Exterior Paint Schemes for Houses

When it comes to selecting exterior paint schemes for houses, the most important thing to keep in mind is that as far as possible, go in for a lighter shade. Lighter shades vis-a-vis dark shades have two advantages - they make the houses appear bigger than they actually are and they do not fade as quickly as the dark colors. Also, when considering exterior painting, plan for different colors for doors, windows and trims. If the house has several curves, you can even consider using a number of colors on its surface. Given below are some other useful tips on exterior painting which will help in giving your house a stunning appearance.

Tips on How to Choose Exterior Paint Schemes for Houses

Try out Samples
If you are not sure which colors to opt for, a good idea would be to first buy samples of a few paints which you like. Paint a fairly large portion of a wall with the different paints. You can compare how each paint looks at different times of the day. If possible, wait for a few weeks before you make a decision as the exterior paint colors tend to change appearance after a few days.

However, if all this seems too time and energy consuming to you, you can use software programs which are especially designed to help homeowners like you. All you have to do is to download a photograph of your house and then you can fill in any color combination that you desire in that downloaded picture with the help of the software. This way you will be able to compare the various exterior paint color combinations before zeroing in on the one that you like.

Get Inspired by Neighbors
Another easy way to come up with interesting external house color schemes is to take a walk around your neighborhood and take a cue from the neighbors whose exterior paint schemes you like. Do not copy exactly what others have done, but certainly you can get inspired and use somewhat similar color combination.

Consider Location/Size/Style/Building Materials
While choosing exterior paint schemes for houses, size, location and building materials used in the construction of the house should be taken into consideration. For example, if the house is located in an urban area or if the architecture of the house is modern, then use bright, neo-classical colors. If the house is build in an old style, then you can consider vintage shades. External paints are chosen according to the building materials too. If the house is made of brick, a popular style of home exterior painting is to paint a portion of the bricks in light red color and the rest in a contrasting light color. For houses made of wood, paints that protect the house against extreme weather conditions should be opted for.

Unique Color Combinations
If you have difficulty coming up with your own exterior paint color schemes, then here are some popular exterior paint color choices for you.

Red and Green : Red color reflects passion and excitement while green signifies nature. You can use both these colors to paint your house to give it a bright, happy look.

Yellow : Yellow and other shades of golden lend the house a very inviting look. So, paint your house yellow as it gives a very warm and cozy feel to the house.

Blue and White : Blue and white color combination is a very popular choice for exterior paint combinations. Add in a little red to this combination to spice up the look.

This was in short about the exterior paint schemes for houses. In addition to the painting colors, to lend beauty to the exteriors of your house, add a few hanging pots, wind chimes and some other creative landscaping elements.

If you have opted for a neutral or lighter shade, add a bit of contrast to the look of your house by way of darker trim, shutter, window and door colors. Be imaginative, creative and follow the above mentioned tips and there are very less chances that you will go wrong with your exterior paint color selection.