20+ Stylish Shakes on a House Ideas

1. Play with Shape and Form

Shakes aren’t just for flat surfaces—use them on curved or angular walls for a dramatic effect. It’s a bold move, but one that pays off in style.

These products might help:

• Flexible Cedar Shakes: Enhance your home’s exterior with flexible cedar shakes for seamless installation on curved surfaces.
• Exterior Wood Sealant: Protect your wood shakes with a high-quality exterior sealant, ensuring durability and weather resistance.
• Durable Adhesive for Shingles: Secure your shakes confidently with durable adhesive, ideal for curved and angular surfaces.

2. Embrace the Rustic Charm

There’s something truly timeless about natural wood shakes that add a rustic charm to any home. I’ve used these on my own house to create a cozy, cabin-like feel.

Possibly handy products:

• Natural Cedar Wood Shakes: Transform your home with cedar shakes for a warm, rustic cabin-like appearance.
• Exterior Wood Stain and Sealer: Protect and enhance your wood shakes with this durable and natural-looking wood stain.
• Rustic Outdoor Wall Lantern: Add character and ambiance to your exterior with a classic rustic wall lantern.

3. Mix and Match Materials

Combine shakes with stone or brick to create a stunning contrast and add texture. In my garden studio, I chose this combination for a balanced and earthy look.

Products that could assist:

• Decorative Stone Veneer Panel: Enhance your exterior with stunning stone veneer panels, offering durability and timeless appeal.
• Cedar Shake Siding: Add natural warmth and texture to your home’s facade with quality cedar shake siding.
• Brick Facade Tiles: Create a classic look with brick facade tiles, adding charm and character to any exterior.

4. Accentuate with Shake Details

Instead of covering the entire house, use shakes as an accent on gables or entryways. It’s a small touch that makes a big impact—I did this with my studio’s entrance!

Some ideas to consider:

• Decorative Cedar Shakes: Enhance your home’s charm with cedar shakes for gables or entryways. Add rustic appeal effortlessly.
• Composite Shake Siding: Choose durable composite shake siding for low-maintenance elegance on key architectural features.
• Wood Stain for Shakes: Protect and beautify your shake accents with premium wood stain. Enhance color and durability instantly.

5. Add Texture with Irregular Shakes

Irregular shakes create a more dynamic and textured look, perfect for adding character. I love the organic feel they bring to a home.

Possibly helpful picks:

• Cedar Wood Impressions Siding Shakes: Enhance your home’s facade with durable cedar shakes, adding natural charm and unique texture.
• Rustic Weathered Oak Shakes: Transform your exterior with weathered oak shakes, providing an authentic and rustic appearance.
• Composite Polypropylene Shake Shingles: Opt for easy-install composite shakes, offering consistent beauty and resilience for years to come.

6. Use Shakes as an Accent Wall

Create a focal point by using shakes on an exterior accent wall. I’ve used this technique to draw attention to my garden studio entrance.

A few things you might like:

• Cedar Shake Siding Panels: Enhance your home’s exterior with natural cedar shakes; durable and weather-resistant option.
• Exterior Wall Primer: Prepare your accent wall for shakes with a high-quality exterior primer for lasting results.
• Outdoor Wood Sealant: Protect your shake accent wall with a reliable outdoor wood sealant, ensuring longevity and beauty.

7. Incorporate Windows

Use large windows to break up the shake siding and let in natural light. It’s a design choice I always recommend for a fresh, airy feel.

You might give these a try:

• Large Double-Hung Windows: Enhance your home’s aesthetics and lighting with these elegant, versatile double-hung windows.
• Energy-Efficient Picture Windows: Upgrade to energy-efficient picture windows and enjoy panoramic views with natural light benefits.
• Custom Casement Windows: Discover custom casement windows for seamless elegance and superior airflow in your living space.

8. Integrate with Nature

Blend your home into its surroundings by choosing shakes that complement the natural landscape. I chose earthy tones for my garden studio, and it feels like part of the scenery.

Items that may come in handy:

• Earth Tone Exterior Wood Shakes: Choose earthy tone wood shakes to blend your home seamlessly into the natural landscape.
• Natural Stone Veneer Panels: Enhance your home’s exterior with stone veneer panels for a natural, rustic look.
• Eco-Friendly Wood Stain: Protect and accentuate the natural grain of your shakes with eco-friendly wood stain.

9. Create a Coastal Vibe

For a beachy feel, opt for light gray shakes that mimic weathered wood. It reminds me of serene coastal retreats and fits perfectly in sunny locations.

Might be a good match:

• Light Gray Exterior Shakes: Transform your home’s façade with light gray shakes for a serene coastal appearance.
• Weathered Wood Style Decking: Complete the beachy look with decking that mimics beautiful, sun-bleached wood tones.
• Coastal Outdoor Furniture Set: Enhance your seaside retreat with stylish outdoor furniture designed for coastal living.

10. Experiment with Synthetic Shakes

Try synthetic shakes for a low-maintenance, eco-friendly option that mimics real wood. They’re a practical choice, especially if you want that cedar look without the upkeep.

These products might be useful:

• Synthetic Cedar Shake Siding Panels: Upgrade your exterior with low-maintenance, eco-friendly synthetic shakes that mimic real cedar beautifully.
• Eco-Friendly Composite Shake Siding: Choose composite shakes for a durable, realistic wood look without the upkeep hassles you dread.
• Low-Maintenance Vinyl Shake Siding: Enjoy a classic cedar appearance with vinyl shakes offering effortless maintenance and enduring style.

