Exterior House Design: Upload Your House and See Ideas

From a fresh paint color to new siding, stone or doors, exterior design is easier to decide when you can see it on your own house. Upload a photo below, then read what four published guides say about the main elements.

Upload your house photo See update house exterior

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Before and after examples

Example images are AI-generated: both the sample houses and their redesigns. Results change from render to render, so treat them as concepts, not exact product matches.

AI-drawn generic stand-in of a dated two-story suburban house with beige siding, brown shutters and trim, a brown garage door and a brown roof — Example 1 (prompt 1 below; the before is an AI-drawn generic stand-in house, not a real photo): siding is now charcoal, the trim white and the garage door black. What it did not follow: the window frames stayed white and the model darkened the shutters instead. It also made the roof darker, which we did not ask for.

The same house with charcoal gray siding, white trim, black shutters, a black garage door and a darker roof — Example 1 (prompt 1 below; the before is an AI-drawn generic stand-in house, not a real photo): siding is now charcoal, the trim white and the garage door black. What it did not follow: the window frames stayed white and the model darkened the shutters instead. It also made the roof darker, which we did not ask for.

AI-drawn generic stand-in of a one-story red brick ranch house with a brown shingle roof, a brown garage door and dark window frames — Example 2 (prompt 2 below; the before is an AI-drawn generic stand-in house, not a real photo): the red brick now reads cream rather than soft white, and the garage door also turned cream although we said to keep it. The roof, the window frames and the walkway look the same. Painting brick is hard to undo, so treat this as a look-before-you-commit step.

The same house with painted cream brick and a cream garage door; the roof, window frames, walkway and lawn kept — Example 2 (prompt 2 below; the before is an AI-drawn generic stand-in house, not a real photo): the red brick now reads cream rather than soft white, and the garage door also turned cream although we said to keep it. The roof, the window frames and the walkway look the same. Painting brick is hard to undo, so treat this as a look-before-you-commit step.

AI-drawn generic stand-in of a two-story suburban house with plain gray vinyl siding, white trim, a gray front door and a gray garage door — Example 3 (prompt 3 below; the before is an AI-drawn generic stand-in house, not a real photo): stone appears as a band at the base of the garage wall and as short strips near the entry, not across the lower third of the whole front. The siding, the trim, the doors and the roof look the same. Ask for the walls you want covered.

The same house with a band of natural stone veneer along the base of the garage wall and short strips near the entry; the gray siding, trim, doors and roof kept — Example 3 (prompt 3 below; the before is an AI-drawn generic stand-in house, not a real photo): stone appears as a band at the base of the garage wall and as short strips near the entry, not across the lower third of the whole front. The siding, the trim, the doors and the roof look the same. Ask for the walls you want covered.

What the AI can and cannot do

It can restyle the siding, trim, doors and materials in your photo while usually keeping the shape of the house, so you can compare directions before you hire anyone.

It cannot judge cost, structure or permits, or follow every instruction exactly. In our examples it darkened a roof we did not mention, painted a garage door we asked to keep, and covered less wall in stone than requested. Check the whole image.

What exterior house design includes

The points below come from four published sources: James Hardie, "Exterior home renovations that boost curb appeal" (by Michael Buck, March 2024; a siding manufacturer); Real Homes, "House exterior design: 11 ways to upgrade the look of your home" (by Michael Holmes, updated April 2022; UK, with affiliate links); Asian Paints, "Exterior house designs" (no date shown; an India-based paint company); and an Issuu guide, "Exterior home design ideas" (April 2026; no author shown). Two sources sell exterior products and Real Homes and Asian Paints are not US sources, so do not apply their costs or rules to your home.

