Choosing colors for your home's exterior shouldn't be a daunting task. When choosing colors for your exterior, consider the style of your home and what traditionally has been used on that style. Look for homes whose color combinations inspire you – take photographs or save pictures from magazines.
Consider not only what colors will compliment your home's architecture and your landscaping, but also how your selections will fit in with the homes nearby. Consider the other homes in your neighborhood; choose colors that will be compatible.
Another thing to keep in mind is the size of your home. Smaller, simpler houses often require fewer colors to portray an effective color palette than larger, more complex homes.
Today, many homeowners are going beyond traditional one- and two-color schemes and are truly showcasing their personalities via their homes' exteriors. Once you've chosen a base color, add extra flair by using complementary colors on your shutters, trim, doors and windows. The exterior trims and architectural details of a home can be greatly enhanced with the addition of a color scheme. Highlighting shutters, garage and window trims, porches, decks and railings with a common color palette that contrasts with the home's exterior allows for a dramatic look. Accentuating gutters, downspouts, steps and risers on outside stairs with one unifying color theme using one or two shades deeper than the home's existing exterior color scheme provides for a more subtle, monochromatic look.
When you've finally decided on your colors, it’s a good idea to purchase a few quarts of colors that are close to the one you want, buy a disposable foam brush and actually apply the color to a small portion of your home.
Here are some other helpful tips to consider when selecting colors for your home:
- If you want to make a tall house seem shorter, coat the top a deeper tone than the bottom. This method also works when the lot on which the house sits is small and you want to reduce the visual size of the house.
- Using a dark color to outline windows and trim makes a house look smaller. A lighter color on the trim makes a house look larger.
- Do not draw attention to an attached garage by staining it a boldly different color. It should be the same color as the siding or a softer shade of it.
- Consider the direction the house is facing when designing a color scheme. A house that faces east or west has no shade and may be too bright, calling for a cool color. On the other hand, a house that faces north and is in the shade may need a warm color.
- Color ideas can come from many places. Consider using a color you like from the inside of your home or pick up a color from exterior stonework or perhaps flowers and plants.
Lastly, consider where you live when thinking about color for your home. Homeowners who live near the coast may consider any of today's popular blues and greens in order to create an ethereal ambience. Soft sky blues, cool aquas and seafoam greens are a few of the endless color options that may be used to fashion a seaside getaway. For those who reside in the mountains, explore the possibility of incorporating deeper, rustic combinations of color as part of the home's exterior. Foliage green, chestnut brown and barnwood gray conjure up a scenario of a mountain escape. Those who prefer to convey a more conservative palette of color may consider adding any of today's contemporary neutral shades (including taupe, celery and sage green) to exterior trims and details for updated but classic looks. Applying thoughtfully selected paint color partnerships to exterior details of the home not only enhance curb appeal, but also create an environment where lingering outdoors during the warm weather months is a welcome activity for any family member.