Outdoor renovations, especially in Calgary, tend to take the backseat next to interior renovations, since homeowners often prioritize dramatic interior upgrades over the home exterior and backyard. Exterior renovations serve multiple purposes, though, including improving your living space.
Outdoor living trends and changing exterior styles give homeowners many options to match the exterior to their dream home. Exterior renovations also strengthen your home’s curb appeal, which impresses house guests before they even walk in. Ultimate Renovations, a 12-time “Renovator of the Year” in Calgary, covers exterior renovation trends in design, materials, and colours in this guide.
Outdoor Living Spaces Lead Exterior Design Trends
Outdoor living spaces in Calgary top this trends list, as Calgarians increasingly recognize the opportunity these spaces create. An outdoor living room offers more than seating, since the room can include a full range of outdoor living elements like a wood fire oven and a barbecue cooktop. Builders can set the cooktop into tiled stone, brick, or cement countertops. Overhanging trellises or a fully roofed shelter can then surround a patio with seating.
Outdoor Living Spaces Can Work in All Four Seasons
An outdoor living space dramatically transforms your yard, so homeowners should plan the project carefully. Homeowners can learn how the renovation process works before breaking ground. Like any renovation, an outdoor living space is also an investment in your property. Still, the patio living and entertaining you dream about is possible. The right mix of design features and materials lets you enjoy the space through all four Calgary seasons.
Mixed Materials Replace Themed Exterior Styles
Mixed materials design is a growing exterior trend in 2022. Mixed materials design helps a renovation look unique. Merged or composite styles can come from a novel combination of complementary materials.
Homeowners can pair mixed materials with the exterior colour trends for dark trim below to create a striking exterior for curb appeal or a backyard living space. Thematic trends like the farmhouse look are declining on both the exterior and interior, taking a back seat in 2022 overall. Instead, the 2022 approach mixes quality materials for varied textures and strong colour contrasts.
Exterior Renovation Trends in Materials
Four exterior materials shaped 2022 renovation trends.
Painted brick
- Trend status
- Painted brick is a rising exterior aesthetic.
- Popular shades
- Light and white brick shades stand out most.
- Texture
- Paint brings out rich brick texture visible from afar.
- Colour coordination
- Painting brick in a complementary colour keeps the exterior on a strict colour scheme.
Stone cladding
- Trend status
- Stone exteriors have stayed popular for years.
- Texture – declining
- Rougher stone textures are losing popularity.
- Texture – recommended
- Smoother stone cladding suits current tastes.
Copper and bronze accents
- Trend status
- Warmer colours are gaining traction, which favours copper accents for outdoor living spaces.
- Calgary weather
- Copper and bronze handle Calgary weather better than gold or brass.
- Patina
- Copper and bronze develop a patina as the metals oxidize.
- Gold and brass
- Gold and brass finishes flake off outdoors and work best indoors.
Natural wood siding
- Uses
- Natural wood suits siding or overhanging trellises.
- Unpainted
- Natural wood stands out without paint.
- Painted
- Painted wood can complement your chosen colour palette.
Dark Trim Accents Define Exterior Colour Trends
Dark accents are a growing exterior trend, especially black, navy blue, or charcoal soffit and fascia. The same colours on bannisters, door trim, or window trim can further complement the scheme for a rich aesthetic. Browse the Ultimate Renovations gallery of Calgary renovation project photos for more exterior examples.
Earth and Sky Palettes Dominate Exterior Colours
The dominant exterior colour palettes of 2022 draw on the earth or the sky, with rich, dark browns, verdant greens, and stark patinas growing strong. Black and charcoal accents pair well with navy blues.
Warm White Exteriors Pair With Black Trim
The night sky inspires contrasting exterior shades. Exterior whites now favour warmer tones over cooler ones. Warm white exteriors with black trim are beginning to define trendy curb appeal just as much as palettes inspired by earth and sea. Look for inspiration in the most meaningful places, and you can create your own trendy colour palette. Call Ultimate Renovations to speak with residential home designers in Calgary about your colour palette.
Ultimate Renovations is a 12-time “Renovator of the Year” in Calgary. The company’s mission is to bring your home to life. For over 42 years, the company has built its reputation as the industry’s elite team of Calgary contractors for full home renovations in the Calgary area, thanks to quality craftsmanship, superior customer service, and a record of exceeding expectations. Contact the team at (403) 287-3122.