How To Create a Rustic Aesthetic

Though rustic style homes are most popular in mountainous regions, the rustic aesthetic can also be incorporated into a variety of home styles, including farm, ranch and coastal homes. Erik Perkins of North Carolina–based building duo The Perkins Brothers weighs in on the latest siding trends for rustic homes and tips to achieve the look you’re after. 

Add Texture

When you think of a rustic home what comes to mind? Likely darker, earthy tones and natural materials. If you are opting for a rustic home, it's likely that you prioritize a warm, cozy feel over a pristine, streamlined exterior. One of the most popular ways to achieve this look and feel is a textured exterior.

Opting for wood siding styles like LP® SmartSide® ExpertFinish® Cedar Texture Lap Siding is a great way to incorporate the warmth of traditional wood with the durability of new siding. Shakes are another way to bring greater visual interest into your exterior through texture. Perkins suggests adding shakes to the upper levels of a home to complement cedar texture siding on the ground level. LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Cedar Texture Siding also comes in a vertical siding style to switch up your exterior.

Part of the charm of rustic style homes is that they are less streamlined than other styles, but a less polished look shouldn’t mean less durability. LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Cedar Texture Lap Siding is one of the most durable siding options and offers a natural look without sacrificing quality.

Another way to incorporate texture is to pair other materials with your siding to accent exterior features. Adding stone siding combinations to your home can help to create a cozy ambiance. Opt for placing stone in the front of your home as entryway pillars, lining the lower perimeter of your home's exterior or using it as your chimney material. Exposed wood is another unique way to pull in texture for your rustic exterior. Choose a natural wood to accent peaked roofs or pillars.

Combine Siding materials

"We really love using a mix of the LP SmartSide ExpertFinish products to give our clients a modern rustic exterior finish," notes Perkins, who has been re-siding homes in the mountainous North Carolina region for years. "Mixing up the siding types really gives the homes a lot more visual interest and breaks up the height of some of the taller structures."

When weighing house siding options and cost in preparation for a re-side, it often seems easiest to stick with one product across the exterior. However, combining a variety of materials can elevate your home with little cost increase. "It really doesn't cost a whole lot more to make their home look fantastic with the LP SmartSide ExpertFinish options versus doing a basic siding job," said Perkins. "Most of our clients are so excited to see a better house than they were expecting!"

Here are a few combinations to consider:

Using LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Cedar Texture Lap Siding is an easy option to help achieve a rustic home style. Choose textured shakes or board and batten for accent areas like gable ends and dormers.

Installing a board and batten style exterior to the main level is a great alternative if you're wanting to choose something other than lap siding. Achieve a rustic board and batten exterior by opting for LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Panel and complementing it with textured trim or shakes.

Color for Your Rustic Home

Though siding combinations are a great way to execute a rustic look, choosing the right color will complete your home's exterior. Sticking with colors found in nature, such as ExpertFinish shades Marshland Moss and Canyon Brown, is a great place to start. Incorporating darker colors like ExpertFinish shades Cavern Steel or Abyss Black also contribute to a natural, rustic look.

There are many different styles of house siding options that will help you achieve a rustic aesthetic. To explore the full range of LP SmartSide ExpertFinish products for your next project, click here.