Cute Little HousesLittle CottagesCute Small HousesCountry CottagesCountry HousesSmall Houses IdeasSmall House DesignsSmall House DecorHeart CottagesForwardHome - I think my dream kitchen, breakfast nook and mud room would look lovely in here!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 GalleryContrasting colors look appealing on a small house. The right combination of paint color for the exterior of your house takes on added importance when your house is small. The goal is to make your house appear as expansive as possible while focusing on appealing architectural features to make your house stand out.

Most exterior paint combinations on small homes have two main colors -- one for the bulk of the house and the other for the trim and special features. Blue and White Blue and white work magic for a small house because blue grounds the home, making it look more substantial. White trim brightens the entire house and makes the blue look crisp and finely detailed. Midnight blue and navy blue are too dark for most small homes, and pastel blue looks faded, dull and outdated. christmas outdoor decorations ideas picturesOpt for medium shades of blue, such as blue-gray, cornflower blue, ocean blue or sky blue. cheap diy wedding table decorationsStark white paint works best for the trim, edging, arches and any additional architectural features. ready decorated christmas trees

Paint your gutters and downspouts blue, so they blend with the house and don't stand out. Black and White Black and white is a familiar color combination because white expands a house, making it appear larger than it really is. Paint the entire house white and use black paint for the trim and shutters. Black fades quickly when exposed to sunlight, so opt for a high-performance paint that has ultraviolet protection. wholesale fall wedding decorationsBlack trim is especially appealing on a white house when the roof is also black, charcoal gray or light gray. best decorated christmas trees 2011If black is too dark for you, opt for a dark or medium shade of gray for the trim. best exterior paint for the money

To avoid unwanted shadows and help your paint effectively reflect natural light, paint your window sashes and porch ceilings white. You can always add colorful flowers, vivid landscape, a brightly painted front door or a zesty "welcome" mat to spruce up the black-and-white combo with color. Brown and Tan Brown and tan team up for a warm and welcoming color combination that is subtle and won't easily go out of style. Choose a light, medium or neutral tan shade for the bulk of the house. These hues aren't dark enough to shrink the appearance of a house, so they work well on small houses. Then, select a shade two or three shades darker on the same color swatch for the trim and architectural features. Choosing colors from the same swatch ensures that the colors blend harmoniously. You might choose a brown or taupe accent color for the trim that also matches one of the flecks of color in your roof. Sage Green and White If you prefer a darker base color, opt for sage green. Its warm undertones and muted hue work well on a small house, especially if you use white, off-white or beige to highlight your trim and architectural accents.

Sage green blends nicely with outdoor surroundings, such as trees, bushes and vines, so it makes a small house look like a continuous, fluid extension of the outdoors. You might install a wooden front door to maintain your nature-inspired color theme. /Getty Images Suggest a Correction1. 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."