How To Get Your Exterior Paint Color Right
Your House Color Should Fit You, Your Architecture and Where You Live
Painting your home in the prefect exterior palette will go a long way to making it a place you can be proud to call your own. Unless you live on a large piece of land or deep on a wooded lot, you need to: 1) consider the colors of the homes around you; 2) Select an exterior paint color that is different but works well with the other homes in the neighborhood, and 3) Pick a color that blends in or one that stands out — but not one that clashes with neighboring homes.
If you are having trouble finding your perfect tone, check out this ideabook of homes around my eclectic California neighborhood, or walk around your own area and make note of homes that you find appealing. What is it about the color or color combination that appeals to you? Do you find that you are drawn to the homes that have contrasting shutters and front door or do you prefer a scheme of closely related colors?
If you aren't sure, collect pictures of homes you like in your neighborhood and exteriors here on Houzz. I bet when you view the homes as a group you will begin to see similarities that you may not have noticed as you looked at them individually. Some tips to help you get started:
If you are having trouble finding your perfect tone, check out this ideabook of homes around my eclectic California neighborhood, or walk around your own area and make note of homes that you find appealing. What is it about the color or color combination that appeals to you? Do you find that you are drawn to the homes that have contrasting shutters and front door or do you prefer a scheme of closely related colors?
If you aren't sure, collect pictures of homes you like in your neighborhood and exteriors here on Houzz. I bet when you view the homes as a group you will begin to see similarities that you may not have noticed as you looked at them individually. Some tips to help you get started:
Regardless of the home's era, a red door always says "Welcome." This classic exterior sets off its entry by maintaining a white body and complementary shutters.
Pick a color that complements the home’s brick, siding, stone or roofing. Neutral tones provide a backdrop for foliage and nice contrast to the natural stone and clay elements.
The Craftsman style of the early 20th century sported a darker, earthier color scheme using deep browns, greens and reds. The current popularity of the style is making more homeowners consider richer color schemes.
To highlight architectural details such as shutters and columns, choose a color that contrasts with the exterior walls. For example, if the walls are a light color, choose a darker color for the shutters.
To narrow your choices, get inspiration from the color of fixed features, such as a driveway.
Minimize attention to unattractive elements such as downspouts, air-conditioning units, vents and gutters, by painting them the same color as the wall of the house, or choose a trim color in a similar shade.
Ronald Reagan's old California residence shows us that if your bricks are painted, paint the body of your home in the same shade. This guarantees that siding and garage door colors will harmonize with the fixed feature and give you nice curb appeal.
Tip: Use a stained front door to create warmth when using a monochromatic body color.
Tip: Use a stained front door to create warmth when using a monochromatic body color.
For certain styles of homes, research the appropriate traditional color schemes for time-tested ideas that work.
If you have stone or brick façades, take their color into consideration when selecting trim. For example, the bricks in your home may basically be red but may have a cast of another color such as beige or gold or gray. Your best bet is to find a close color match to the cast color, or use white as on this home.
Where you live and the style of your architecture will determine the exterior colors. On the West Coast, Mediterranean homes are usually painted with neutral tones to complement California’s sunshine. You might find muted peach, taupe, and warm beige on exteriors.
In the Southwest, warm earth tones are more common. Pink, sandy taupe and golden yellows are popular on Spanish houses.
Think Southern states, and images of white-pillared plantation homes come to mind. Though the region cycled through exterior neutrals from the beige family about 15 years ago, paint experts here report most new homes are sided or painted white. Homeowners often add cool green tones to shutters, roofs and awnings.
Homeowners in Mountain states prefer natural colors — like the yellow-tans of the area's foliage — and natural materials like wood siding and stone. As elevation increases, homeowners tend to forego th
In the Southwest, warm earth tones are more common. Pink, sandy taupe and golden yellows are popular on Spanish houses.
Think Southern states, and images of white-pillared plantation homes come to mind. Though the region cycled through exterior neutrals from the beige family about 15 years ago, paint experts here report most new homes are sided or painted white. Homeowners often add cool green tones to shutters, roofs and awnings.
Homeowners in Mountain states prefer natural colors — like the yellow-tans of the area's foliage — and natural materials like wood siding and stone. As elevation increases, homeowners tend to forego th
Historic architectural styles look best in their original color schemes, although these can vary quite a bit. Original Colonial and Colonial Revival homes were often quite colorful on the inside, but less so on the exterior.
New England homes reflect the area's traditional values, rich history and landscape of rolling green hills, slate-colored mountains and subdued gray waters. New Englanders prefer a conservative palette for exterior siding, and pick lighter shades from the tan, yellow, gray and white tints. They punch up these tranquil tones with door, window, shutter and trim accents painted in navy blues and vivid berry shades, often in high-gloss finishes.
Have you hit on the perfect color combination for the outside of your house? We'd love to see it!
New England homes reflect the area's traditional values, rich history and landscape of rolling green hills, slate-colored mountains and subdued gray waters. New Englanders prefer a conservative palette for exterior siding, and pick lighter shades from the tan, yellow, gray and white tints. They punch up these tranquil tones with door, window, shutter and trim accents painted in navy blues and vivid berry shades, often in high-gloss finishes.
Have you hit on the perfect color combination for the outside of your house? We'd love to see it!