Choosing the Best Exterior Paint Color Scheme and Colors

[Bob P]

Choosing the right exterior paint colors can greatly improve the look of your house to those who pass by(curb appeal) and also increase it's value as an investment. You can put different colors on both your siding and trim which will give your house a new fresh look. However, choosing the right exterior paint color can often be a very difficult process.
There are thousands of exterior colors, each comes with different sheens to choose from, as well as dozens of paint manufacturers. Often there are so many possible color combinations that it can be overwhelming to try and get the best one.
This process is a good time to let your creativity shine, but it always a good idea take into consideration that your house is an investment and it's "curb appeal" is also a very important factor to take into consideration.
It is a good idea to take your time in reaching a decision on the right colors and the best color scheme. My company has painted five "Painted Ladies" (a house or building that is painted with multiple colors) and every time the customer and I have spent between 15 to 20 hours picking out the colors and figuring out the color scheme (what surface gets painted with a specific color). It is best to try and get the colors right the first time.

What effect will the color choice have?

Neutral colors (medium tones) are considered the most appropriate for exterior painting projects in terms of resale value and "curb appeal". Choosing a color will also influence and have an effect on the cost of the job, how long the job will take and the longevity/durability of the paint job. Darker colors do not hold up well to UV light and will fade over time. Light to medium colors such as light browns or beiges have better than average resistance to UV light and fading. These colors also have excellent coverage properties. Yellows, reds and darker color shades often require multiple coats, as many as four or five in some cases. This will affect how long the job will take and how expensive it will be.

Where to look for help in choosing the perfect color scheme.

Looking in magazines and books is a good place to begin to get ideas about color combinations and color schemes. Most home improvement magazines provide a wide array of color schemes that might appeal to a variety of tastes. Books will go into greater detail than a shorter magazine article, but in each case what you see is not necessarily representative of the color that is mentioned in the article or book.
They will not give you an accurate representation of what that paint color will look like. Graffics programs like magazines and books are in some ways limited, the color that you actually see in print or graphics may not actually represent the true color of the paint, but should be fairly close. If I find a color that a customer likes in a magazine, I usually cut it out and take it to the paint store and match it to color swatches. Over the years I have developed a knack for being able to do this.
Most paint companies have color wheels or fan decks that will have a group of 6 or 7 colors on an individual wheel that work well together and come from the same color family. Choosing colors from an individual wheel is a great way create a well coordinated color scheme.
Just simply getting in your car and driving around and looking at color schemes in your surrounding neighborhoods will give you an idea of something you may like. If you see a color that just knocks you out, stop at the house and try and find out the paint name and brand. This has worked in the past. You would be surprised.
When all else fails you can get advice from the painting contractor doing the work on your house, unless you are doing it yourself. In that case you can seek the advice of an Interior & Exterior Decorator/Professional Color Consultant.

Use a quality exterior paint.

Using the right paint is important, too. You need to purchase paint that is designed and made for exterior use and will say "exterior" on the outside of the can. Paints that cost considerably less are usually no bargin. Bigger and more established paint companies invest a lot of time in research and development, so their formulas tend to have better coverage and are easier to use. It is often a good idea to ask questions from people and get recommendations. Contractors who paint dozens, if not hundreds of buildings per year are experts on what lasts. And paint store employees are usually well-trained and can recommend specific products for your project. Online message boards are a good place to find out whether a specific brand lives up to the hype on the label.

Putting actual samples on the house is always a god idea.

If you've got the colors narrowed down to a small amount, apply some samples on the house. The surrounding environment can make a color look very different. Check the sample both in light and in shade, at night and during the day. Picking a shade that looks good all the time will save you time, money, and frustration.
Choosing the color you like may be the most time-consuming part of the process, but remember that it's only half the battle. If you really want your project to look good, you'll need to properly prepare the surface and apply an appropriate primer before painting. That is information I will include in another blog. Good luck with finding the perfect color scheme!

