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.christmas tree ornament top Be observant: drive through various neighborhoods, established and new, to see color in action. best paint for outdoor basketball courtMake note of appealing color schemes and consider adapting them to your own home.cheap beach party decorations uk 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. Consider buying small quantities of desired colors and paint a section of the house where body, trim and accent colors can be viewed together. Pay attention to geography, specifically the intensity of the sun. Intense 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.Radiant flower beds and walkways lined with colorful potted blooms are surefire ways to up your curb appeal each season. But if you’re looking for a more lasting update, refresh your home’s facade with a coat of paint. We’ll be the first to admit that selecting a color from the vast range of choices can be a big (and expensive!) decision. After all, it’s one home upgrade that’s guaranteed to leave an impression on visitors as well as passersby. So here are two key points to keep in mind. First, consider how the color will appear on as large a scale as your house; it may look lighter or darker than it would on a single wall.

Second, take your home’s architecture into consideration—a charcoal black might modernize a cottage but look completely out of place on a Greek Revival house. For expert guidance, we looked to top tastemakers and designers for their ideas (and tips) on exterior house paint colors that are just right. The house: an 1869 Greek Revival home in New Orleans James White by Farrow & Ball Why it works: Leontine Linens founder Jane Scott Hodges chose the airy white paint for her Garden District home’s facade as a nod to its 19th-century roots and to accentuate the house’s unique architecture. “Homes of that time were typically painted white to allow the bold details and moldings to stand out,” she tells us. The pristine white not only sets the house apart from the more colorful homes in her neighborhood but also sets the stage for what’s inside. “We chose the color to create a clean palette on the exterior of our home knowing the bold mix we would incorporate on the inside.”

Paint tip: For a home with beautiful columns and moldings, consider pure white as a way to draw the eye to the ornate flourishes. The house: a 1920s Colonial Revival cottage in Ann Arbor, MI The paint color: Railings by Farrow & Ball Why it works: With double-hung windows, a small porch, and a simple pediment above the door, the home of Michelle Adams, designer and editor of the blog The Maryn, has all the charms of the perfect cottage—but only after she nixed its original hue. “When I purchased the house it was painted in a light beige color, which made the oversize black pediment stand out like a giant nose,” she says. “Painting it a dark charcoal helped blend in the pediment and create a new focal point with white windows and a white door. The dark paint also helped disguise the many dents in the metal siding, which was unfortunately added on top of the original wood at some point in time.” Paint tip: Opt for a darker hue to mask any imperfections that lighter hues might magnify.

The house: a Colonial Carribean-style estate in Bermuda The paint color: Pink Dust by Pratt & Lambert Why it works: “The home had been a paler shade of pink when the homeowners purchased it and was lovingly recognized on the block as ‘the pink house,’” says Jesse Carrier of Carrier and Company, who designed this estate with architect Kasimir Korybut. “In the spirit of its Colonial Caribbean roots and respecting its local heritage, we decided it should remain pink but with a bit more punch. Historically, bright pinks and yellows are appropriate for this style of architecture, and we believe that a home should reflect where and what it is. Just as cedar shingles might harken a New England vibe, pink stucco should give a clue that you’re likely somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon line.” Paint tip: Jesse’s rule of thumb is to narrow down to two or three colors, then look at each at different times of day, in different light, and on different sides of the house before making the final decision.

The house: an 18th-century schoolhouse barn on the coast of Rhode Island The paint color: Country Redwood by Benjamin Moore Why it works: When refurbishing a circa-1790 barn house into his home, one of the first things designer and antiques dealer John Peixinho did was update the one-room structure’s 1980s red paint color, which had strong blue undertones, to this warmer shade, which nods to the home’s history as a schoolhouse. Paint tip: Red paint was once a more cost-effective option to white. For the perfect red that references farmhouses or barns from those days, opt for one with brown or orange undertones. The house: a French country-style manse in Colorado The paint color: custom gray and purple mixes Why it works: Designer Petra Richards drew inspiration from the South of France for this family home’s traditional brick facade and shutters. The light gray (typical of French houses) and vivid purple (reminiscent of the region’s lavender fields) help to accentuate the details of the brick as well as modernize the overall architecture of the building.

Paint tip: When painting brick, be sure to first clean the stone and the grooves thoroughly to ensure that the paint adheres. The house: a traditional Georgian house in Los Angeles The paint colors: Benjamin Moore’s Brilliant White and Essex Green Why they work: “Symmetry, balance, and proportion are the classic hallmarks that comprise the stately exterior of a Georgian-style home,” says decorator Timothy Corrigan of his own house. To play up the structure’s beautiful framework, he opted for what he deems “a classic color combination” for this style of architecture: crisp white and deep green. “White is the perfect choice for the clean lines and distinctive architectural features, while the dark green instantly draws the eye to the home’s symmetrical design.” Paint tip: Take a cue from your home’s surroundings when deciding on a paint color for features such as the front door or shutters. For Timothy, “This shade of green is not too yellow, nor is it so dark that it appears black.