Summer is one of the best seasons to begin exterior painting for your home. But, there is more to an exterior painting colour scheme than just choosing a trim colour and a nice neutral for the outside. Conscious homeowners are aware of curb appeal and have begun to give similar importance to both interior and exterior painting. While selecting the right exterior colours is not a difficult task, in order to maximize the curb appeal, make sure you avoid the commonly repeated mistakes discussed below.
- Disregarding the Neighbourhood Exteriors: In an ideal world, we would all live in our happy bubble and not concern ourselves with anyone else around us. In reality, it is very different. Some neighbourhoods have guidelines about exterior colours. You may be expected to paint your home exteriors in a certain colour to match the other homes on the street. Before you pick a paint colour, all you need to do is take a quick look down the street and see if your colour plans will look out of place. You may want to paint the outside walls a moss green but be prepared to change it or tone it down if the colour goes against the neighbourhood vibe.
- Absence of a Color Scheme: Just like testing colour samples, it is also necessary to create a colour scheme for the exteriors. Before you choose the paint, consult a painting contractor or a colour consultant in coming up with a colour scheme to beautify the outside of your home. You will need to decide on a colour for the trims, the outside walls, front door and even window colours. Accents can be added too and these can take the form of porch décor, pottery, plants, or furniture.
- Ignoring the Landscaping: Apart from testing paint colours, and trying to match them with the neighbourhood colour scheme, a homeowner must also carefully consider the landscaping colours. If the front yard has bright greens and yellows, a cool hued exterior may look cold and dull. Same goes for those front yards that have single colour flowers. If one colour dominates, this a problem too. To get rid of this problem, ask your painting contractor for suggestions, use a paint colour app for matching and get all the help you need before arriving at a decision.
- Failing to test colour samples: It is a myth that testing colour samples is for interiors only. Sampling paint colours is as important for the outside of your home as it is for the inside. Getting paint colour swatches for the exteriors may even help you from choosing the wrong colour and save you some money. In the past, most homeowners would simply go up to their neighbourhood paint store and ask for a simple beige for the exterior. Nobody wanted to experiment with colours and people generally stuck to the tried and tested traditional colours. The problem with continuing this old approach now is, a ‘builders beige’ can look different on each home exterior. A general residential painting rule is - do not not assume that because something looks good on a neighbour’s home, it will also suit yours too. Each house is built different and testing colours for exteriors will tell how the paint will look on your home.
- Forgetting the Front Door: The front door can be of the most noticeable things about a home or one of the most unnoticeable ones too! A well painted front door greatly adds to the charm of a home’s exterior. Wooden and white doors may look nice but imagine a pop of colour for the front door. A well-chosen paint colour will make your home’s entrance look very attractive. It can complement the existing colours of the house, work with the colour scheme and also highlight unique architectural features that would otherwise go unnoticed.
In addition to the above aspects, there are certain other house elements that should be taken into account. For instance, homeowners should think about the existing materials that have been used for the exteriors. Roofs, stone and brick can also influence the exterior colour scheme. Some bricks and stones are brown, some are gray, or a shade of red-rust.
It is important to coordinate the exterior paint colours with these elements so as to prevent an ugly contrast. Also remember that light colours will make the house look more inviting, especially if it is situated away from the curb. On the other hand, dark colours will help in emphasizing the lower part of the house and indicate a solid foundation and stability.
What colour are you planning to paint your home’s exterior?
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