FRESH Home Exterior Colors: 5~Steps for Finding the Perfect Hues
Ranked #246 in Home & Garden, #3,802 overall
FRESH Thinking for Selecting Your Colors
A house is a reflection of those that call it home so it is no wonder that most people want their home to look great. Painting your home in the prefect combination of colors will go a long way to making it a place you can be proud to call your own.
The problem is that if you are like most homeowners, choosing the colors can be a daunting task. The good news is that it doesn't have to be difficult. All it takes is some FRESH thinking to select the right color for each element of your home - siding, doors, windows, shutters, trim and accents.
FRESH is the approach I use as a professional when selecting colors for a home exterior --- and now you can use this same process for choosing colors for your home.
The problem is that if you are like most homeowners, choosing the colors can be a daunting task. The good news is that it doesn't have to be difficult. All it takes is some FRESH thinking to select the right color for each element of your home - siding, doors, windows, shutters, trim and accents.
FRESH is the approach I use as a professional when selecting colors for a home exterior --- and now you can use this same process for choosing colors for your home.
Grab a Copy of the Free Ebook!
Kate Smith is giving this to you as a "Thank You" for being a reader
Whether you're building new or renovating your home,you want your color choices to reflect your personal style while at the same time enhancing the curb appeal and resale value of your property. The problem is that if you are like most homeowners, choosing the color for one item can be difficult; having to choose several coordinating colors for your home exterior can be a daunting task. The good news is that it doesn't have to be difficult.
In the {FRESH} Home Exterior Colors ebook you will find easy-to-follow steps to use when selecting colors for a home exterior. This 30-page guide shows you how to select the right color for each element of your home - roofing, siding, doors, windows, shutters, trim and accents.
You will also learn why it works best to work from the top down and how to know that your colors are going to work well on your home before you invest. {FRESH} Home Exterior Colors ebook shows you exactly how to pick the perfect colors for your home exterior and best of all if is yours at no costs when you register for Kate Smith's Sensational Color for Your Home mailing list.
What is your greatest challenge when it comes to selecting a color for your home's exterior
Choosing and matching colors can be nerve-wracking for any number of reasons.
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Steps to finding the perfect paint color
Just follow the tips in this lens to pick the perfect colors for your home exterior.
Fixed Features
Regional Colors
Environment and Surroundings
Style of the Home
Historic Colors
Last, stand back and admire your beautiful home!
Fixed Features
Regional Colors
Environment and Surroundings
Style of the Home
Historic Colors
Last, stand back and admire your beautiful home!
Determine Your Direction
Finding the perfect exterior paint colors: Before You Begin
Think about the personal statement you want to make on your home's exterior. Would you like your home to look stately and elegant, or storybook cute? Does a natural, toned down color fit your vision or is a beach-y bright a better fit? Having a clear idea of the overall style you are going for will go a long way in guiding you to the best material and color choices.
Start by looking at the type of homes that appeal to you. Whether found in magazines, on the Internet or as close as next door, one of the easiest ways to figure out what you like is to look at other homes. Determine what it is that you like about each house. Is it the overall color scheme or historic style? Maybe you like that it looks friendly and welcoming.
Taking pictures is also a good way to have an instant reference library as you begin planning how you will apply colors to your own home. You will be able to find your perfect exterior color scheme more easily if before you even start thinking about specific colors you figure out the types of schemes that you find most appeal to you.
Once you have honed in on your style the next step is to consider the five keys to FRESH exterior colors
Start by looking at the type of homes that appeal to you. Whether found in magazines, on the Internet or as close as next door, one of the easiest ways to figure out what you like is to look at other homes. Determine what it is that you like about each house. Is it the overall color scheme or historic style? Maybe you like that it looks friendly and welcoming.
Taking pictures is also a good way to have an instant reference library as you begin planning how you will apply colors to your own home. You will be able to find your perfect exterior color scheme more easily if before you even start thinking about specific colors you figure out the types of schemes that you find most appeal to you.
Once you have honed in on your style the next step is to consider the five keys to FRESH exterior colors
Look At The Fixed Features
Finding the perfect exterior paint colors: Step 1
Unless you are building a house from the ground up, no home is a blank canvas. There are many things to consider as you select your colors but the most influential will be the fixed features. These include items such as:
* Foundation materials: brick, stone, stucco, concrete, etc
* Roofing shingles: style, color, and material
* Chimney structures: brick, stone, or stucco.
* Porch, steps, retaining and walkways: brick, stone, cement.
* Decks and patios: wood, brick, concrete, etc.
I don't begin by looking at the siding color because that is the one thing about your home that is likely to change while the permanent elements are likely to remain the same for the life of the home. This makes your fixed features an excellent source for color direction.
