Curb Appeal
Posted on November 4, 2016
Curb appeal has become a buzz word in the housing industry. It’s that first impression you get when first looking at a home and just like that first look at your blind date, it can alter your perceptions of everything that follows.
Whether you are making changes in preparation for a sale, are conforming to a homeowners association or just making a change for your own reasons, there are many options to choose from.
The first step you want to take is backwards literally. Go outside, look at your house. Take a few steps back. Repeat again. Look at the dominant colors of not just the structure but the surroundings as well. A red shingle roof can be contrasted by a low grey stone wall or a large quantity of greenery around the base of the house.
The next question is, are you looking to create contrast or just definition. The difference between the two is features that “STAND OUT” and ones that just stand out.
If just want to add detail for a more intricate look, choose a tight color palette with choices close to the main color of the house.
In fact many older homes were originally built and painted with a variety of shades on the same color. You would see a red brick house, with a front door painted a dark, almost brown red door or alcove and a light red highlight for the window trim or shutters.
To create a contrast you have a few more options.
If your structure has an entryway, you can choose a lighter colors scheme to highlight that area. Prominent features like a balcony or large picture window, can also be used as highlights.
Normally you would choose a lighter tone to highlight your features. For instance a home with mainly earth tone features would look good with touches of sky blue or leaf green. The key is not to go overboard. You want to highlight a specific area or feature, not create a detailed work of art.
Gutters and downspouts should be painted to make them as inconspicuous as possible, using the trim color on the gutters and the body color on the downspouts.
Still not sure what you want to do, take a quick jaunt around your neighborhood. There should be houses made of similar materials or similar styles that you can see how different colors and patterns actually appear. If you have a homeowners association, this will also give you some insight on the available color palettes.
