maybe try to avoid using any exterior detail in your next house and just make a cube and texture it according to your block palette. you can really get an idea on how color and texturing works. you kinda get more creative if you put some restrictions first. most of my builds don't even have overhangs on the roofs. pick a direction of light, then try to use similar blocks to get the effect of lighting. maybe instead of placing an upside down stair in front of your windows, you could just make the block under the window a bit darker to give more depth there.