Each feature may be constructed of a different material but they will usually have a common color or color cast. Once you identify the common color, it is a sure bet that another element that has the same color, color cast or undertone of that color will work well for your home's overall color scheme.
Your new colors don't need to match existing colors, but do need to harmonize with them. Take inventory of the colors in your home's fixed features. What color is your roof? Are bricks or stones on your facade? Will doors and railings remain their existing colors? What about the window frames? The color of each of these areas of your home will become part of your overall color plan.
Look at the fixed features of your home and I bet you'll begin to see some repetition of color tones. It is this repetition that allows different materials and textures to all work well together. When choosing colors for items such as your roof find a color or color that also includes the predominate color or color cast of the existing permanent elements.
* Foundation materials: brick, stone, stucco, concrete, etc
* Roofing shingles: style, color, and material
* Chimney structures: brick, stone, or stucco.
* Porch, steps, retaining and walkways: brick, stone, cement.
* Decks and patios: wood, brick, concrete, etc.
I don't begin by looking at the siding color because that is the one thing about your home that is likely to change while the permanent elements are likely to remain the same for the life of the home. This makes your fixed features an excellent source for color direction.
Each feature may be constructed of a different material but they will usually have a common color or color cast. Once you identify the common color, it is a sure bet that another element that has the same color, color cast or undertone of that color will work well for your home's overall color scheme.
Your new colors don't need to match existing colors, but do need to harmonize with them. Take inventory of the colors in your home's fixed features. What color is your roof? Are bricks or stones on your facade? Will doors and railings remain their existing colors? What about the window frames? The color of each of these areas of your home will become part of your overall color plan.
Look at the fixed features of your home and I bet you'll begin to see some repetition of color tones. It is this repetition that allows different materials and textures to all work well together. When choosing colors for items such as your roof find a color or color that also includes the predominate color or color cast of the existing permanent elements.
Think About Your Regional Colors
Finding the perfect exterior paint colors: Step 2
Geography can also influence the color scheme. For example, a brighter terra cotta color that would seem garish in northern climates may be an excellent choice for areas where the sunlight is intense and washes out the color. East Coast? Midwest? South? Regional color preferences come from a blend of the region's natural characteristics --climate, topography, landscape and quality of the natural light -- together with the housing styles, available materials and cultural history of the area.
You will want to take into consideration the overall look of your neighborhood. While you won't want your home to be a twin of another home close by, you will want your home to blend in with the surrounding homes. Consider the context of your home within the neighborhood and choose colors that will standout while still fitting in.
Find colors that express your individual style and complement the other homes in the area.
You will want to take into consideration the overall look of your neighborhood. While you won't want your home to be a twin of another home close by, you will want your home to blend in with the surrounding homes. Consider the context of your home within the neighborhood and choose colors that will standout while still fitting in.
Find colors that express your individual style and complement the other homes in the area.
Environment and Surroundings
Finding the perfect exterior paint colors: Step 3
The natural setting and landscaping surrounding your home are other elements to keep in mind when selecting exterior colors for your home.
* If your lot has no trees, natural hues will work best. For a home surrounded by trees or on a wooded lot contrasting colors will allow the home to stand out.
* Suburban, urban or rural? Wooded, desert, waterfront? Temper the colors to the setting.
* If your lot has no trees, natural hues will work best. For a home surrounded by trees or on a wooded lot contrasting colors will allow the home to stand out.
* Suburban, urban or rural? Wooded, desert, waterfront? Temper the colors to the setting.
Style of the Home
Finding the perfect exterior paint colors: Step 4
The architectural style of your home is the next part of the color equation for you to consider. You not only want your color scheme to fit your neighborhood but also the style of your home.
What style is your home? Traditional, Tudor, Cape Cod, Ranch, Split Level, Colonial, Victorian, Southwestern, or Coastal? Color and materials supports the home's style and architecture, not vice versa.
What style is your home? Traditional, Tudor, Cape Cod, Ranch, Split Level, Colonial, Victorian, Southwestern, or Coastal? Color and materials supports the home's style and architecture, not vice versa.
Historic Color: Tried & True Color Schemes
Finding the perfect exterior paint colors: Step 5
Looking to historic colors schemes is one way for you to identify a color that may look good on your home's exterior.
Historic Colors
- Old House Journal: Choosing Historic Colors
- Colorful Issues in Choosing Exterior Paint
- American Tradition National Trust Colors
- The American Tradition® National Trust colors replicate historic American times and sites while evoking memories of bygone eras. Today, there are over 250 authenticated National Trust colors to adorn and decorate contemporary homes with a timeless beauty.
