The best way to protect your home against the elements is to select a quality exterior paint or stain, spend the appropriate amount of time preparing your home, and allow a professional to perform a quality application in painting your home. Make sure to select a paint that’s resistant to mold and mildew, resistant to ultraviolet light, and available in colors that aren’t prone to fade. After these technicalities are decided on, the fun part begins: selecting the future color of your home’s exterior!
Go With What You Know
If you’re wondering why a majority of homes rely on the same group of colors when it comes to exterior paint, there’s a reason for that. If your home has beige siding, chances are that it will look best with a bright white trim around the windows, doors, and on railings. Certain color pairings and combinations (such as beige, pale yellow or green with white) will always look work for creating a home exterior that is fresh and clean. Outdoor light fixtures can also help you decide on which color to paint your home. Just like the inside of your home, outdoor lighting begs for complimentary paint colors that accentuate or mask, accordingly.
So Many Shades
Although it may be ultimately easier, choosing one single color to paint the exterior of your home can look a bit boring once the job is complete. Instead, try choosing an exterior color scheme that includes varying shades of your choice paint color. Selecting specific features of your home, such as window trim, shutters, house numbers, or window boxes, and painting them either a darker or lighter shade than the majority of your home shows some variation without being overwhelming. This sets you up for including a pop of color by painting your front door a bright red or eye-catching green.
It’s Not All Neutral
Cottages and bungalows are less bound to formal color schemes; these homes are opportunities to experiment with exciting shades and color patterns. A whimsical color scheme is acceptable because the contrasting colors will be united with a white trim. In addition to cottages and bungalows, homes that have had several additions are also prime candidates for playing with fun colors and patterns. By nature, these homes are less formal and their exterior paint colors should celebrate this.
Keep your Bold Colors in Check
If your home is a classical style, you can still incorporate bright, bold colors into your exterior paint scheme. However, use bright red or yellow sparingly. The traditional characteristics of your home’s exterior are going to leave quite an impression. Be sure to not overpower these characteristics by using too much of your bold accent color. Ultimately, the exterior paint color that you choose should support your architecture, not outshine it.
Choosing the right paint colors can be a trying experience, but the right paint choices will highlight the best features of your home. If you live in or around the Central Valley, contact us today to see how Lancaster Painting can brighten up your home's exterior.
