Exterior Color
Adapted information from the Paint Quality Institute
Choosing colors for the outside of your home requires some thought in most instances. Does this clash with the neighborhood? Does it copy my next dor neighbors? Will the colors I choose get dirty quickly? All these are valid questions and we at Rayco Painting hope to help you with your color schemes. We have painted many homes all different schemes. Please ask our Project Manager to help you with your color selections.
Here are a few questions we get from homeowners:
What are the most common mistakes when choosing exterior paint colors?
Accenting unattractive elements such as gutters, downspouts, a protruding garage door, air conditioning units, unevenly placed windows, etc.
Ignoring neighboring houses: your color scheme choice should not clash with the neighbor's house - it's a lose-lose situation. Choose a scheme that blends with the neighborhood or stands out in a subtle, unobtrusive manner.
Landscaping counts: consider tress that change color, flowering shrubs, flower gardens when selection colors, for compatibility. Heavily wooded lots will make colors look darker due to shade; also could camouflage homes, so attention to detail is needed. Greens are not a good choice in this situation.
What do you recommend?
Color makes a first impression, an individual statement and can enhance curb appeal and even resale value; a creative scheme versus the more typical white could be an opportunity to make that first impression.
Be observant: drive through various neighborhoods, established and new, to see color in action. Make note of appealing color schemes and consider adapting them to your own home.
Assuming no structural work is needed, color/paint is the most cost-effective approach to changing the appearance of a home.
Define the entryway by using color as a "Welcome" sign.
Windows are an opportunity: they give character to a house. Outlining them with an accent color lends crispness to the color scheme.
What should I look out for when choosing a color?
Consider the colors that can't change (for example, elements such as roofing shingles, and brick, slate, and stone accents or features) and use these elements as color resources because there are numerous shades and hues in building materials. A charcoal gray shingle for example could have flecks of gray-green or gray blue that could be found on a paint color strip or incorporated into the color scheme.
Examine color samples outdoors, at various angles and different times of the day. Consider buying small quantities of desired colors and paint a section of the house where body, trim and accent colors can be viewed together.
Pay attention to geography, specifically the intensity of the sun. Intense sun washes out colors and darker colors tend to fade faster than neutral colors.
Are there any rules of thumb about color placement on a home?
A large home on a small lot painted white or a light color - for instance, a tinted neutral - can make the house seem larger and the lot seem smaller. Dark colors can make a home look smaller but more substantial.
A safe and easy approach to color placement is to select two tints or shades from the same color strip a few shades apart. Either the lighter or the darker shade could be used for the body and the opposite for the trim. A contrasting accent color could accent the door. Lighter colors on a porch will make a home feel more "approachable" and welcoming.
Light or white is a good choice for windowsills for reflection of the sun's heat and light. Light colors advance in space; dark colors recede. If a house is placed far away from the curb, painting it a light color will visually bring it forward.
Why are white and light colors so popular?
Traditionally, white and light colors were perceived to be safe choices. Neutral colors appeal to a wide audience and it is a safe bet in almost any neighborhood. Today, tinted neutrals that play off landscaping and other building materials are increasingly being used, as are bolder more contemporary colors.
For more exterior color advice check out:
http://architecture.about.com/cs/repairremodel/a/pickcolors.htm
Choosing colors for the outside of your home requires some thought in most instances. Does this clash with the neighborhood? Does it copy my next dor neighbors? Will the colors I choose get dirty quickly? All these are valid questions and we at Rayco Painting hope to help you with your color schemes. We have painted many homes all different schemes. Please ask our Project Manager to help you with your color selections.
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| This home is painted with a contemporary color scheme with the body a bolder, earthy color. The white trim accents the home well along with the 3rd color for the shutters. |
Here are a few questions we get from homeowners:
What are the most common mistakes when choosing exterior paint colors?
Accenting unattractive elements such as gutters, downspouts, a protruding garage door, air conditioning units, unevenly placed windows, etc.
Ignoring neighboring houses: your color scheme choice should not clash with the neighbor's house - it's a lose-lose situation. Choose a scheme that blends with the neighborhood or stands out in a subtle, unobtrusive manner.
Landscaping counts: consider tress that change color, flowering shrubs, flower gardens when selection colors, for compatibility. Heavily wooded lots will make colors look darker due to shade; also could camouflage homes, so attention to detail is needed. Greens are not a good choice in this situation.
What do you recommend?
Color makes a first impression, an individual statement and can enhance curb appeal and even resale value; a creative scheme versus the more typical white could be an opportunity to make that first impression.
Be observant: drive through various neighborhoods, established and new, to see color in action. Make note of appealing color schemes and consider adapting them to your own home.
Assuming no structural work is needed, color/paint is the most cost-effective approach to changing the appearance of a home.
Define the entryway by using color as a "Welcome" sign.
Windows are an opportunity: they give character to a house. Outlining them with an accent color lends crispness to the color scheme.
What should I look out for when choosing a color?
Consider the colors that can't change (for example, elements such as roofing shingles, and brick, slate, and stone accents or features) and use these elements as color resources because there are numerous shades and hues in building materials. A charcoal gray shingle for example could have flecks of gray-green or gray blue that could be found on a paint color strip or incorporated into the color scheme.
Examine color samples outdoors, at various angles and different times of the day. Consider buying small quantities of desired colors and paint a section of the house where body, trim and accent colors can be viewed together.
Pay attention to geography, specifically the intensity of the sun. Intense sun washes out colors and darker colors tend to fade faster than neutral colors.
Are there any rules of thumb about color placement on a home?
A large home on a small lot painted white or a light color - for instance, a tinted neutral - can make the house seem larger and the lot seem smaller. Dark colors can make a home look smaller but more substantial.
A safe and easy approach to color placement is to select two tints or shades from the same color strip a few shades apart. Either the lighter or the darker shade could be used for the body and the opposite for the trim. A contrasting accent color could accent the door. Lighter colors on a porch will make a home feel more "approachable" and welcoming.
Light or white is a good choice for windowsills for reflection of the sun's heat and light. Light colors advance in space; dark colors recede. If a house is placed far away from the curb, painting it a light color will visually bring it forward.
Why are white and light colors so popular?
Traditionally, white and light colors were perceived to be safe choices. Neutral colors appeal to a wide audience and it is a safe bet in almost any neighborhood. Today, tinted neutrals that play off landscaping and other building materials are increasingly being used, as are bolder more contemporary colors.
For more exterior color advice check out:
http://architecture.about.com/cs/repairremodel/a/pickcolors.htm
