From the Color Experts at Sherwin-Williams: Exterior Color Selection Tips for Homeowners A: Assuming that a colorful and imaginative color scheme will cost a great deal more for product and labor. Unless the scheme is a "painted lady" with numerous colors, this is rarely the case. Accenting unattractive elements such as gutters, downspouts, a protruding garage door, air conditioning units, unevenly placed windows, etc. Ignoring neighboring houses: your color scheme choice should not clash with the neighbor’s house — it’s a lose-lose situation. Choose a scheme that blends with the neighborhood or stands out in a subtle, unobtrusive manner. Landscaping counts: consider tress that change color, flowering shrubs, flower gardens when selection colors, for compatibility. Heavily wooded lots will make colors look darker due to shade; also could camouflage homes, so attention to detail is needed. Greens are not a good choice in this situation. A: Color makes a first impression, an individual statement and can enhance curb appeal and even resale value;

a creative scheme versus the more typical white could be an opportunity to make that first impression. Don’t overlook interesting architectural detailing; it can often sparkle with a contrasting or accent color. Be observant: drive through various neighborhoods, established and new, to see color in action. Make note of appealing color schemes and consider adapting them to your own home. Assuming no structural work is needed, color/paint is the most cost-effective approach to changing the appearance of a home. Define the entryway by using color as a "Welcome" sign. Windows are an opportunity: they give character to a house. Outlining them lends crispness to the color scheme. A: Consider the colors that can’t change (for example, elements such as roofing shingles, and brick, slate, and stone accents or features) and use these elements as color resources because there are numerous shades and hues in building materials. A charcoal gray shingle for example could have flecks of gray-green or gray blue that could be found on a paint color strip or incorporated into the color scheme.

Examine color samples outdoors, at various angles and different times of the day. home decor stores portlandConsider buying small quantities of desired colors and paint a section of the house where body, trim and accent colors can be viewed together.living room decorating pictures modern Pay attention to geography, specifically the intensity of the sun. decorating bedroom ideas tumblrIntense sun washes out colors, so brighter colors are suitable in sunbelt areas but might stand out like a sore thumb in northern locations. A: A large home on a small lot painted white or a light color - for instance, a tinted neutral - can make the house seem larger and the lot seem smaller.

Dark colors can make a home look smaller but more substantial. A safe and effective approach to color placement is to select two tints or shades from the same color strip a few shades apart. Either the lighter or the darker shade could be used for the body and the opposite for the trim. A contrasting accent color could punctuate the door. Lighter colors on a porch will make a home feel more "approachable" and welcoming. Height can be scaled down by painting the upper portion of a tall house a deeper tone than the bottom portion (reverse trim color). This is also effective on a small lot or when landscaping is immature. Conversely, a darker color on the lower portion grounds the house to the earth. Light or white is a good choice for windowsills for reflection of the sun’s heat and light. Light colors advance in space; If a house is placed far away from the curb, painting it a light color will visually bring it forward. Be judicious with accent colors, but certainly accentuate the positive.

A: Traditionally, white and light colors were perceived to be safe choices. However, as consumers have gained more confidence with color, and as a broader spectrum of colors have been made available for exterior use, those "traditional" approaches are changing. Today, tinted neutrals that play off landscaping and other building materials are increasingly being used, as are midtone values of neutrals.Shopping Cart is Full You cannot add any additional items to the Shopping Cart Site will log you out You are leaving the BEHR® Consumer website. You will be logged out. Ask an Expert by Email Thank you, Your email has been sent to our experts. Find inspiration on Behr's Pinterest boards. Get inspired by the Behr Facebook community. Visit the Colorfully Behr Blog Learn from Behr's color experts on the Colorfully Behr blog. Style and Spaces Gallery If you’re painting the outside of your home, don’t be afraid to take a little time with the color decision.

“Your interior is about your personal color tastes,” says Tom Lee, Senior VP of Consumer Marketing for Behr, “but the exterior is really about durability. It’s about protecting the biggest investment you have.” It isn’t an easy decision to redo, so don’t rush it. With that in mind, here are some tips for choosing a paint: Plan to spend a little more money. Investing in a premium paint such as Behr Marquee Exterior Paint & Primer in One is a wise choice. You don’t want to be climbing up a scaffold again anytime soon — or paying for someone else to do it — so paint needs to cover well, resist stains and stand up to weather. Think about your permanent materials. If you have an existing brick or stone foundation, patio, or accents, work with their underlying tones as you’re choosing a paint shade. If you’re stuck, try pairing opposites in terms of color temperature. For example, if you have a warm red brick foundation and you want brown for your exterior paint, choose a taupe with cool gray/blue undertones instead of a peachy tan.

Take advantage of technology. You can usually bring in a sample of permanent materials to the paint store for computer color matching. Behr also offers an online tool called that lets you choose an initial color, recommends matching/coordinating colors, and helps you experiment with color combos on images of a home exterior so you can imagine the finished look. Don’t forget the trim. If you want something other than the usual white, try your exterior color just a few shades lighter for a subtle, elegant effect. Ease in with swatches. Buy test sizes of the paint colors you’re considering and paint some brush-outs on the exterior. Be sure to put some color on both the north and south sides of the house, where lighting can differ dramatically, and near any trim you’re coordinating with. Visit your paint samples at different times of day to get the best idea of how the finished product will look. To give you a head start, here’s a cheat sheet of popular Benjamin Moore exterior colors courtesy of Andrea Magno, Benjamin Moore’s color and design expert:

Neutrals: Shaker Beige HC-45, Alexandria Beige HC-77, Pashmina AF-100 Grays: Stonington Gray HC-170, Thunder AF-685, Storm AF-700 Blues and Greens: Phillipsburg Blue HC-159, Guilford Green HC-116, Soft Fern 2144-40, Santorini Blue 1634, Wickham Gray HC-171 Trim:  Navajo White 947 (also OC-95),  Frostine AF-5, Simply White OC-117 Front Doors: Lucerne AF-530, Flint AF-560, Breath of Fresh Air 806, Black Satin 2131-10, Silhouette AF-655, Super Nova 1414, Pomegranate AF-295 Sign up for weekly project ideas and advice from experts Privacy Policy Sign Up for More We love to DIY. You love to DIY. See the latest DIY projects, catch up on trends and meet more cool people who love to create. Make It. Fix It. Learn It. Find It. Get quick inspiration from Made + Remade each week. The Essential Steps to Landscape DesignTry These Plants and Groundcovers Reducing the Size of a Lawn 10 Things You Must Know About Landscaping Lush Landscaping Creates Major Curb Appeal