1. You Can Color-Correct for ValueAn effective use of color on the exterior of your home can add thousands of dollars to its value, says James Martin, who has been hired by landlords and real estate developers to increase the market value of their properties or improve occupancy rates in their buildings with eye-catching color schemes. 2. Perception of Color is Very RelativeFor instance, if you put a mid-value color, such as tan, next to pure white, it will look beige. But if you put it next to dark green, it will look off-white. Keep this in mind when choosing colors -- main and trim. And when you are choosing a color from a fan deck at the paint store, you should mask off the colors next to it with a white sheet of paper. 3. Begin With the ValueDesign your color scheme first according to value. That is, decide whether you want a dark, medium, or light main color. 4. Highlight Detail CarefullyCreate a balanced effect between the top and bottom of your home. For instance, if there is a lot of detail on the top of your home, you will need to create detail and interest on the bottom.

5. Don't Be Top-HeavyPut darker colors toward the bottom of the house to avoid creating an "uncomfortable, top-heavy feel," says Martin. In this photo you can see how adding deep-hued shrubs allows more illumination toward the top of the house. 6. Choose Colors in the Right LightPick colors outside in natural light on a cloudy day or in open shade. Bright light creates glare and can distort your perception of the color. 7. Be Material-MindedMake sure the paint colors you choose complement the colors of the other materials of your home, such as the roof, brick, stone, or stucco. 8. Brighten Things UpPaint window sashes and overhead surfaces, such as porch ceilings and soffits, a lighter color to reflect light and "lift the spirit of your home." 9. Go Warm, Not CoolUse warm colors as opposed to cool. For instance, use a warm yellow-white as opposed to a cool blue-white. 10. Play Up the SizeUse light colors to make a small house look bigger, and dark colors to make a large house that is squeezed onto a small lot look smaller.

See also:Top 10 Kitchen Design Tips13 Tips for Selling Your Home5 Easy Improvements that Hook Buyers There are at least 50 million shades of gray. Which one will look best on your house? We asked members of our Architect/Designer Directory to reveal their favorites. Here are the 10 exterior gray paints that they most often turn to: Deciding between gray and white? See 10 Easy Pieces: Architects’ White Exterior Paint Picks, also chosen by members of our Architect/Designer Directory.exterior paint colors doors Swatch photographs by Katie Newburn for Gardenista.home decorating ideas budget blog Above: Top row, left to right: Benjamin Moore Sag Harbor Gray; home decor diy inspiration

Benjamin Moore Bear Creek. Bottom row: Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain; Benjamin Moore Gravel Grey; Farrow & Ball Down Pipe; and Benjamin Moore Graystone. Above: Los Angeles-based SIMO Design painted this house in Dunn-Edwards Vulcan, a cool blue-gray. It’s the bluest of the shades in our top 10. Above: LA designers Nickey Kehoe Inc. had this house painted in Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain, a dark gray with a rich brown undertone. The same shade is also a favorite of Geremia Design and Klopf Architecture, both based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Photograph by Amy Neunsinger. Above: Chatham, NY-based architect James Dixon chose Benjamin Moore’s Sag Harbor Gray for this Hudson Valley farmhouse. A light green-gray, it’s part of Benjamin Moore’s Historic Color collection. Above: Ana Williamson Architect, based in Menlo Park, CA, used Benjamin Moore Graphite on the siding of this modern house. The color is a true dark gray with just a hint of blue.

For the trim, Williamson chose Benjamin Moore Gunmetal; the stucco was integrally colored to match Benjamin Moore Timber Wolf. Above: SF Bay Area-based interior designer Kriste Michelini chose Benjamin Moore Bear Creek as her favorite gray. Rich in brown tones, it’s lighter than Iron Mountain but darker than Grey Hearth. Above: Both LA-based DISC Interiors and SF-based Nicole Hollis picked Farrow & Ball Down Pipe as their top exterior gray. The popular color is a complex mix with hints of blue-green. Photograph via Farrow & Ball. Above: NYC-based architect Alex Scott Porter has used Benjamin Moore Gravel Gray on several projects, including this cabin on a Maine island. Gravel Gray is the darkest of the shades recommended here. Above: LA’s Kevin Oreck Architect painted this new house in ICI Grey Hearth. Above: Interior designer Laura Clayton Baker of LA-based The Uplifters Inc. used Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn on this Washington, D.C., house.

The truest gray of those listed here, Peppercorn pairs well with the other shades Clayton Baker used on this exterior: Sherwin-Williams Pure White and Tricorn Black for the trim, and Benjamin Moore Vermilion in a high-gloss finish for the door. Above: SF-based Klopf Architecture has used Benjamin Moore Graystone on several house exteriors; the shade is appealing in all kinds of light. Find lots more designer-approved outdoor paint picks for your house at Palette & Paints. Trying to get up the nerve to paint it black? Read 10 Modern Houses Gone to the Dark Side. This is an update of a post originally published September 16, 2013. ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,How do you paint vinyl trim on exterior windows? Vinyl trim on exterior windows must be cleaned, sanded and primed before applying paint. Tools needed include bleach, a bucket, gloves, protective eyewear, 220-grit sandpaper, painter's tape, a paint bucket, a paint brush, exterior latex primer and exterior latex paint.

How do vinyl retrofit windows work? What are the pros and cons of using vinyl vs fiberglass windows? What are the benefits of a vinyl bathroom window? Clean the trimPrepare a mixture of 3 parts water to 1 part bleach. Wearing rubber gloves and protective eyewear, clean the vinyl trim with the bleach mixture, removing dirt, mold and mildew. Stubborn dirt should be scrubbed with a brush until the trim is clean.Sand the trimUsing 220-grit sandpaper, lightly sand the trim to provide a textured surface to which the paint can adhere. Wash the trim with clear water to remove any dust, and allow it to dry.Mask the trim with painter's tapeTape around the inside and outside edges of the trim with blue painter's tape. Smooth the edges of the tape, making sure the corners are crisp.Paint the trim Apply a coat of latex exterior primer to the trim. Allow the primer to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. Apply the exterior latex paint over the primer, using only enough coats to cover it.

Carefully remove the painter's tape, and allow the paint to dry. Learn more about Doors, Windows, & Locks How do you use vinyl strip door kits? Vinyl strip doors are often used as secondary barriers that keep noise, wind and dirt out of work spaces or storage areas where the main door is often open... Doors, Windows, & Locks What are vinyl window inserts? Vinyl windows inserts are replacement windows designed to fit into a home's pre-existing window frames. The advantage of this is that you don't have to rem... What are the benefits of vinyl window wells? Vinyl window wells are maintenance-free and energy efficient. The cost of installing a vinyl window well is higher than a traditional window well, but the ... What are some good but inexpensive windows for your home? Vinyl and aluminum replacement windows are relatively inexpensive compared to other available options, and both types require little maintenance, making th... How do you replace a door?