Exterior House Colors

The exterior of a house is as important as the interiors, so picking the right exterior color is of primary importance. The first thing that your guests notice is the exterior of the house and therefore it should make the maximum impact. Choosing exterior house colors can be a challenging job and if you make a mistake, then you have to live with it for many years, as it is quite expensive to redo it. You can choose from a wide variety of exterior paint colors and finishes to give your home the perfect look. The right paint hue can not only increase the aesthetics of your house, but will also increase the market value of your property, if you ever decide to sell it. Here are some tips and tricks that will help you in selecting the right exterior paint colors for your home.

Tips on Selecting Exterior House Colors

How to pick exterior house paint colors that will increase the curb appeal? Well, here are some tips that will help you in picking a paint color scheme for your home.

• When you go to the hardware shop to pick your exterior house color, remember to view it outside in the sunshine. Viewing it inside the shop will not give you a proper idea about the color. Paint colors look different in different types of lighting, so to get a clear picture as to how your house would look like in that particular paint, it is best to view it outside. The main rule of thumb to remember while selecting paint colors is to pick interior paint colors inside and to pick exterior paint colors outside.
• Most paint companies provide color cards that gives you an idea of various paint colors and color schemes that are available with that paint manufacturer. Avoid choosing from these, as paint colors that look good in a small area might not look good in a big area like the exterior of the house. The best thing to do is to buy a couple of small paint samples to test them. Paint on the exterior walls of your house to see whether you like that particular color.
• Do not be afraid to experiment. If you are unable to find the perfect shade for exterior house color, then mix several paint samples until you get the perfect shade of your choice.
• Also do keep in mind the climate and area that you live in while selecting exterior paint colors. If you live in a tropical climate, light pastel paint colors may be more suitable as they help in keeping the house cool. People residing in cold climates can opt for darker shades, but avoid anything too jarring and garish.
• There are myriad of exterior house paint schemes that you can opt for while choosing house colors for the exteriors. A monochromatic color scheme is great for people who want to give their house a sophisticated and elegant look. Choose your favorite color and play around with subtle variations of that color. You can go one or two shades lighter or darker than that particular hue.
• Another good way to personalize your home exteriors from that of the neighborhood is to paint the door a different color than the rest of the exteriors. Just make sure that it blends in with the color palette that you have chosen for your house exteriors.
• If your house is very large, then a single color might look too boring and monotonous. To add more interest to the house, you can paint the house in two different complementary colors.
• Choose exterior house paint color schemes keeping in mind the architectural style of your home. For a Cape Cod style house, choose cooler colors like steel gray, charcoal and steel blue. For a Colonial style home, earthy colors like rust, ochre and dark brown works the best.
• If you paint the windows a darker and brighter color than the exterior walls, it will enhance the look of the house. But don't go to the extreme and paint your windows a cherry red or purple when you have a light green as the exterior wall color.

Exterior house colors can be used to highlight unique architectural features of your home as well as conceal any architectural flaws. Take your time while choosing the colors and go through your favorite home design magazines to get more ideas. Do remember that although you might like to stand out with a unique exterior house color, it is also important that your house color blends in with the rest of the neighborhood. The right exterior paint color scheme can give your house an elegant look that not only reflects your personality but also complements the architectural style of your home.