Fixer To Fabulous' Jenny Marrs Predicts This Exterior Design Trend To Take Off In 2025

In the world of home design, we are always looking forward to the next big trends. To get some insider knowledge and hear her thoughts on what will be big in 2025, we spoke with Jenny Marrs of HGTV's hit show "From Fixer to Fabulous." Marrs has a keen eye for hot design trends and believes darker colors will become a big part of home exteriors, saying during an exclusive interview with House Digest on behalf of Cornerstone Building Brands, a leading manufacturer of exterior building products, "In the past year, there has been a noticeable trend toward darker shades." Previously, people have looked for clean, white spaces, sometimes including calming neutrals such as sage green or beige, but Marrs predicts the pastels and basic neutrals will fall by the wayside in favor of these more saturated colors. She explains further, "Blacks and dark grays with earthy tones enhance visual appeal and create stand-out contrast." In other words, these dark shades of black and gray, especially on home exteriors, really bring the drama. 

That doesn't mean you have to shell out to repaint your entire home black. Instead, Marrs says, "To achieve this aesthetic, consider adding windows and sliding doors with dark frames or exterior accents such as shutters, vents, trim, and even gutters in dark shades." These bring stunning visual contrast in a strategic way that isn't completely overwhelming, so even if you find a lot of black and gray to be oppressive, you can still get in on this exterior design trend. 

"Incorporating black design elements has quickly established itself as a popular trend that is here to stay," says Marrs in an exclusive interview with House Digest. She gave us some of her recommendations for where to find exterior fixtures in various colors, differing from more traditional swatches, including black and gray. "Ply Gem's new line of exterior accessories in the new shade of 498 Black is a way to extend the look outdoors," advises Marrs. She also gave a shout-out to Simonton's Daylight Max windows, which "feature black interior and exterior colors, addressing a growing design trend for stark color contrasts." 

When incorporating very dark colors into your exterior home design, you need to be sure you also have plenty of light coming into your home. "Simonton's MaxView multi-slide patio doors enable homeowners to add dramatic living spaces of light, merging their indoor and outdoor spaces while maximizing their views and access to fresh air," says Marrs, which is ideal for making a dark home still feel bright and fresh. Marrs also loves this brand because of its variety of styles, saying, "Another important trend is the personalization of your home. There are small and large ways to customize color hues, design elements, and styles in a way that makes your home feel and look like an extension of you." 

Marrs also placed a great emphasis on the importance of sustainability in home design in her exclusive interview with House Digest, saying, "The design, building, and DIY industries are increasingly focusing on sustainability, which is great news for both our families and the planet!" That's why Marrs' predictions for 2025 exterior design don't stop at color palettes. Speaking on eco-conscious choices for home exteriors, Marrs says, "For instance, the windows I use in some of my projects (such as Ply Gem and Simonton) are designed to meet the latest standards. They are currently available with solutions that meet the new Department of Energy requirements for EnergyStar 7.0 rated windows and doors, aimed at improving energy efficiency in homes." 

Beyond windows and doors, Marrs looks for sustainability in all aspects of exterior design. For one, Marrs recommends "Cornerstone Building Brands' range of brands, including vinyl siding, steel roofs, and wall panels," as they "not only enhance home efficiency but also allow homeowners to incorporate sustainable elements into their home exteriors without compromising on creating an overall aesthetic they love."