Exterior House Paint Design Ideas
Visitors and neighbors get their first impression of your home based on its exterior design. A large part of your exterior's effect is a result of your paint choices. Your exterior house paint can charm, soothe or shock--the choice is yours. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Understand Your Home's Situation
-
Your home is totally unique--even if it's in a tract or next to others just like it. Only your home sits in that exact spot, is subject to very specific natural lighting conditions and is a reflection of your unique personal style. If your house faces east, it will get a lot of morning sun but be shaded for the majority of waking hours. In this case, a light or brighter color is preferred, as a darker color may end up looking gloomy for much of the day. If your home's entrance faces the north or south it will receive abundant light most of the day and your color choices can be darker. If your home is in the shadow of another structure or has heavy tree cover consider going light and bright with your color choices.
Be a Good Neighbor
-
Consider your neighbors' paint choices when you choose exterior house paint. Of course it's your house and you have the right to do what you wish with it, but your paint choice could enhance all three houses, or make them all look bad. Even if your taste is wildly different than your neighbors', there are always compromises. For instance, if you want to paint your house extreme fuchsia, and the house on one side is tan and brown and the house on the other side is powder blue and white, you could end up with a pretty ugly combo. However, some shades of pink work with browns and blues. You could tone down your fuchsia, and perhaps just use the bright color on your door or porch.
-
Remember Your Roof
-
If your house were a person, its roof would be its hat. Naturally you want the hat to match the house's "outfit." Paint choice mistakes are often made on homes with terracotta tile roofs. Terracotta looks beautiful with neutrals, blues, greens, taupes and other cool tones. It can look terrible with some reds, oranges and yellows. If you have a terracotta tile roof, always bring a sample of terracotta --even if it's just a cheap garden pot--with you when choosing your exterior paint color.
Color
-
Exterior paint color choices are unlimited. You can choose to work with a monochromatic (one color) scheme, or work with two or more colors; selecting a different color for walls, trim, doors and porches. To learn more about how colors work together you can purchase an inexpensive color wheel at any craft or art store. On a color wheel, find your desired color and the wheel will show you a variety of colors that complement it.
-
