How to Design the Paint Scheme for Your Home Exterior
Exterior paint schemes are ultimately a personal choice, but most home owners could use a little guidance when making it. Knowing personal color tastes and preferences is important, but the ability to try something different can add some sparkle and sophistication to a home's exterior. An accent color can make a home come to life if chosen correctly. Viewing exterior paint schemes before making a commitment can take the risk out of the design process. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Paint chips
- Digital camera
- Computer and Internet connection
- Paint, primer and brush (optional)
Instructions
-
-
1
Assess the exterior of the home and identify each area that needs paint---molding, trim, doors, walls, flower boxes, shutters---and begin choosing the paint scheme by deciding how many colors are needed. Typically an exterior can handle 3 colors---a trim color, an accent color (usually used on the doors and shutters) and a main color that is used on the majority of the exterior walls.
-
2
Consider the style of the home, the surrounding neighborhood, the landscaping and popular color trends. Study possible paint color schemes by researching what others have chosen to do. View paint manufacturers' paint palette examples provided in their brochures and sales materials. Review design magazines and books about historic architectural color schemes.
-
-
3
Collect photographs and magazine clippings of favorite color combinations. Carry them when shopping for paint.
-
4
Visit paint manufacturers' websites and use their virtual tools that include color palette examples, photographs of palette applications and virtual software tools. These tools allow the viewer to see what colors look like when applied to different areas of a home's exterior. Colors are combined per the viewer's choices.
-
5
Choose a final exterior paint scheme by purchasing quart sized containers of the paint colors and painting swatches of the color directly on the exterior. Use a primer over existing paint and then paint the sample color for a more accurate color representation.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Locate a paint manufacturer that uses software that allows the viewer to download their photos of the home and apply color to them.
