Rustic Home Exteriors: 19 Ideas to Inspire

The exterior of your home is the first thing people see when they arrive. Therefore, you want your home's exterior to make a statement, and you need the right design idea to create your perfect exterior. There are countless styles to consider, but one that has been popular for generations is the classic, rustic home style.

Rustic style homes have long been a popular style, drawing from nature through the use of natural materials and colors, both inside and out. Even the simplest of rustic style home exteriors can create a warm, inviting atmosphere for you and your visitors.

19 Rustic Exterior House Design Ideas

The great benefit of rustic homes is that there are countless possible exterior house design ideas to consider. 

Here are seven great ideas to consider for your rustic home exterior design.

1. Choose Synthetic Wood Shingles

When people think of rustic style homes, they usually all have one thing in common: real wood. But these days, people are looking for safer and more environmentally friendly building materials for their homes. That doesn't mean you can’t have the rustic look of wood, however. If you are considering alternatives to natural cedar shakes or wood shakes you may want to check out synthetic wood shingles.

2. Use Wood Shingles as Siding

For a really rustic look, you can cover your whole home in wood or synthetic wood shingles. Whether you make them different colors or one single color, a fully wood-shingled house can create quite an image. By using the shingles everywhere, there is no question of whether or not it’s a rustic home.

Darker wood shingles can create a powerful image, especially when contrasted with white trim. Lighter wood shingles can offer an equally powerful and warm look, that is much more classic.

3. Create Contrast

Creating contrast is another of the rustic exterior house design ideas to consider. By creating contrast, you are making a clear distinction between the roof and the rest of the home. It also makes it more of a classic design, since the contrast will be a simpler, more straightforward look.

One of the most popular ways to create contrast is to have a darker roof, paired with white or light-colored siding or paint on the sides.

4. Mix Wood and Stone

While wood is one of the stars of rustic home exteriors, it is not the only material you are likely to see. Another very popular material you can use for a rustic style home is stone.

Stone is a material that people have used since medieval times, and while it can seem cold, when done right it is warm and inviting. One great way to help warm up a stone exterior is by combining it with wood. The stone can be an accent piece, while the rest of the home's exterior is finished with wood panel or shingle siding.

5. Sharp Rooflines

Rustic homes are popular all over, but they are favored in Northern areas, where people design them as mountain-style homes. These homes are known partly for their roofs–the roofs are more angular, to prevent snow from piling up and adding weight to the home.

While this is, first and foremost, a safety consideration, it does not mean it cannot also work for rustic exterior house design ideas. Sharp, angular rooflines create a unique look that helps homes to stand out from the rest.

6. Add Lots of Windows

While it is not necessarily an idea unique to rustic home exteriors, adding lots of windows is a great design idea for rustic homes. Rustic homes are usually in beautiful locations, with amazing views that you won't want to miss. But, of course, you cannot just live outside all the time to enjoy those views.

You can, however, install large, open windows facing your property's view. Having plenty of windows–even in the form of a window wall–means you will have no problem enjoying the views from any part of your home.

7. Go With a Unique Home Shape

While rustic home exterior design usually makes you think of a traditional style, you can still get creative. While cabin-style homes are common, consider something a little more unique in terms of the shape of your home.

You can choose a modular-like design, where the home has sections of varying sizes. Or, try a fairy tale-like home with rounded accent areas and a little tower for a design that will really stand out.

When it comes to the shape of your home, there are countless possibilities. Of course, you need to ensure the design is practical and meets HOA and area guidelines.

8. Use More Than One Shingle Color

For a true rustic statement, combine sharp rooflines, big windows, and unique architectural features like exposed beams or cross-bracing. These elements not only add to the home’s structural integrity but also enhance its rustic charm.

9. Combine Big Windows with Sharp Rooflines and Unique Features

Sharp rooflines have a way of making a home feel more rustic. But, when combined with a rustic color like brown shingle roofing, as well as big, traditional-style windows and unique features like cross bracing that serves as an architectural addition, you can effortlessly achieve the rustic look you’re going for. 

10. Tri-Color Exterior

By making your whole roof one uniform color, the middle part of your home’s exterior another uniform color, and the foundation part of the exterior another color, you can achieve the tri-color flag look. This look appears especially rustic when using neutral colors like white, brown, and dark brown.

11. Big Wooden Decks

A large wooden deck is a staple of rustic home design. Whether it wraps around the entire house or serves as a cozy back porch, wood decks enhance the rustic aesthetic while providing the perfect spot to enjoy the outdoors.

12. Neutral-Colored Towers with Wooden Bay Doors

A tower with neutral colors paired with wooden bay doors offers a striking, rustic look. The neutral tones highlight the natural beauty of the wood, creating an inviting entrance or focal point for your home’s exterior.

13. Steep, Sharp Roofs with Stone Siding

Pair steep, sharp roofs with stone siding to amplify your home’s rustic appeal. The combination of natural materials like stone and rustic-colored shingles creates a timeless look that blends beautifully with wooded landscapes.

14. Exposed Trusses with Multi-Colored Shingles

Exposed trusses add a rugged, structural element to your rustic design. When paired with multi-colored shingles and stone accents, they complete the rustic aesthetic and add architectural interest.

15. Uniform Light-Brown Shake Siding with Grey Roof

A light-brown cedar shake siding paired with a gray roof creates a clean, uniform look that captures the rustic charm while maintaining a modern edge. The contrast between the warm siding and the cool-toned roof offers a balanced, appealing exterior.

16. Dark Brown Shake Siding with Stone Foundation and Grey Roof

This design combines dark brown shake siding, a stone foundation, and a gray roof for a rich, earthy look. The contrast between the materials and colors adds depth while maintaining a cohesive rustic style.

17. Dark Brown Roof with Light Brown Siding and Light Colored Stone Foundation

Here we have a reverse color escalation, starting with a dark brown roof at the top, transitioning into a light brown exterior siding choice, and ramping up with light-colored stones near the foundation.

18. Metal Roof with Vertical Wood Siding and Grey Shake Roof

For a unique twist on rustic design, pair a metal roof with vertical wood siding. Add some architectural rust to the metal for an extra layer of rustic charm, while the vertical wood enhances the home’s natural appeal.

19. Dark Brown Roof with Light Grey Siding and Dormer Windows

Including a cylindrical tower with circular dormer windows is pretty rustic. Combine that with dark brown roofing and light-gray siding and your rustic look is complete.

Get a Rustic Exterior Look for Your Home

Rustic-style homes have been around for ages and aren't going away anytime soon. These homes are beautiful and can feel so much warmer and welcoming compared to other styles of homes, especially modern ones. Even better, they are a versatile style that allows you to create all sorts of great designs.

These are just a few of the great rustic exterior house design ideas that you can consider for your own home. We hope you find some rustic ideas that can really add a special touch and make your home truly yours.

For help designing your rustic home exterior, contact the experts at CeDUR today!