Selecting Exterior Paint Colors

Choosing or changing the exterior color of your home can be overwhelming with so many color options available. It’s great to get ideas from magazines, websites, etc. but what looks great in a photo may not work on your own home.  There are multiple factors that come into play that will affect how colors change in appearance from house to house. Keep the following tips in consideration when making your decision will help in picking the right color:

1. Consider your surroundings. Sunlight and vegetation vary from region to region and will have an effect on the appearance of paint colors. The warm desert sky works great with bold orange, yellow, and red paint colors but those same colors in the gray skies of the Pacific Northwest with towering evergreens have a different appearance. Consider your region’s sunlight and vegetation and choose colors that reflect the either warm or cool tones of the light. Note that all colors have warm and cool variations; for example reds can have warm undertones with hints of orange/yellow or cool undertones with a blue/purple undertone so if you love red and live in the Northwest you’re not out of luck!
2. Take into account your home’s architectural style. Whether you have a Midcentury Modern, Cape Cod, or Crafstman home a little research on the era will show an array of palettes that are appropriate to the style. Many paint companies have historical collections which can be a great start to choosing your palette!
3. Three color approach. Ideally your exterior scheme will have 3 colors, although there’s no “rule” against having more or less. Your first color will be your field color, the primary color of the house. Second, an accent color which can be found on doors, small areas of siding, etc. Last is the trim color. The trim is a great way to make a bold statement and add contrast to your home. When you’ve selected a field color you love keep an open mind to a variety of trim colors to find the one that suits your style and vision the best!
4. Test your colors! As mentioned earlier, you can’t rely on photos/paint chips to know how a color will look on your unique home. When you’ve narrowed down your colors grab some samples from the paint store and paint a 2’x2’ square in a discreet location of your home. Check the swatches during different times of the day and under different weather conditions to see how the colors look and change.

Written by Lisa Kramer, Designer at H2D