Color Coordinating for House Paint Colors

Bold house colors can be striking when paired with neutral shades.

If you drive down any residential street in the U.S., you're bound to see row upon row of houses decked out in unassuming colors like white, beige and muted neutrals. This doesn't always have to be the case.

Types

Types of exterior color schemes include monochromatic, complementary and adjacent. Monochromatic color schemes use different shades of one single color: for example, a house with light beige siding and dark brown trim. Complementary color schemes combine colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, such as green and red or purple and yellow. Employing an adjacent color scheme means working with two colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.

Misconceptions

Homeowners commonly feel that bold colors do not belong on the exterior of their home, which is not always the case. Neutrally-painted houses can look stunning with a pop of bold accent color on the trim or shutters. A dash of color is an important part of an appealing exterior design, and with the right color combination you can even pull off bold colors on your siding.

Considerations

Paint a generous area at the back of your house in the colors of your choice before you invest in multiple gallons. Let the paint dry completely and consider the effect of your base and accent colors together. Solicit advice from neighbors and friends.

References

• Bob Vila: Paint Color Selection
• Sunset: Colorful Cottage