5 Tips for Choosing the Right Exterior Paint Color for Your Home.
Choosing an exterior paint color can be intimidating. Not only is it a financial investment but your home’s most prominent design statement to the outside world. You want something that makes you happy to come home to. Often it is difficult to visualize the end result because of the enormous scope of the project, making it seem like an overwhelming task.
Here are a few tips to help you choose an exterior paint color you can be sure of.
1. Match Your Neighborhood
Recognizing what kind of neighborhood your home is situated in is a great starting place. A historic area might provide an opportunity to take more risks with muted reds, yellows, greens, and blues. At the same time, a more modern neighborhood will probably consist of a more neutral palette, including whites, greys, and tans. Choosing a color that does not match the neighborhood aesthetic could make your home stand out, which could be viewed as a good or a bad thing.
2. Complement Existing Parts of Your Exterior
You will want to find a color that compliments your exterior’s existing, non-painted surfaces, such as the roof, stone, brick, wood trim, or foundation. Choosing a color that does not pair well with what is already there will make your home look disconnected and sloppy. While this may limit your options, sticking to the provided palette will give your home a more concise look.
3. Consider The Size of Your Home
The size of your exterior is often overlooked when choosing a color that compliments your exterior. Generally, darker colors make spaces appear smaller, while lighter tones give the illusion of a larger area. If you choose a darker color for the body of your home, it is wise to consider using lighter shades for the accents and the front door as a focal point.
Often a paint swatch or sample can be hard to visualize on such a massive space. It’s best to test your color on different areas and surfaces of your home, parts that get the most sun, and on dark shady spots.
4. Match the Aesthetic of Your Yard
Observe the surrounding hues of your existing landscape and hardscape as guidance in choosing an exterior color. What undertones surround your home? Are they warm (orange, yellow, or red) or cool (green, blue, or purple)? Your exterior paint color is an opportunity to tie all these elements together in a harmonious way. If large, mature trees surround your home, you might consider a lighter, brighter color as a darker one may cause your home to disappear into the shadow of your landscape.
5. Trust a Color Palette
Most homes will have the primary color (or a field color), a color for trim, and an accent color for doors, shutters, and other small accent pieces. Too many colors will make the exterior look messy, but too few can make it look dull and uninteresting.
Once you decide on a color for the body of your home, it’s best to stick to that color palette. Often a fan deck will help you decide on complementing hues that will accent, not clash, with your body color.
Think about the lighting, as the exterior of your home will likely be exposed to the harshest and brightest natural daylight, making any color appear lighter than it is. This is especially important if you are considering a very on-trend white exterior. What reads as white is often a much creamier hue than you might expect.
While there is a lot that goes into choosing an exterior paint color to compliment your home, our experts are well versed in current trends and have an expert eye for determining the best options for you. Contact us by visiting our website or calling us at 816.500.7759 to start dreaming up a fresh new exterior.