[Cal]

(04-02-2011 03:22 PM)Bob P Wrote:  Choosing the right exterior paint colors can greatly improve the look of your house to those who pass by(curb appeal) and also increase it's value as an investment. You can put different colors on both your siding and trim which will give your house a new fresh look. However, choosing the right exterior paint color can often be a very difficult process.
There are thousands of exterior colors, each comes with different sheens to choose from, as well as dozens of paint manufacturers. Often there are so many possible color combinations that it can be overwhelming to try and get the best one.
This process is a good time to let your creativity shine, but it always a good idea take into consideration that your house is an investment and it's "curb appeal" is also a very important factor to take into consideration.
It is a good idea to take your time in reaching a decision on the right colors and the best color scheme. My company has painted five "Painted Ladies" (a house or building that is painted with multiple colors) and every time the customer and I have spent between 15 to 20 hours picking out the colors and figuring out the color scheme (what surface gets painted with a specific color). It is best to try and get the colors right the first time.

What effect will the color choice have?

Neutral colors (medium tones) are considered the most appropriate for exterior painting projects in terms of resale value and "curb appeal". Choosing a color will also influence and have an effect on the cost of the job, how long the job will take and the longevity/durability of the paint job. Darker colors do not hold up well to UV light and will fade over time. Light to medium colors such as light browns or beiges have better than average resistance to UV light and fading. These colors also have excellent coverage properties. Yellows, reds and darker color shades often require multiple coats, as many as four or five in some cases. This will affect how long the job will take and how expensive it will be.

Where to look for help in choosing the perfect color scheme.

Looking in magazines and books is a good place to begin to get ideas about color combinations and color schemes. Most home improvement magazines provide a wide array of color schemes that might appeal to a variety of tastes. Books will go into greater detail than a shorter magazine article, but in each case what you see is not necessarily representative of the color that is mentioned in the article or book.
They will not give you an accurate representation of what that paint color will look like. Graffics programs like magazines and books are in some ways limited, the color that you actually see in print or graphics may not actually represent the true color of the paint, but should be fairly close. If I find a color that a customer likes in a magazine, I usually cut it out and take it to the paint store and match it to color swatches. Over the years I have developed a knack for being able to do this.
Most paint companies have color wheels or fan decks that will have a group of 6 or 7 colors on an individual wheel that work well together and come from the same color family. Choosing colors from an individual wheel is a great way create a well coordinated color scheme.
Just simply getting in your car and driving around and looking at color schemes in your surrounding neighborhoods will give you an idea of something you may like. If you see a color that just knocks you out, stop at the house and try and find out the paint name and brand. This has worked in the past. You would be surprised.
When all else fails you can get advice from the painting contractor doing the work on your house, unless you are doing it yourself. In that case you can seek the advice of an Interior & Exterior Decorator/Professional Color Consultant.

Use a quality exterior paint.

Using the right paint is important, too. You need to purchase paint that is designed and made for exterior use and will say "exterior" on the outside of the can. Paints that cost considerably less are usually no bargin. Bigger and more established paint companies invest a lot of time in research and development, so their formulas tend to have better coverage and are easier to use. It is often a good idea to ask questions from people and get recommendations. Contractors who paint dozens, if not hundreds of buildings per year are experts on what lasts. And paint store employees are usually well-trained and can recommend specific products for your project. Online message boards are a good place to find out whether a specific brand lives up to the hype on the label.

Putting actual samples on the house is always a god idea.

If you've got the colors narrowed down to a small amount, apply some samples on the house. The surrounding environment can make a color look very different. Check the sample both in light and in shade, at night and during the day. Picking a shade that looks good all the time will save you time, money, and frustration.
Choosing the color you like may be the most time-consuming part of the process, but remember that it's only half the battle. If you really want your project to look good, you'll need to properly prepare the surface and apply an appropriate primer before painting. That is information I will include in another blog. Good luck with finding the perfect color scheme!

Great Article Bob, choosing best exterior paint colors and scheme. Have you published this in your blog? If so, be good to have a link to it. That way we can also boost it, by making comments there Just a thought.. Again, nice article, thanks sharing it here!)