How to Design Exterior Colors of a New House

Color swatches can help you choose a paint shade.

A new house is a blank canvas, and with all the paint colors available, it can be difficult to decide on a color scheme. The exterior colors of your home should be a reflection of your personality, but there are some basic rules of design to keep in mind. The ideal color combination greatly enhances your home's appearance and increases curb appeal. Pick wisely so your home stands out in the neighborhood for all the right reasons.

Things You'll Need

• Home design books and magazines
• Color wheel
• Paint swatches

Instructions

1. Browse home design magazines, websites or books to get inspiration for color schemes you like. Tear out the pages (or make a color copy) of ideas you like.

2. Consider your home's existing fixtures -- shingle color, brick or stone accents and guttering, for example. Try to incorporate these into the color scheme rather than ignore them.

3. Pay attention to your surroundings. No one wants a cookie-cutter home, but make an effort to choose colors that don't clash completely with neighboring houses. Your landscaping also can give you color scheme clues. If you live on a heavily wooded lot, consider lighter colors to avoid having your house blend in with the background. Lighter colors can also make a small house seem larger.

4. Study the color wheel for clues. Painting your house one solid color is a design faux pas -- you'll want to use colors that go well together to accent shutters, trim, windows and porches. Successful color schemes often use monochromatic colors (different shades of one color), complementary colors (colors opposite one another on the wheel) or adjacent colors (colors next to one another on the color wheel).

5. Pick up color swatches or paint samples of hues you like. Be sure to take your notes and design examples with you to the home improvement store so you can match swatches to your wants.

6. Consult a professional. If you are still on the fence about design colors, get an expert opinion before purchasing paint. Even the employees at a home improvement store can help point you in the right direction. A contractor may also be able to provide you with a consultation.

References

• Old House Web: Choosing Exterior Paint Schemes
• Country Living: Choosing House Paint Color Combinations
• Sherwin-Williams: Color Tips -- Choosing Exterior Paint Colors

Resources

• This Old House: Choose Paint Colors With a Color Wheel