Choosing exterior house paint colors can be intimidating. The color you choose greatly impacts your home’s overall appearance and curb appeal. Plus, making decisions regarding the time and money required to complete the project is daunting and massive. Here we list tips for choosing the right exterior paint colors to help take some of the pressure off picking a color.
Consider Your Home’s Style, Architecture, and Neighborhood
Your home’s style and architecture help guide your exterior paint color choices. Some architectural styles have traditional color palettes, while others may lend themselves to more vibrant or contemporary color schemes. For example, a collection of pastels may not be the best fit for a ranch-style home, while very bold hues may feel out of place on a Victorian. It helps to research typical color schemes associated with your home’s architectural style to ensure your choices are harmonious. Your neighborhood can also influence your paint color choices. Do you live in an area with many historic homes or a newer suburb with more modern buildings? Use those to give you a starting point.
Take Inspiration from Your Surroundings
Look at your natural surroundings, such as the landscape and neighboring houses. Consider the colors in the environment and choose a color palette that complements or harmonizes with those elements. For example, you can draw inspiration from the colors of plants, trees, rocks, or the ocean. You can also take inspiration from exterior color palettes that you like on other homes that look like yours.
Consider the Light
The lighting conditions in your area can affect how paint colors appear. Remember that natural sunlight and artificial lighting can alter the perception of color. Consider painting a small section of your home’s exterior with the colors you are considering and observe how they look in various lighting conditions and at different times of the day. These samples will give you a better sense of how the colors will appear on a larger scale.
Use Your Home as Guidance
It’s important to consider the color of permanent elements on your home’s exterior, such as the roof, stone or brick accents, window trims, or any existing architectural details. These elements can serve as a base to build on. The paint colors should coordinate or complement these fixed elements rather than clash with them. In addition, a home’s size influences the way colors look. Large residences painted a dark color could look ominous, foreboding, and uninviting.
Stick to a Cohesive Color Palette
To avoid overwhelming the exterior of your home, stick to a limited color palette. Many successful home color combinations use three hues – a dominant shade and two accents, where one is often richer or brighter than the others. Hues in the same family – varying shades of gray, for example – work well and are called monochromatic. Those hues next to each other on the color wheel (analogous) work well together, as do opposites or complementary colors. A well-coordinated color scheme with a limited palette will create a cohesive and visually appealing look.
Consider Long-Term Appeal
While it’s important to choose colors that you personally like, keep in mind that trends can change, and opting for timeless and classic colors can ensure that your home’s exterior remains visually appealing for years to come. Neutral shades like whites, grays, and beiges are often safe choices, but don’t be afraid to incorporate bolder colors as accents if they complement the overall design.
Exterior Painting in San Diego
Choosing an exterior paint for your home is a big but wonderful decision. You want to choose a color that reflects your style and preferences while emulating cohesiveness with your neighborhood and surroundings. At PaintGreen, we have a team of certified color experts eager to help you choose the colors and shades to produce the look and feel you want for your home. If you wish to go bold and vibrant or are looking for more muted shades, PaintGreen can provide expert advice that will leave you amazed with the final results of your exterior paint job. Call us at (619) 446-6983, or click here to schedule your FREE estimate!