- Heritage Village Colors | Oil & Latex Paints
- 26 colors made in the time honored traditon of the old fashioned paint-making craftsman.
Exterior Colors That Last
Finding the perfect exterior paint colors: Things To Consider
Your color selection has a strong influence on paint performance because the amount of ultraviolet (UV) light absorbed or reflected by the color affects how long a paint job will last.Dark colors absorb heat and suffer more moisture problems than lighter shades. That's why lighter colors last longer and fade less than dark colors. And because dark colors fade faster, they are more difficult to touch up.
When you are considering the color scheme for your home keep the following in mind:
*Check the manufacture information for color limitations
*Consider the exposure of the surface to be painted since southern exposure will fade more quickly that one facing north.
*Organic colors tend to fade more quickly than inorganic colors
*Always use high-quality paints for superior color retention
Read more on Choosing Exterior Paint Colors That Last
Choosing color for painting garage doors
Finding the perfect exterior paint colors: Color Placement
A great color scheme can make elements of a home standout or blend in. Garage doors usually look better if they blend in rather than stand out.
Here are a few general DO's and DON'Ts for painting garage doors:
* DO paint the garage doors in the same color as the house itself and not the trim color or white (unless white is your house color). Painting the garage doors the same colors as the body of the house will make your home appear larger.
* DO paint the trim around the doors either to match the door or to match the trim on the rest of your home.
* DON'T paint the garage doors in the same accent color they chose for their front door or shutters. This draws too much attention to the doors and chops up the facade of the home.
* DON'T highlight the details of a standard garage door by painting the door in more than one color. There are historic or special doors where this may be appropriate but for the majority of garage doors this would not be the way to go.
Here are a few general DO's and DON'Ts for painting garage doors:
* DO paint the garage doors in the same color as the house itself and not the trim color or white (unless white is your house color). Painting the garage doors the same colors as the body of the house will make your home appear larger.
* DO paint the trim around the doors either to match the door or to match the trim on the rest of your home.
* DON'T paint the garage doors in the same accent color they chose for their front door or shutters. This draws too much attention to the doors and chops up the facade of the home.
* DON'T highlight the details of a standard garage door by painting the door in more than one color. There are historic or special doors where this may be appropriate but for the majority of garage doors this would not be the way to go.
Specialty Exterior Paints
- Farrow & Ball, Traditional Paint & Wallpaper
- Farrow & Ball are manufacturers of traditional wallpapers and paints. We manufacture 100% of the paint and wallpaper we sell, using only the finest ingredients, by traditional methods, to original formulations. Our edited palette of unrivalled colours has been created to ensure you succeed, whatever
- Exterior Paints and Stains from Van Sickle
- Top quality exterior latex and oil-base paints, primers and stains.
- Fine Paints of Europe
- The Pinnacle of the Dutch art of paint making. Formulated with great care using only the finest ingredients, our paints produce complex living colors that enhance any environment.
Popular Paint Brands
Exterior solutions from recognized brands
- Martin Senour Home Exterior Palette Match
- Color combinations for their Exterior Collections, Williamsburg Collection or Great Outdoors Stains
- Behr Paint
- The Behr line is available at Home Depot
- Benjamin Moore
- Transform the look of your home
- Dunn-Edwards
- Paint and application tips for every type of exterior
- Dutch Boy Exterior Paints
- Dutch Boy helps you select the type of paint to use.
- Pratt & Lambert® Paints
- Never compromise
- Sherwin-Williams: Industrial and Residential Paint, Coatings and Color Expertise
- Sherwin-Williams: Paint, Coatings and Color Experts for Residential Exteriors.
- Valspar Interior and Exterior Paints
- Valspar formulates and manufactures an extensive line of exterior house paints and primers. Be a decorator and use color inside and outside your home!
- Duron Paints
- Retailer and manufacturer of paint for architectural and industrial coatings.
- California Paints
- The Colors of America
- True Value Paint
- Color Made Simple! Colors, like people, have distinct personalities so choose a color that matches your very own.
- PARA Paints
- Whether you're a Do-it-Yourselfer, a Paint Specifier, or a Professional Painter, there's enough information on this site to answer most of your painting questions.
For Those That Need Stain Rather Than Paint
- Staining is Different Than Painting
- Stains come in different product types (deck, deck and siding), opacities (transparencies), and colors.
Articles on Painting Home Exteriors
from the Paint Quality Institute
- DIY Exterior Tips
- The exterior section will guide you though step-by-step painting techniques. Get the right tips on what works and what doesn't!
