Experiment with the exterior colors of your home to get a contemporary look.
The colors that you use for the exterior of the house will be your guest's first impression of the home. The colors will be what your neighbors see most often and associate you with. Express and represent yourself, but don't overdo it. Comply with neighborhood rules, if you have any, and take a look at the surrounding houses. You may decide not to be the only one on the block with a bold color scheme. There are many ways to give a house character and texture while keeping it inviting. Bring the colors of your home into the yard with stone, plants and art.
Bold Colors
Use a dark shade with a lighter shade for a bold color scheme.
Use bold colors that are opposite on the color wheel to give a dramatic effect. Yellow is a very bold color; tone yellow siding down with white trim to have a bright, cheerful colored house that doesn't stick out in a bad way. Go bright and express yourself, but stay away from blinding. Red siding does well when paired with a green, blue or brown. Choose the correct shades. Crayon red siding paired with grass green trim wouldn't look attractive and reminds people of Christmas. A brick red with a dark forest green, however, gives the house a forest lodge appearance. If you do choose to go bold, use designing software to virtually paint a house first to ensure you like the combination. Ask the paint store clerk to mix you exact shades. A slight difference in shade may not be noticed right away but will affect the final result.
Neutral Colors
Brick can warm up a neutral colored house.
Natural tones are favored for new houses today. Shades of off-white, like tan, cream, suede or caramel, have a clean look that is appealing to many people. Other natural tones include natural greens, browns and tans. Combinations of these earth-based tones never look bad on home exteriors. Add texture to the house with stone and brick. These look good with natural colors because they are natural in essence and often have many of the same earth shades within them. Natural stone can be added to existing columns, siding and window frames. Bring it out into the front yard by placing large boulders on the entrance path.
Dark With Light
Light colors with dark trim create a traditional style house.
For a classic look seen in houses like Victorian manors, English Tudor and many modern homes, pick a light neutral shade for the main siding, and accent it with a dark color. This Old House calls this the safe and sane look for a house. The light color as the main color is inviting, and you don't run the risk of the house looking sinister. Use white to trim the immediate window edges, and use a dark tone, such as a dark green, red or brown, to accent. Use the dark for window shutters, the front door, garage doors and outside trim if there is enough.
Blues and Blacks
Blue is a favorite color to work with for house trim.
A house with blue siding will stand out to a degree because the green and brown of the earth around it are so opposite of the blue. With the right trim color, you can make it stand out in a good way. White is a favorite and always friendly trim color for a blue house, however dark it is. According to This Old House, the blue and white combination looks crisp and clean. Black is an even darker color and sometimes difficult to use without bringing down the overall feel of the house. Don't paint black as the main color of the house as it will diminish the structure. Use it as a trim color in accent to a bolder, bright shade like mint green, sky blue or pastel yellow.
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