11. Sustainability with Style

Choose eco-friendly shake materials to minimize environmental impact while keeping your home stylish. It’s a choice I always feel good about recommending.

A few relevant products:

• Recycled Wood Shake Shingles: Choose recycled wood shake shingles for a classic look and reduced environmental footprint.
• Composite Eco-Friendly Roof Shakes: Opt for composite eco-friendly roof shakes, combining style with durability and sustainability.
• Solar Roof Shakes: Integrate solar roof shakes to power your home sustainably while maintaining a stylish appearance.

12. Add a Touch of Whimsy

For a playful twist, use shakes in unexpected colors like lavender or peach. It’s a delightful surprise that turns heads.

Some handy options:

• Exterior House Paint in Lavender: Transform your home with lavender paint for a charming and whimsical look. Easy to apply.
• Peach Colored House Shakes: Add delightful peach shakes to your home for an unexpected splash of color and style.
• Decorative Outdoor Trim in Pastel Colors: Enhance your home’s charm with pastel trim for windows and doors. Simple to install.

13. Highlight with Lighting

Add exterior lighting to highlight your shake siding at night. I love how it brings out the texture and creates a warm, inviting glow.

Check these products out:

• Outdoor LED Spotlights: Illuminate your home’s exterior with spotlights to enhance texture and add a warm ambiance.
• Solar Pathway Lights: Add solar pathway lights for eco-friendly illumination and increased nighttime curb appeal.
• String Lights for Outdoor Use: Use string lights to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere around your home’s exterior.

14. Combine with Board Siding

Mix shakes with board siding for a layered look that adds dimension. This was a hit on a recent project I worked on, bringing depth to the facade.

Maybe worth checking out:

• Cedar Wood Shakes: Enhance your exteriors with durable cedar wood shakes for a rustic and warm appeal.
• Composite Board Siding: Upgrade your facade with premium composite board siding, offering strength and modern aesthetics.
• Exterior Siding Nail Gun: Efficiently install siding with this powerful nail gun, ensuring a seamless and secure application.

15. Capture Vintage Vibes

For a vintage touch, pair shakes with ornate trim. It’s a nod to classic architecture that I find utterly charming.

A few helpful options:

• Decorative Wooden Trim Molding: Enhance your home’s charm with ornate wooden trim, adding timeless elegance effortlessly.
• Exterior Gingerbread Trim: Bring a vintage flair to your exterior with intricate gingerbread trim details.
• Antique-Style Porch Brackets: Transform your porch with antique-style brackets for a classic architectural appeal.

16. Classic Cottage Appeal

Capture the essence of a quaint cottage with white shake siding and charming shutters. This is a go-to for creating storybook charm—I can’t resist it!

Check if these fit your needs:

• White Vinyl Shake Siding: Enhance your cottage’s charm with durable, elegant white shake siding for a classic look.
• Decorative Exterior Shutters: Add character with charming shutters, perfect for achieving that cozy cottage vibe effortlessly.
• Outdoor Wall Lanterns: Illuminate your porch with vintage-inspired wall lanterns, adding warmth and inviting charm.

17. Go for a Two-Tone Effect

Create visual interest by using two different shades of shakes. I once experimented with this on a friend’s house, and it added a subtle yet intriguing dimension.

A few suggestions:

• Exterior House Shakes in Two-Tone Colors: Revamp your home’s style with vibrant two-tone shakes, adding depth and character instantly.
• Exterior Paint for Shakes: Transform your shakes with premium exterior paint, designed for vibrant, lasting two-tone effects.
• Exterior Design Color Guide: Find inspiration and tips for creating stunning two-tone effects with this comprehensive color guide.

18. Colorful Shake Siding

Why stick to neutrals? Go bold with colorful shakes, like a deep blue or cheerful yellow, to make your home stand out. I’ve always loved how a pop of color transforms the ordinary into extraordinary.

Consider these options:

• Exterior Paint for Shake Siding: Transform your home with vibrant colors, offering durable finishes for a fresh look.
• Decorative Shake Siding Panels: Enhance your home’s exterior with colorful siding panels that stand out.
• Exterior Trim Paint: Accentuate your home’s features by adding bold trim with durable exterior paint.

19. Craft a Modern Look

Use sleek, straight-edge shakes for a modern aesthetic. I’ve seen this look paired with minimalist landscaping, and it’s simply stunning.

A few choices to try:

• Straight-Edge Exterior Shakes: Transform your home with sleek, modern edge shakes for a stunning minimalist appearance.
• Minimalist Landscaping Plants: Enhance your home’s curb appeal with low-maintenance and stylish minimalist landscape plants.
• Outdoor LED Lighting: Illuminate your modern home with energy-efficient, sleek outdoor LED lights for a refined look.

20. Contrasting Roof and Shakes

Pair dark roofing with lighter shake siding to create a striking contrast. This combination adds depth and character—something I adore in architectural design.

Try these:

• Dark Asphalt Roofing Shingles: Enhance your home’s depth with durable dark shingles. Perfect for stunning roof contrast.
• Light Shake Siding Panels: Brighten your exterior with charming light shake siding panels; add character effortlessly.
• Decorative Gable Vents: Add elegance and ventilation to your home with stylish gable vents in complementary colors.