When it comes to first impressions, timeless facade styles are still winning over Australian homebuyers.
Henley Homes' northampton facade. Picture: Henley Homes
New research from realestate.com.au, surveying buyers of new homes and those considering building, revealed classic designs continue to outperform trend‑driven facades.
As part of the research, participants were shown images of facades across a wide range of architectural styles and asked how appealing they found each one.
The styles included:
- Barn
- Box modern
- Classic brick
- Classic Hamptons
- Classic render
- Hamptons over render
- Japandi
- Mid‑century modern
- Modern classical
- Modern coastal
- Modern farmhouse,
- Modern heritage and
- Traditional mixed materials.
Classic render emerged as Australia’s most appealing facade, with 72% of respondents rating it positively. Close behind were classic brick (70%), classic Hamptons (69%), modern heritage (69%) and Hamptons over render (68%).
Sitting in the middle were styles that blend contemporary features with familiar forms, including modern coastal (62%), modern farmhouse (55%) and modern classical (54%).
At the other end of the scale, more distinctive or architectural looks didn’t resonate as strongly.
Traditional mixed materials (52%) and Japandi (51%) narrowly missed the midpoint, while mid‑century modern (43%), box modern (30%) and barn‑style facades (28%) ranked as the least appealing overall.
Why classic styles still resonate
According to Henley Homes national product manager Elizabeth Kind, the strength of classic designs lies in their versatility.
“Classic facades continue to resonate because they feel familiar, timeless and broadly appealing,” she said.
“In many cases, budget also plays a role – classic styles can often be delivered more cost‑effectively than highly architectural contemporary designs, which may involve more complex shapes and premium finishes.”
A home in the NSW North Turramurra neighbourhood, part of Sekisui House’s SHAWOOD brand. Picture: Sekisui House Australia
That focus on longevity is also noted by Sekisui House Australia's residential communities and home building chief operating officer, Will Messiter.
“Australian buyers are increasingly looking beyond what feels current, and instead seeking homes that will remain relevant, functional and beautifully resolved over time,” Mr Messiter said.
“Classic design styles resonate because they embody a sense of permanence, grounded in proportion, materiality and restraint rather than short-term trends.”
For many buyers, the facade isn’t just about looks – it’s also a long‑term decision tied to confidence, resale appeal and how a home will age.
Metricon national design director Adrian Popple said that the facade sets the emotional tone for the entire home.
“Buyers recognise that a facade is one of the most permanent elements of a home,” he said.
“They want confidence that it will still feel relevant and attractive in 10 or 20 years’ time. Classic designs offer that reassurance because they stand the test of time.”
Mr Messiter added that durability and performance are now front of mind, alongside aesthetics.
“A home represents a significant and enduring investment, and increasingly, people are evaluating how it will perform, adapt and present not only today, but well into the future,” he said.
“Material selection, construction quality and detailing all contribute to durability, maintenance requirements and the way a home ages. A considered facade supports both visual longevity and long-term resilience.”
How tastes are evolving
While classic facades continue to dominate overall, builders say buyer preferences are evolving within that framework.
Metricon's Empire facade on the Hampshire home design. Picture: realestate.com.au
On the ground, buyers are looking at styles with softer, more organic forms, with curved elements appearing across a growing range of facades.
Mr Popple said that while Hamptons‑inspired homes remain popular, modern farmhouse, contemporary heritage and barn‑inspired designs with strong gables are continuing to gain momentum.
“Buyers are also embracing features such as arches, mixed materials and layered textures that create a distinctive street presence,” he said.
“There is a real appetite for facades with depth, warmth and personality, homes that feel crafted rather than generic.”
Henley Homes is seeing similar buyer sentiment, with growing interest in modern farmhouse and barn‑inspired designs, according to Ms Kind.
“As these styles evolve, we’re starting to see traditional Hampton‑style facades lose a bit of momentum, as buyers look for something that still feels timeless but slightly more contemporary and distinctive,” she said.
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