Selecting the right colors for the outside of your home may be more difficult than you expect. Even if you have your heart set on a particular shade, it may not look the way you envision.
Consider Any Restrictions
First of all, figure out if there are any colors that are off limits. If you belong to a homeowners association, there may be rules on which colors are and are not permitted.
If your house has any stonework that you don’t plan to paint, identify the undertone in the color of the stone and select a paint for the siding that will pair well with the stone. The color of your roof may also limit your paint options.
Choose Colors for the House, Trim and Accents
It’s generally best to select a neutral paint color for your house’s exterior, especially if you live in an area where you’re surrounded by other homes. A bright color may irritate your neighbors and may lead to stares and complaints. If you want to show off your personality, you can use a bolder color for trim and for the front door.
People often fall in love with a color when they see it on a sample, paint the outside of their home in that color, and are unhappy with the results. A color that looks beautiful on a sample may be overwhelming when it’s painted on an entire house. That’s another reason why neutral colors generally work best.
Having too many colors can be distracting. Stick with a main color, a different color for trim and one accent color.
Look at Several Sample Colors in Different Amounts of Sunlight
Even if you think you’ve chosen the perfect color, get a few samples so you can compare them. Paint small sections of the house with each color. If your house has stone that you won’t paint, place samples right next to the stonework so you can see how well they go together.
Sunlight will make the paint look brighter than it appears when you look at a sample indoors. If you find a color that you like, go with a paint that’s a few shades darker so it will resemble the color you want when the sun shines on the house.
Get Advice
If you’re planning to have your house professionally painted, a representative from the company can give you advice on which colors would work best. A paint store may have technology that can make suggestions based on the color of your existing stonework and let you see how various color combinations would look on your house.
Family members and friends may also be helpful. If you ask loved ones for advice, show them a few colors you’re considering, but don’t tell them if you prefer one over the others. Listen to their suggestions and ask them to explain their reasoning. They may notice something that you missed.