- Exterior Painting: Getting Started
- Painting the siding, trim and other exterior parts of your house is a big job, but the rewards are big too. You'll extend the life of your siding, increase the value and curb appeal of your home, and -- if you do it yourself -- save thousands of dollars. You'll first learn how to select the
Curb Appeal
by HGTV, Paula Marshall (Editor)
An essential reference for every homeowner-Curb Appeal shows readers how to add maximum appeal and value to their property with a minimum investment of time and money.Backed by the trusted HGTV brand and packed with dozens of unique ideas and cost-saving projects for adding character to the front of any property.
Helpful how-to instructions equip readers with the tools and knowledge to transform any exterior into a vibrant, intriguing reflection of personal style.
Fabulous real-life exterior, entryway, and landscaping before-and-after photos inspire homeowners to approach their own home with a fresh eye, and teaches them how to transform it from good to great.
Great architectural styles include bungalow, split level and Victorian styles, featured in both urban and suburb homes.
See "HGTV Curb Appeal" at Amazon.com
The Art of Exterior Painting: A Step-By-Step Guide to Choosing Colors and Painting Your Home
by Leslie Harrington, Benjamin Moore Paints, James Martin, Benjamin Moore & Co
Two pros show you how to make your exterior painting project a rewarding experience while creating a beautiful exterior for your home.With more than 80 photos to guide and inspire you, you'll learn how to:Make the most of your house's architecture.
-Use colors to highlight your home's features.
-Hire a professional to paint your home or help you choose colors.
-Assess technical information on paints, stains, application tools, and surfaces.
-Use the best application techniques for expert results.
See "The Art of Exterior Painting" at Amazon.com
Preparing to Paint
Good results start with proper preparation
- Behr's Exterior Paint Project Tips
- How to deal with common (and not-so-common) exterior conditions, including cleaning surfaces, sanding loose or peeling paint, repairing cracks and even large holes.
- Problem Solver for Exteriors
- Read advice on using paints and tips for interior and exterior painting and decorating techniques, from the Paint Quality Institute. This website from Rohm and Haas includes a guide to interior painting and decorating to help get the best results, plus for exterior decorating jobs, there is a detail
- Why It's Important to Use Top Quality Paint
- When doing exterior painting, an important decision is the quality of paint to be used. Top quality paints are designed to produce the best-looking and longest-lasting results and even though quality paints may cost a little
Perfectly Painted House: A Foolproof Guide for Choosing Exterior Colors for Your Home
by Bonnie Rosser Krims
Painting the exterior of a home is a large and costly project-yet homeowners have long been forced to decide on a color scheme based on only a tiny swatch or a paint brochure.Now, nationally recognized color consultant Bonnie Rosser Krims shares a foolproof method for selecting and combining exterior paint colors. This unique guidebook presents more than twenty-five distinct color schemes- complete with color reference numbers from the major paint manufacturers-along with beautiful, full-color photographs, and ideas and inspiration for painting trim, accent colors, and more. Specific information about working with roof color, plantings, and features such as walkways and porches is also included.
See "Perfectly Painted House" at Amazon.com
Kate give advice and answers readers questions on "Color For Your Home"
Did You Find This Lens Helpful? Let Me Know What You Think!
-
-
desa999
May 18, 2012 @ 3:50 am | delete
- Very detailed lens with some great ideas.
-
-
-
BestLaminateInc
Apr 12, 2012 @ 10:37 am | delete
- Great lens! Love your ideas on picking colors for the exterior. thanks for sharing.
-
-
-
jeffludy
Feb 28, 2012 @ 5:56 pm | delete
- Great article. I especially like what you had to say about painting your home. Hardiplank Siding Houston
-
-
-
technospunky Nov 24, 2011 @ 10:47 pm | delete
- I am finding all your lenses helpful!! in so many ways.
my biggest thing about decorating is I just cannot seem to do it.
I can SEE it, but I cannot get it right externally. I feel the colors, I see them..but if I try to apply it to my living room it looks like a ...well.. mess.
-
-
-
Color_Expert Nov 25, 2011 @ 10:31 am | delete
- Thanks for stopping by. You might want to try my free course to help you with interiors. http://www.sensationalcolor.com/colorforyourhome/
-
- Load More
Follow Kate Smith on Twitter
http://twitter.com/colorexpert
Continue Your Exploration of Color
Like Sensational Color Fans Page on Facebook
Like Us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/sensationalcolor
Don't Forget to Get Your Copy of the Ebook!
Kate Smith of Sensational Color is giving this to as a gift: Click here to grab your copy now
by Color_Expert
Color is my passion. Helping you to enjoy it--understand it--have fun with it--go wild with it--and use color confidently is my purpose.
I am a color...
more »
- 48 featured lenses
- Winner of 10 trophies!
- Top lens » Color: Meaning, Symbolism and Psychology
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
Live In Full Color
{ color - biz - design - art - life }
Featured Lenses
