entry door are two of the highest-return upgrades of all, and if resale is your aim it’s worth knowing which exterior paint colours add the most value before you pick a palette. Simple landscaping and clean walkways round out the cheap, high-impact moves.
How much does an exterior home makeover cost?
Most exterior makeovers fall into three bands. A cosmetic refresh — paint, a new door, tidied landscaping — usually runs about $10,000 to $25,000, a mid-range remodel roughly $25,000 to $60,000, and a full envelope upgrade $60,000 and up. The single biggest line is almost always the roof, commonly $8,000 to $30,000 or more depending on size and pitch. Costs currently sit well above a few years ago, so build in a contingency.
How do you make an old house look modern?
Start by removing the fussy parts — faux cladding, ornate trim, and dated shutters — so the house reads as clean, simple shapes. Then simplify the colour scheme to one body tone with crisp trim, switch window and door frames to black for a sharp modern grid, and add natural materials like wood or stone for warmth. New lighting and a bold front door finish it.
What’s the cheapest change with the biggest impact?
Paint. A fresh coat on the body — or just a saturated front door colour — resets a tired facade for the price of a few quarts. Pair it with oversized light fixtures, new house numbers, a pressure-washed drive, and a tidy layer of foundation planting, and you get a real before-and-after without touching the structure.
Should you paint or render brick in a makeover?
Painting or rendering brick is one of the most dramatic changes you can make, but it’s close to permanent, so test the undertone first. Pink or salmon brick needs a warm off-white rather than a stark white that reads cold against it. If you want a softer, breathable finish you can still see the texture through, choose limewash over solid paint.
