Color Ideas for Home Exteriors
When painting the exterior of the home, finding the right colors takes time and patience. While you want to make your house stand out from those in the neighborhood, it is important to pick colors that enhance the architectural detail of your home without clashing with your neighbor. Complement masonry, stonework and roofing materials with paint colors to enhance the look of the house.
Dramatic Colors
If you have a house that has many architectural details or trim, dark paint colors will draw attention to those features. Despite the attention to detailing, dark colors on any house can create the illusion it is smaller. If you like the appearances of dark paint colors but want to keep the house siding lighter, use dramatic colors for accents. Use dark paint to create a historical look for your home, especially for Victorian architecture. Use a cream or light colored paint for the walls, and use a dark accenting color such as burgundy, forest green, or navy blue for window sashes or trim to bring out architectural features.
Nature-Inspired Colors
Let your surroundings inspire color for your exterior. If you live on the coast, color ideas can be pulled from the ocean, sand and sky with a cream, turquoise, blue or coral palette. Landscaping or front-yard gardens provide you with an earthy inspiration of browns, greens, creams or reds. Use a light color for the wall siding, and use an accent color for the trim to enhance the surroundings. If you have a yard of trees and bushes, incorporate deep greens, rusts and browns into the color scheme. For a desert landscape, choose exterior colors like deep reds, gold and brown variations.
Non-Painted Surfaces and Colors
If you have a home with a majority of space that will not be painted, it is important to find colors that will blend nicely with existing brick or stone work. Keep in mind roof material and color when selecting a paint to avoid clashing. If the roof is dark gray, choose a gray variation for eaves, window trim and accenting details to keep the house in harmony. Use a complimenting color of paint for window sashes that go with existing stone or masonry. The use of complementary colors will allow you to keep the house from looking drab, while still keeping all the colors within the same palette family.
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