exterior colorsWhen you think about a new exterior or roof for your home, you'll probably first think about the material you want to use. You might consider whether you might switch from vinyl siding to brick, or from a traditional asphalt shingle roof to a green roof or metal roofing. At some point, you'll need to make decisions on color.

Will you update the exterior colors on your home? Are you looking for a daring color combination? Do you want to stick with traditional color schemes?

The color you choose for your home's exterior may be just as important as the material you decide upon when the project is finished.

Avoiding a Dismal Exterior

Although you may want to avoid an exterior painted in loud colors like lemon yellow, fuchsia, and bright green, that's no reason your house needs to appear gray and drab. For example, the experts at "This Old House" recommended that a Gothic-style home with a beautiful gray stone exterior might benefit from a vibrant burgundy red door.

This technique also works for modern homes that employ materials like cement and metal for the facade. Using a bright color as an accent for windows or a door on the home helps create a warmer and more welcoming environment than if all the colors of the residence were in sad colors of gray, black, or brown.

Thinking About the Neighborhood

You might have visions of an incredibly unique and beautiful home with splashes of turquoise and pink covering the home, but will those colors complement the other homes in your neighborhood?

If your home stands in the middle of extensive grounds, you can probably get as creative as you'd like with the colors, but renovating the exterior of your home should include a discussion on the architectural styles and colors already present in the neighborhood.

Also consider that if you live in a planned community with a homeowner's association or property manager that you might be restricted on what colors you can use. If you're looking at a potential home purchase and there's an HOA at work in the neighborhood, you'll want to investigate the terms of the HOA agreement.

According to legal resource website "NOLO," you'll need to look at your HOA's "covenants, conditions, and restrictions" agreement. Commonly abbreviated as CC&Rs, these documents often guide and limit the colors you can use on your home.

Tips on Using Daring Colors

If you're certain you want to use a bright or daring color on your home there are ways you can accomplish this feat without creating a home that looks like something out of a carnival ride.

In more color advice from "This Old House," the experts suggest that blue is a terrific color to use when you want to paint your home in something other than gray or white. By choosing the right shade of blue, you can paint your home in a gorgeously vivid color without creating an eyesore in your neighborhood:

Blue is a daring color to use on an exterior because it isn't rooted in an earth color, but grayish shades like this are safer because they somewhat resemble colors of slate. Indoors, blue creates a cool feel in a room. On an exterior, however, the psychological effect is less pronounced. Combined with white, and surrounded with greenery, it looks crisp and calm.
The color white may also create a jarring exterior if you choose the wrong shades. You can go for a "white on white" paint scheme, but as "Better Homes and Gardens" suggests, it's best to avoid colors deemed "super white."
Stay away from super whites. Always look for something with a little gray or cream in it. You'd be surprised how much color you can add to pure white and still have it read as white on the wall.

Choose Your New Home Exterior Today!

Do you dream of a vibrant new exterior for your home? Contact Erdmann Exterior Designs Ltd. For a Free in Home Consultation to find out how we can help you add value to your home with a beautiful new exterior today!