Element	What the sources say
Scope	Real Homes says it ranges from light work (paint, cladding) to major projects (extensions, roof changes, landscaping), and that changes should suit the home's existing style.
Siding and finish	Real Homes says painting in a neutral shade is the cheapest finish change and compares PVCu, laminate, composite, timber and fibre-cement cladding. James Hardie presents re-siding as the biggest project.
Styles	Asian Paints lists minimalist, classic, black modernism, loft or industrial, countryside, luxurious and futuristic looks, with exposed brick, glass facades and large windows.
Doors, trim, shutters	James Hardie lists the front door and shutters as projects; Asian Paints suggests a front-door upgrade and contrasting trim.
Lighting and landscaping	James Hardie, Asian Paints and the Issuu guide all cover lighting and landscaping.
Pros and permits	James Hardie suggests an electrician for lighting, a contractor for front-door frames, and checking whether a fence needs a permit and survey. Real Homes explains UK rules, which differ by country.

Three exterior design changes to try

A modern restyle. Example 1 turns a dated beige-and-brown house into charcoal with white trim and a black garage door.
Painted brick. Example 2 paints red brick a light color. It came out cream, and the garage door changed too.
Stone veneer. Example 3 adds natural stone at the base of the garage wall and by the entry.

How to try an exterior design on your house

The examples were run directly on an image model, not through the tool above, so your results will look different.

Photograph the front in daylight, straight on, with the whole house in the frame.
Upload it in the tool at the top of this page, or open the exterior designer, and choose a style.
Name the parts to change and list what must stay the same, like the prompts below.
Check the whole image for changes you did not ask for, and run it again if needed.

The exact prompts behind the examples

These are the edit prompts used for the three examples, word for word. Adapt the parts and the list of what stays.

Prompt 1: modern restyle

Redesign the exterior in a modern style: charcoal gray siding, white trim, black window frames and a black garage door. Keep the house shape, the roof, the driveway, the lawn and the camera angle exactly the same.

Prompt 2: painted brick

Change ONLY the brick: paint all the brick a soft warm white. Keep the roof, the garage door, the window frames, the walkway, the shrubs, the lawn and the camera angle exactly the same.

Prompt 3: stone veneer base

Change ONLY the lower third of the front wall: add natural stone veneer there, with the gray siding staying above it. Keep the white trim, the doors, the roof, the driveway, the lawn and the camera angle exactly the same.

Before you build or paint

Get real quotes and samples for any change that costs money.
Check permits and HOA rules for fences, structural work and colors.
Hire licensed trades for electrical work (James Hardie).

Who this is for

Homeowners and buyers planning an exterior refresh who want to compare a few design directions on their own house before paying for design or work.

More exterior ideas

See update house exterior, modern farmhouse exterior, brick and siding combinations, stone veneer visualizer and home exterior visualizer.

Frequently asked questions

What does exterior house design cover?

Asian Paints says it includes walls, roofs, gates, gardens and boundary walls. A 2026 Issuu guide lists siding, windows, paint, lighting, landscaping, color and materials.

Which exterior upgrade adds the most value?

James Hardie, a siding manufacturer, says fiber cement re-siding is among the top ways to raise resale value, citing a 2023 Remodeling Magazine report. That is the maker's own claim, so check it against your local market.

What is the cheapest way to refresh an exterior?

Real Homes says painting in a neutral shade is the cheapest change. James Hardie lists repainting the front door as a DIY option, and Asian Paints suggests brighter shades or contrasting trim.

Which exterior jobs need a pro or a permit?

James Hardie suggests an electrician for lighting, a contractor for a front-door frame and trim, and checking whether a fence needs a permit and a property survey. Rules differ by place, so ask your local building office.

Can I preview an exterior design on my own house?

Yes. Upload a photo of your house in the tool at the top of this page, list the parts to change and say what must stay the same. Check the result for changes you did not ask for.

Will the render match real materials?

No, not exactly. In our examples a painted-brick color came out cream and a stone band covered less wall than requested. Use the render to choose a direction, then test real samples.

Is this tool free?

Signing up is free and gives you 5 credits, which is enough for 2 renders in most countries. Free renders carry an AiExterior watermark. If you want more renders or clean images, paid plans are available on the pricing page.

Do I need an account?

Yes. You need to sign in before a render starts, with an email code or your Google account.

Try it on your own house

Upload your house photo

Free sign-up with email or Google. You get 2 free renders in most countries; free renders are watermarked.