As a landscape architect obsessed with the details, I’ve spent years helping homeowners breathe new life into tired split-level exteriors. If you’re craving a modern look that actually works with your home’s unique lines, these are my favorite ideas—straight from real projects and plenty of trial and error.
Unconventional: Modern Metal Screens for Privacy and Style
On a whim, I added a laser-cut metal privacy screen near a client’s split-level entry, and now it’s both a sculptural feature and a practical windbreak. A bold screen can add privacy, shadow, and a surprising modern texture.
Grab the essentials:
- Laser-cut metal privacy screen panels: Enhance your entryway with decorative metal panels for instant privacy and a striking modern touch.
- Outdoor decorative privacy gate: Upgrade your split-level home’s curb appeal with a stylish privacy gate featuring bold, artistic patterns.
- Weather-resistant outdoor privacy screens: Add a functional windbreak and visual interest with weatherproof privacy screens for your garden or entry.
Paint It Bold: Transform With Modern Colors
The first time I painted a dated split-level in a deep charcoal with crisp white trim, neighbors stopped mid-walk to stare. Modern paint instantly makes those classic lines pop and gives the whole façade a fresh lease on life—especially if you highlight layers with contrasting hues.
What you might need:
- Exterior Paint in Deep Charcoal Finish: Refresh your home’s facade with modern charcoal paint for instant curb appeal and a striking new look.
- Crisp White Exterior Trim Paint: Accent windows and trim with bright white paint to make architectural features stand out beautifully.
- High Quality Paint Brushes and Rollers Kit: Get clean lines and pro-level results with a reliable brush and roller set for exterior painting.
Can New Siding Really Change Everything?
I once replaced tired vinyl with vertical fiber cement panels and horizontal cedar planks, and the client’s jaw literally dropped when she saw how new textures transformed the whole vibe. Mixing modern materials and directions adds depth and a sense of organized chaos I love.
Useful items to consider:
- Vertical Fiber Cement Siding Panels: Upgrade your home’s curb appeal with durable, modern fiber cement panels for a fresh, sleek look.
- Horizontal Cedar Plank Siding: Add warmth and natural texture to your exterior with classic, weather-resistant horizontal cedar planks.
- LED Outdoor Wall Sconce Lighting: Enhance your home’s entryway with modern, energy-saving LED sconces for instant, welcoming illumination.
Let There Be Light: Oversized Windows for a Dramatic Effect
One of my clients was stunned at how swapping out small, dated windows for modern, floor-to-ceiling glass brought the outdoors in and made the façade look like a magazine cover. The flood of natural light totally changed the energy inside and out.
Items that might be helpful:
- Floor-to-ceiling window treatment panels: Elevate privacy and style while letting natural light pour in with elegant, full-length window treatments.
- Adjustable curtain rods for large windows: Support your oversized glass with durable, adjustable rods designed for big, dramatic window installations.
- Window cleaning tools for tall glass: Keep your stunning new windows spotless with extendable cleaning tools that reach every corner with ease.
Highlight Your Entry: Make an Inviting Statement
I’ll never forget the transformation when we framed a split-level’s entry with chunky stone columns and a floating canopy—suddenly, the front door became a destination, not an afterthought. Accentuating the entry draws the eye and instantly updates the whole exterior.
These products might help:
- Outdoor Stone Veneer Panels: Upgrade your entryway with durable stone veneer panels for a modern, eye-catching architectural statement.
- Modern Outdoor Entryway Lighting: Brighten your entrance with contemporary weatherproof lighting fixtures, creating a warm, welcoming glow for guests.
- Metal Porch Columns: Enhance curb appeal by installing sturdy metal porch columns for a sleek and updated front entry look.
Upgrade the Garage: From Eyesore to Eye-Catcher
On one project, we painted the garage door matte black and added sleek lighting, making it a feature instead of a flaw. With split-levels, the garage takes up real estate—so make it pop with fresh color or a new door design.
Suitable options for this:
- Modern matte black garage door hardware kit: Update your garage with sleek matte black hardware to instantly add contemporary curb appeal and elegance.
- Outdoor wall-mounted LED garage lights: Illuminate your garage entryway with stylish wall-mounted LED lights for both safety and a modern look.
