House Painting Design

painting house color scheme

Have you ever driven by a modern pink home and wondered if the homeowner intended the house to be beige? Selecting the right house-painting scheme for a home’s exterior can be tricky and intimidating if you don't know the basics. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right house painting design:

House Painting Color Schemes

Decide if you want a monochromatic house-painting design, or two to three colors. A one-color house-painting scheme can be made more interesting by painting the trim and architectural details in that that same color’s hues. Hues are lighter or darker mixtures of the main color. The monochromatic house-painting scheme is best for conservative neighborhoods or homeowners who prefer to blend in with the neighbors rather than stand out from the crowd. When choosing your house-painting design, keep in mind that light colors on the main part of the house will make it appear larger.

A slightly more daring house-painting design approach uses two different colors. For example, a homeowner wanting an earth-toned painting scheme might choose a gray/green and tan design. For a Victorian-style home, like those found in San Francisco, an adventurous house-painting scheme might be baby blue and pale green. A more conservative two-tone house-painting design would be white with black trim. Homeowners who want to stand out from the crowd will choose three paint colors.

When you have narrowed down your choices to five or six, get a pint of each color and paint a small patch on each side of the house. It may seem like a waste to buy a few pints of paint you may not use, but it’s cheaper than buying five gallons of paint that look bad. In carpentry, the adage goes, "Measure twice — cut once." In painting the adage is: "Buy sample pints — paint once."

House Painting Design Accents

To maximize the impact of your house-painting design, highlight your home’s interesting architectural features, such as a bay window or interesting porch with an accent color. Dark colors recede while light colors advance. Paint the feature a lighter shade of your trim colors to make it stand out. If using a one-color house-painting scheme, choose a lighter hue of your main color. Be sure to choose the right paint type for your accent work. Flat paint is usually used for the wall surfaces. Gloss or semi-gloss paint are the best choices for accents. Generally, gloss or semi-gloss paint is used for window and door trim, pillars, railings and steps.

Even if you aren’t a professional painter, you can make your home’s exterior an asset to your neighborhood and improve your home's value. By sticking to a house painting scheme, you will give your home the face-lift your neighbors were hoping for.

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