James Hardie’s top exterior design tips for Australian homes

The James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast 2026 identifies key exterior home design choices shaping Australian homes.
Multigenerational living is influencing home design, with flexible zoning, secondary dwellings and adaptable layouts becoming increasingly important considerations.
Choosing materials engineered specifically for Australia’s tough climate conditions ensures your exterior maintains its visual appeal for longer.

Colour, joy, creative expression and playfulness – the James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast 2026 reveals that Australians are embracing a bold shift towards creativity in their home design. Embracing bold hues, playful design details and prioritising emotional wellbeing.

The third edition of the James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast reveals what’s shaping modern Australian living right now – drawing on global and local design insights, including Milan Design Week, and translating them into ideas that are practical, buildable and relevant for today’s homes. The forecast shows four influential lifestyle themes, expressed through eight modern home styles – from exterior character to colour, texture and material choices.

1. Celebrate curves

For a modern classical design style, James Hardie suggests pairing curved forms with textured cladding – like Stria™ Cladding Fine Texture and Hardie™ Brushed Concrete – to enhance the façades while creating flexible layouts suited to multigenerational households.

2. Go bold

We’re seeing a shift away from safe neutrals as the exterior palette of choice. As James Hardie demonstrates with its Modern Coastal and Box Modern home styles, colour is reimagined with bright, expressive combinations – reflecting a more creative, lifestyle‑led approach to Australian homes.

3. Embrace vertical

For a design choice that adds height and a distinctly contemporary feel, consider using vertical cladding. Showcased across everything from the Barn homes to the Modern Coastal design in the James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast, it’s a versatile choice that works across a range of styles.

4. Get flexible

Multigenerational living requires homes that adapt over time. Flexible zoning, secondary dwellings and layered layouts help support families and different living requirements. The Japandi Style as featured by James Hardie enables this through multi-use zones.

5. Choose local

Materials that are designed to last under local conditions will keep your exterior looking its best for longer; meaning your investment goes further. Exteriors by James Hardie are engineered for the tough Australian environment.

Visit jameshardie.com.au for more information.

Published: 4 May 2026

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This is what modern Australian homes will look like in 2026