- Garage door window inserts: Enhance natural light and visual interest by adding window inserts to your garage doors easily.
Why Not Go Vertical? Swap Siding Directions
When I switched a client’s horizontal siding to vertical battens, the house suddenly looked taller and more contemporary—neighbors thought we’d added a story. The trick is in playing with direction to break up the boxy feel.
Make it happen with these:
- Vertical board and batten siding panels: Upgrade your home’s exterior with easy-to-install vertical siding panels for a fresh, modern look.
- Exterior trim for vertical siding: Complete your vertical siding project with trim pieces for a neat, professional finish around windows.
- Exterior siding installation tool kit: Make siding installation easier with a tool kit designed specifically for exterior panel upgrades.
Unexpected Idea: Add a Floating Balcony
The first time I proposed a slim balcony off the upper living room, my clients paused—but it became the star of their evening wine ritual and gives the façade real depth. Sometimes, a bold move makes a split-level unforgettable.
Some relevant options:
- Modern Outdoor Balcony Railing Kit: Upgrade your balcony’s safety and style with a sleek railing kit designed for modern exteriors.
- Compact Outdoor Balcony Bistro Set: Create a cozy atmosphere for relaxing or entertaining with a weather-resistant, space-saving bistro set.
- LED Recessed Outdoor Ceiling Lights: Enhance evening ambiance and visibility with energy-efficient recessed LED lights for your balcony ceiling.
Frame It Up: Modern Trim Details for Impact
Adding chunky trim around windows and color-contrasting soffits on a recent project brought a subtle but powerful frame to the whole house. These details are easy to overlook, but they make all the difference for a crisp, modern finish.
These may be of interest:
- Exterior window trim kits: Upgrade your windows instantly with modern trim kits for a sophisticated, crisp frame and improved curb appeal.
- Color-contrasting soffit panels: Install color-contrasting soffit panels to define your home’s roofline and add subtle yet striking detail.
- Exterior trim paint for wood or vinyl: Refresh existing trim with durable paint, creating a bold contrast for a modern, polished exterior look.
Illuminate the Night: Modern Outdoor Lighting
I love walking by split-level homes at dusk when path lights and wall sconces highlight the architecture—my own garden glows this way. Layered landscape and architectural lighting can completely change how your home feels after dark.
Possibly handy products:
- Contemporary Outdoor Pathway Lights: Brighten walkways and enhance safety with sleek pathway lights for a welcoming nighttime appearance.
- LED Wall Sconces for Exterior: Highlight home architecture and entryways by installing energy-efficient outdoor LED wall sconces.
- Up/Down Landscape Spotlights: Accent your garden and shrubbery with adjustable landscape spotlights for layered evening curb appeal.
Curate the Landscape: Minimalist Plantings for Maximum Impact
I once ripped out a jumble of dated shrubs and replaced them with swaths of ornamental grasses, river stones, and low evergreens—suddenly, the house felt both wild and intentional. Modern landscapes with clean lines and native plants are my signature for a reason.
May just do the trick:
- Decorative River Rocks for Landscaping: Add instant texture and an organic feel to your front yard with smooth decorative river stones.
- Ornamental Grass Seeds or Live Plants: Create flowing, modern curb appeal by planting low-maintenance ornamental grasses along paths and entries.
- Low Growing Evergreen Shrubs: Introduce year-round greenery and structure to your landscape with hardy, compact evergreen shrubs.
Could a Layered Walkway Be Your Secret Weapon?
On a recent project, using staggered concrete pads and built-in lighting to echo the split-level’s layers made the approach feel dramatic and welcoming. A walkway isn’t just a path—it’s your home’s opening statement.
To help you get the job done:
- Outdoor pathway lights: Light the way and make every step inviting with modern outdoor pathway lights for layered walkways.
- Landscape edging for walkways: Define your walkway and keep landscaping tidy with durable landscape edging to enhance clean lines.
- Rectangular concrete stepping stones: Give your entry path a crisp, contemporary upgrade using rectangular concrete stepping stones.
Embrace Mixed Materials for Contemporary Texture
On my own house, I combined smooth white stucco, rough-cut stone, and warm cedar, and every season brings out new highlights in the materials. Mixing textures is the secret for making a split-level feel current and layered.
