When you are looking to hire an exterior painting service to paint the exterior of your home, you may find yourself debating on what color or colors to use. Figuring out the right color on your own can be difficult. Here are nine rules to follow that may help you as you go about selecting exterior paint colors for your home.
1. Consider the Architectural Style of Your Home
To choose appropriate exterior paint colors for your home, it is essential to take into account its architectural style. Each architectural style has its own unique features and historically significant color palettes associated with it. For instance, Victorian-style homes often showcase vibrant colors whereas Craftsman-style homes may incorporate earthy tones. Before finalizing your choices, spend some time researching the specific architectural style of your house and exploring commonly used color schemes within that particular style. By selecting colors that align harmoniously with the existing architectural elements. You can improve both the aesthetic charm and the authenticity of your home’s exterior appearance.
2. Assess Your Surroundings
Prior to settling on your preferred exterior paint colors, it would be wise to assess the area surrounding your residence. This involves taking into consideration not only the color schemes of neighboring houses but also considering the overall environment. Striving for a balanced integration within your community while ensuring a distinct presence is crucially important. Seek out color combinations that either enhance or diverge from nearby homes’ schemes while also factoring in prevalent hues in proximity. Evaluating existing color contexts guarantees natural harmony between your dwelling and its surroundings without sacrificing distinctiveness.
3. Take Inspiration From Your Landscaping
When choosing exterior paint colors. It is crucial to take into account the landscape that surrounds your home. This includes examining the natural elements like trees, plants, and bodies of water. Pay close attention to the dominant colors in the landscape and let them serve as a guide for your color selection. By coordinating with or contrasting against these natural elements, you can establish a visually pleasing connection between your home and its environment. This integration will result in an exterior that feels harmonious and visually enticing.
4. Think About the Roof Color
When contemplating how to improve the overall look of your home’s exterior, one crucial factor to consider is none other than the color of your roofing. This entails not just its prominent hue but also any supplementary accents found on its surface. Should you have a roofing with neutral shades like gray or black, this grants you greater leeway in selecting an array of colors for painting purposes. Conversely, if your roofing showcases distinctive tones such as red or brown, careful deliberation must be made in order to ensure that the chosen exterior paint matches well with them in either blending effortlessly together or skillfully complementing each other instead. The key aspiration lies in fashioning a unified appearance where both the roofing and exterior paint create a visual masterpiece that stands as a testament to your home’s aesthetic allure.
5. Test in Different Lighting Conditions
It is important to test paint samples in different lighting conditions as colors can appear differently based on the lighting. Natural light can vary throughout the day and can cast different shades and shadows on the exterior of your home. To do this, you should paint large swatches of your chosen colors on various sides of your house. Then observe how the colors look at different times of the day, such as in bright sunlight, overcast skies, and twilight hours. By going through this testing process, you will be able to make a well-informed decision about which colors will look the best and maintain their desired effect under different lighting conditions.
6. Consider the Undertones
Deliberate attention must be given to the underlying tones when making decisions about exterior paint colors. These underlying tones could be described as either warm, such as yellow, red, or orange, or cool, such as blue, green, or grey. For example, when considering beige hues, one may find that those products exhibiting elements of yellow in their underlying tones result in a warm, nuanced appearance. In contrast, beige with grey undertones conveys a cooler aesthetic. To achieve an overall composition that is cohesive and wholly pleasing to the eye, one must be mindful to select colors that embrace corresponding underlying tones. These can be successful when represented through subtle harmonious color schemes or opting for provoking contrasting combinations for dynamic impressions. Reflecting on these fundamental elements ensures the maintenance of a well-balanced and visually compelling exterior color palette.
7. Test Different Color Combinations
In order to ensure a favorable outcome in terms of aesthetics for an exterior painting service, it is imperative that one thoroughly assesses different color combinations before making a final decision on which scheme to implement for one’s home exterior. To begin this process, it is advisable to obtain paint samples representing all the chosen colors under consideration. Then apply them extensively across multiple sections on your home’s facade or surrounding area as swatches or large patches respectively. The objective here is to carefully observe how these colors interact with each other in relation to their placement and determine whether they harmonize effectively without causing any conflicts perceptually or aesthetically speaking. Moreover, it is also wise to consider elements such as maintaining balance throughout this potential mixture, especially involving primary and secondary hues while also potentially factoring key supplementary accents into play if desired.
8. Use No More Than Three Colors
When it comes to choosing exterior paint colors. It is generally recommended to limit yourself to a maximum of three colors. This advice aims to create a harmonious and visually pleasing appearance. Firstly, select a main color that will cover the majority of your home’s exterior, such as the siding. This color sets the overall tone and should complement the architectural style and surroundings. Secondly, choose a secondary color for accents like doors, shutters, or trim. This color can provide contrast and add visual interest. Lastly. Consider a third color for smaller details or additional accents, such as window frames or moldings. By adhering to this guideline of three colors, you can achieve a cohesive look that avoids overwhelming the eye or appearing cluttered.
9. Consider the Long Term
Pondering over long-term implications becomes crucial in the process of selecting exterior paint colors for an exterior painting service to apply. For this reason alone, one should take into account qualities such as durability and resistance against weather elements, since exterior paint acts as a long-lasting investment. Select paints that can withstand demanding circumstances, like intense sun exposure, heavy rainfall, or potential snow conditions. Also, consider maintenance requirements associated with potential color choices. Certain hues might experience fading or necessitate more frequent touch-ups than others. Therefore, it would be prudent to opt for high-quality paints known for their ability to endure weather-related stressors while maintaining their appearance throughout time.
There are many different rules that you may need to follow when you are selecting exterior paint colors for an exterior painting service to paint your home. According to Open Door, exterior paint should follow the 60-30-10 percentage rule. This means that 60% is the body of the home, such as stucco or brick, 30% is the garage doors and trim. The final 10% includes things with a pop of color, such as your front door or shutters. If you are looking to hire an exterior painting service to paint your home, we can help. Reach out to Everything Drywall and Paint today for an estimate.