Residential Painting

Color Consultant Advice for Color Schemes

Posted on October 29, 2019

It’s exciting to stare down the prospect of a new color on your home. But then the impending choices start the anxiety. You are not alone. It’s easy to go from trendy and fun to boring or bright. We went to the pros to get you some help. Here are tips from our experts on choosing a house color scheme.

The color can affect how you feel driving up to your house after a long day’s work, and beyond it can change your home’s value. Because an exterior paint job can last a decade or more, it’s important to choose a color that has widespread appeal. Picking colors that are off trend or other than neutral, are a turn off to buyers. Pick the right colors, and you’re going to be in the green.

Inspiration

Many homeowners start their color research with paint swatches from the local home repair store. Instead, take inspiration from colors you wear and that appeal to you. Do you have a throw or curtain that you really love? Start there.

Another place to start is with a drive. Drive around your neighborhood and see if there are homes that strike you. Take pictures and a note of the colors you’re coming back to time and again. This will help narrow the field of colors.

Palette

Once you’ve narrowed your color options, keep in mind that you should be looking to pick three colors. This will give you a color set to work within for the main color, accent, and trim. Go with a more neutral color for the majority of your home. Choose a statement color for the trim. Keep neutral, or take this opportunity to choose a more vibrant color for things like shutters or the front door. Then choose a trim color. This is typically a deeper neutral. Your three colors should complement each other but do not necessarily need to be matchy-matchy.

Test

Before a can is ever opened, there are two things you should check: lighting and sightlines. From your palette, go to the paint store and get tester cans of each color. Paint poster boards with the colors to test them. Set them up outside the walls you’re considering for each color to test the light. Make sure you do this at different times of the day. Also, make sure the colors you see from any angle around your home don’t clash. This will allow you to head into this project confident your colors are going to play well together.

Paint

Once the painting is complete, it’s time to start the job. Know to go in that you have the option to complete the job yourself, or bring in a professional team. An exterior paint job is a large task and will take days to complete. Keep in mind that ⅔ of your time should be spent on preparation before the painting begins. It’s a good practice to get bids from 3 contractors before you decide on one and move forward.

We’d love to be considered for your exterior painting project. Call today to set up a free, in-home estimate from our team.