A few helpful options:
- White exterior stucco finish kit: Refresh your split-level façade with a white stucco finish kit for a sleek, modernized texture.
- Natural stacked stone veneer panels: Add depth to your exterior by installing easy-to-apply natural stone veneer panels for a timeless look.
- Cedar wood siding planks: Warm up your home’s entrance with cedar wood siding planks for that inviting, layered contrast.
Dramatic Roofline: Extend or Flatten for a Modern Edge
I’ve helped clients extend their eaves or add a low-slope roof, which instantly gives the house an architectural edge—sometimes with the bonus of a shaded porch. Adjusting the roofline is a bigger move, but wow, does it pay off.
A few picks to consider:
- LED Dimmable Recessed Downlights for Exterior Soffits: Brighten up your modern roof extension with energy-saving recessed downlights and create a striking entrance.
- Modern Steel Porch Support Columns: Upgrade your porch with sleek steel support columns for a clean, structural look with modern appeal.
- Weather-Resistant Composite Fascia Boards: Refresh your roofline’s edges with durable composite fascia boards for low-maintenance, contemporary curb appeal.
Unexpected: Oversized House Numbers as Art
My client was skeptical when I suggested gigantic steel house numbers, but now they get compliments weekly from walkers and delivery folks. Oversized, modern numbers turn an address into a design statement.
A few useful items:
- Oversized Modern House Numbers: Upgrade your curb appeal with large, modern address numbers for a bold, contemporary statement outside.
- Stainless Steel Address Numbers: Choose durable stainless-steel address numbers to add stylish visibility and lasting quality to your home’s exterior.
- Floating Mount House Number Kits: Install floating mount kits for a dimensional, modern effect that makes your home’s address stand out instantly.
Reinvent the Porch: Add an Airy Overhang
On a cloudy Portland afternoon, there’s nothing better than a slim wood-and-metal canopy that keeps you dry while making the entrance feel open. A modern overhang is practical, but it also frames the entry in a way that brings the whole design together.
Explore these options:
- Modern metal porch awning kit: Upgrade your entryway with a sleek metal awning kit for lasting protection and a contemporary look.
- Outdoor recessed LED ceiling lights: Illuminate your entrance with energy-efficient recessed LED lights for a welcoming nighttime environment.
- Minimalist black outdoor wall sconces: Enhance curb appeal by flanking your doorway with minimalist black wall sconces for subtle, stylish lighting.
Go Glass: Modern Front Door Magic
I still remember the day we installed a full-glass door with black trim for a client—it bathed the foyer in light and gave the entry a crisp, gallery-like feel. Swapping a dated door for a modern glass one is a small change with a huge payoff.
Get the gear:
- Full glass front door with black frame: Upgrade your entryway with a sleek glass front door for enhanced natural light and contemporary curb appeal.
- Outdoor modern wall lantern: Illuminate your entry with a stylish modern wall lantern that complements glass doors and creates a welcoming glow.
- Large black outdoor planters: Add lush greenery to your entry with durable black planters for a polished, inviting modern touch.
Reimagine the Driveway: Modern Pavers and Edging
Swapping a cracked concrete slab for large-format pavers with steel edging made my last split-level project look like a boutique hotel. Never underestimate how much a fresh driveway can set the tone for the whole home.
You might like:
- Large concrete driveway pavers: Transform your driveway with sleek, large-format pavers for a modern, clean-lined exterior appearance.
- Steel landscape edging: Define your driveway and planting beds with durable steel edging for crisp, professional-looking borders.
- Modern concrete planter boxes: Accent your entryway with geometric concrete planters to complement your contemporary driveway upgrade.
Statement Planters: Big, Bold, and Architectural
On my own porch, I use oversized black planters filled with feathery grasses and flowering perennials—they’re like sculptures that change with the seasons. Giant modern planters at your entry or driveway instantly update the vibe and set your split-level apart from the crowd.
Something that could work:
- Oversized Modern Outdoor Planter: Upgrade your entryway with a bold, oversized planter—perfect for ornamental grasses and seasonal flowers.
- Tall Tapered Patio Planter: Make a dramatic statement on your porch with tall, architectural planters for instant curb appeal.
- Weather-Resistant Textured Planter Set: Get a cohesive look with a set of weather-resistant, textured planters for all your favorite plants.
