Click Here For Help Choosing House Colors
Exterior home paint color is what gives a home its first impression. It can make a statement. It can help or hinder your “curb appeal”. It can also be the deciding factor when someone want to buy a home. Paint color can be the most cost effective way to change the look and appearance of a home.
When planning your colors, here are a few things to take into consideration:
1. Neighbors – Consider the colors of your neighÂbors’ homes before deciding on your own color choice. The last thing you want to do is paint your home a color that clashes with the other houses in your neighborhood. For instance, don’t paint your house a bright red in the midst of a bunch of white colonials. So choose a scheme that blends in.
2. Shade & Light – Is your home nestled behind lots of trees and foliage? Keep in mind that the color you choose, may look darker in this type of environment. In this case, choose a color that is one step lighter on the color chart. The sun has the tendency to wash out colors.
Tip - Always test your paint on a sample board first and move it around to different areas of your home’s exterior to see what it will look like in the different light environments. It is also good to take a look at the colors during different times of the day.
3. Landscaping – If you have trees, flowering shrubs, and flower gardens – you will want to make sure that the color of your home will be compatable. You don’t want to paint your home red if all of your flowers are fuchsia pink. This may or may not matter to you, but it is something to think about.
4. Dark vs. Light Colors – Color can make a home look larger or smaller. For instance, light colors can make a home look larger and dark colors can make a home look smaller.
5. Tie in Other Colors – There may be some elements around your home that you can pull from, such as stone, roof color, brick, etc.
6. Accent Colors – Use contrasting colors on shutters, doors, and trim. Windows give a home character, so you may want to highlight them with a different color to make them pop against the color of the rest of the house. Be sure NOT to accent unattractive elements such as old chimneys, gutters or ugly air conditioner units. You can camouflage some of these things by painting them the same color as the main part of the house.
7. Picking Colors – The safest way to select exterior paint color is to choose two shades from the same color strip. Choose a lighter color and a darker color. You can use the lighter color for the main part of the house and use the darker for the trim & accent colors or vise-versa. If you want the front door to pop, use an accentuating color. Red is always a great color for an entry door because it stands out. Lighter colors on a porch can also create a welcoming effect for a home.
Also, painting a large home that is on a small lot with a lighter color can make the home look large and off scale. But painting it in a darker color can make it appear smaller. If a house is set back from the curb and you want to pull it forward then paint it in a light color. If you want to set it back, then paint it darker.
Tip - Height can be scaled down by painting the upper portion of a tall house in a darker color and the lower portion in a lighter color.
Perfectly Painted House: A Foolproof Guide for Choosing Exterior Colors for Your Home
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
A good exterior colors gives an excellent look to home, The tips suggested by you are very helpful.
Thanks
Sarah
My home used to be very dark in color and the lighting wasn’t very good. I painted it in lighter colors and it made a huge difference!