14 Ways to Modernize a Split-Level Home Exterior Without Major Renovation

This article was prepared from the source material provided, which included design ideas and project credits from various designers and photographers.

Split-level homes, a staple of post-World War II suburban housing from the 1950s through the 1970s, often look dated today. But homeowners can modernize their exteriors without a major renovation, according to a collection of design ideas. Builders originally riffed on the ranch house to fit more square footage onto smaller lots, creating staggered levels and asymmetrical facades. Updates such as new siding, paint, lighting, doors, windows, and landscaping can refresh these structures.

Credit: Design by Guideline Studios LLC / Photo by Mike Kuhr

Exterior Updates That Make a Difference

Replacing or updating siding is a budget-conscious way to add dimension. Board & Vellum enhanced a 1970s split-level by adding warm wood siding in strategic locations. New windows can also modernize a home; D'Arcy Jones Architects elongated existing windows and added corner windows on an early 1980s split-level to create panoramic views. A new front door, such as the midcentury modern-style double doors with lite windows installed by Guideline Studios LLC, adds contrast with a charcoal gray and soft black palette.

Outdoor living spaces are another focus. Board & Vellum built a concrete wall at the edge of a back patio for summer movie nights and added an integrated hot tub on the deck landing. For sloped lots, landscaping and hardscaping can integrate the home with its surroundings, as seen in a D'Arcy Jones Architects project with lush plantings of varying heights. Replacing a garage door and coordinating it with the front door creates a cohesive look, as shown by Guideline Studios LLC.

Color, Lighting, and Landscaping

Adding a balcony to the upper level, as Guideline Studios LLC did with woven gray outdoor furniture, enhances indoor-outdoor living. Modern hardscaping, such as staggered extra-wide concrete slabs, can echo the home's asymmetry. Replacing dated brick or stucco with stone veneer or wood-look panels and finishing with black doors, windows, and roofing creates a modern look. Upgraded outdoor lighting, like black metal and glass sconces, illuminates and decorates. Color-blocking, such as a coastal palette of white stucco and sky blue siding, can make staggered levels a feature. An all-white look with black door and simple landscaping de-emphasizes the facade. Even a new roof color, like a prominent gray, can tie levels together.

For interiors, the source suggests creating continuity with a cohesive color palette, upgrading entryways, removing dated features like heavy stair railings, and taking advantage of high ceilings. Knocking down walls, renovating lower levels, replacing windows, updating lighting, and renovating kitchens and bathrooms are also recommended. Upgrading HVAC and other systems can maximize energy efficiency.