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Trendy vs. Timeless Siding
As one of the premier siding companies Twin Cities homeowners and contractors trust to bring their siding design ideas to life, the professionals at DERCON are your go-to experts on exterior home design trends. We’re experienced in working with all kinds of homes, style preferences and budgets, and we’re passionate about helping our customers choose the right materials for their projects and needs. For some customers, that includes making a decision between trendy siding and timeless siding.
The exterior home design trends 2023 has brought to the forefront all champion an organic, nature-inspired aesthetic full of versatile natural hues, wood-look finishes and eco-friendly materials. For siding, this translates to sustainable choices like vinyl, and color palettes that blend seamlessly with nature. Whether these trends are right for you and your home is ultimately up to you to decide — but to help you navigate the choice between trendy and timeless siding, the experts at DERCON have put together a primer on both.
Read on to explore the pros and cons of trendy siding vs. timeless siding styles!
Trends vs. Timeless
Before we can talk about the pros and cons of trendy siding choices over timeless siding design ideas, we should define each category. In 2023, hot siding design trends include wood-look and eco-friendly vinyl siding, and color palettes that lean natural and dark, featuring soft grays, creamy off-whites, charcoal hues, dark greens and other earth-tones.
These trends contrast with tried-and-true classic siding options, which are more straightforward and simple in their style. Siding that is considered “timeless” are often non-textured vinyl; the most popular siding color for homeowners is a crisp, bright white. Other timeless siding colors include basics like ivory, beige, taupe, gray, and brick red. Vinyl siding is the most popular choice of siding material, with wood and brick siding filling out the top three.
Trendy Siding: Pros
This year’s siding trends have a lot to offer the savvy and stylish homeowner. Vinyl siding is affordable and sustainable, and wood-look options are popular among homeowners who want the aesthetic of natural wood without the necessary upkeep. Molded with wood-like textures and color variations, some wood-look vinyl siding is virtually indistinguishable from actual wood siding at a distance. Like all vinyl siding, wood-look siding is remarkably low-maintenance, and is a sustainable option, as it is manufactured with recycled materials.
As for 2023’s trendy color palettes, gray and moody dark greens are both rapidly rising in popularity and make compelling arguments as to their benefits. Soft gray tones are versatile and can blend well with a variety of architectural styles and design elements. Gray is as low-maintenance as it is modern and chic, so it’s a great choice for homeowners who care about aesthetics but don’t want to invest much time into upkeep.
Similarly, darker siding colors like forest green and stone-toned navy are trending in a big way. These colors add curb appeal and make homes stand out from neighbors who have chosen more classic hues, but they also nod to nature and blend well with design and landscaping elements. Trendy siding colors that veer away from neutral are not necessarily for the faint of heart, but homeowners who value their eye for flair will love this new era of exterior home design.
Trendy Siding: Cons
The biggest con to any trend is just that: They’re trends, and trends come and go. What’s popular today may not be tomorrow, so by choosing a trendy siding option, you’re rolling the dice on its long-term curb appeal.
Admittedly, it’s hard to argue against the benefits of trends like wood-look vinyl siding, from its sustainability to its low price point to its minimal maintenance and upkeep. Still, if you love the natural beauty of real wood or the staid Colonial sensibility of brick, vinyl siding may not scratch that aesthetic itch in quite the same way.
Unique siding colors are the riskiest trend of the bunch by far. Selecting 2023’s hottest siding color may seem like a great choice now, but it could affect your resale audience and value in a very real way in the decades to come. If you’re indecisive, prone to changing your mind, or worried about loving your home’s exterior forever, it may be wise to ignore what’s trending and go with your gut instead.
Timeless Siding: Pros
Timeless siding options are timeless for a reason: They are solid, classic styles that never waver in their appeal, regardless of how the trend tides ebb and flow. Clean white, subtle beige, light gray, brick red and mild blue — these siding colors are inoffensive and universally liked, sure to please even the pickiest and most opinionated mother-in-law or HOA. They blend well with most architectural styles and landscaping, and will not date your home to a particular moment in time.
With timeless siding, you eliminate the risk that your color or texture choice will soon be unpopular. With any luck, you won’t be replacing your siding for many years, so selecting a reliable classic ensures you won’t be cursing your choice this time next year. When you’re ready to sell your home, your timeless siding won’t scare off potential buyers. Instead, they’ll appreciate the classic curb appeal and be more likely to successfully imagine your house as their future home.
As for siding materials, vinyl is both popular and timeless, offering durabile, maintenance-free siding that pleases both the trend-chasers and fans of the classics. Wood siding offers natural beauty, while brick has quite literally stood the test of time and lends a distinctly American feel to home exteriors.
Timeless Siding: Cons
Timeless siding doesn’t offer many options to homeowners looking for something out-of-the-box. Neutral shades like white, beige and gray may seem boring to some, but that’s by design; it’s their lack of character that allows them to stand the test of time. Still, it’s true that the most classic and popular siding styles don’t allow much room for creativity, and they may not necessarily be the best choice for uber-modern homes or homeowners dead-set on unique colors.
Wood siding, while classic, will not be the best choice for homeowners looking for a low-cost, low maintenance exterior. Wood requires periodic maintenance, is susceptible to rodent and insect damage, and can quickly become expensive, especially when painting or staining costs are taken into account.
Brick, on the other hand, is lower-maintenance than wood and less susceptible to damage from the elements, but it requires a membrane to be installed between the brick veneer and the house to protect the structure from water penetration. Brick installation is also quite labor intensive, so it will likely be the most expensive of the “timeless” options.
Can trendy be timeless?
Yes! As you’ve undoubtedly noticed, several of 2023’s top exterior home design trends are also timeless choices for the discerning and stylish homeowner. Vinyl is the top choice for value, performance and maintenance — the same qualities that make it utterly timeless. Likewise, 2023’s hottest colors like earth-tones, soft grays and off-whites all fall under the “timeless” umbrella. Today’s expansive building materials market makes it possible for homeowners to have the best of both worlds when it comes to trendy vs. timeless siding and other exterior elements.
If you’re looking to strike that perfect balance but don’t know where to start, consider reaching out to the knowledgeable DERCON team. As your local home design experts, we’re well-versed in both today’s hottest trends and the classic looks that last a lifetime.
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