Increase the curb appeal of a home with exterior accent colors for a dramatic visual impact. Refinish a bland exterior with vibrant accent colors for an entirely new look. Accent colors can be applied to a number of areas of the home’s exterior to include shutters, doors and other exterior trim. A dramatic color combination will add value to the home and will also be highly appealing. Bold, beautiful accent colors can be a part of the home’s overall color scheme and each chosen accent color plays a role in pulling the entire look of the home together. Despite all of this, choosing exterior paint colors, especially accent colors, can sometimes be a challenge. This is especially true for home owners who are unable to visualize what their home would look like with a new paint color. Here are a few tips on choosing the best accent colors for a home’s exterior.
Step 1
Begin by deciding on what parts of the home will be painted. Will it be just the door or will it be the shutters or other exterior trim such as window sills?
Step 2
Next, choose the main color of the home. This color will largely determine the appropriate accent to go along with it. Accent colors should complement the main color and should contribute to the overall beauty of the home. Hardware stores and paint manufacturers often have elaborate color schemes that include both warm and cool colors. These colors are not limited in number, with some schemes having up to four different coordinating colors. For the best result, try various paint combinations to find the greatest color combination for the project.
Choosing the color combination could include looking at architectural or design magazines or driving around various neighborhoods to view other homes to see if there are homes that are painted and stand out as memorable. Also take into account any adjacent homes. It will be important to not copy a neighbor’s home exactly and it will also be important to paint in a style that fits in with the current neighborhood. There would be nothing worse than being known as the home owner with the eye sore on the block that does not fit in with the rest of the houses. Traditional neighborhoods typically have toned down color combinations whereas modern areas tend to embrace creativity much more. For communities that are run by homeowner’s associations (HOA’s) check with the HOA prior to any paint job. HOA’s often have restrictions on paint colors and combinations that do not fit in with the overall theme of the neighborhood.
Step 3
Next, visit the hardware store and shop for the paint. Ask the associate questions if in doubt, ask for color swatches and purchase a few samples. Quart sized samples can be purchased for a very low price. It is also important to ask for swatches from different manufacturers because colors from different companies can vary slightly. Also note that some paint manufacturers offer swatches of pre-created color combinations that include a primary color and complementing accent colors. These swatches are convenient and they help to narrow down the decision-making process. Also, many paint stores and manufacturers even have design software that will allow for uploading of photos of the home. The home can then be digitally painted with various color combinations.
Step 4
Next, test small areas with the various colors chosen. Testing cannot be stressed enough. There are so many home owners who have wasted time, energy and money on paint purchases that they later regretted because the color just did not look good on the home after it dried. Colors that looked good in the store may not look as good on the exterior of the home. It is important to note that colors can change depending on lighting. For example, in the store under their fluorescent lights the color may look one way. Then when applied to the home on a sunny day it may look completely different. This is also the case for an overcast day in which the color may look totally different then as well. Take all of this into consideration when testing the paint.
Step 5
If all is well with the color choice then the paint can be purchased. It can either be purchased directly for a do-it-yourself (DIY) project or trained painting professional can be hired to do the job. A top painter in Summit can be a great resource for all the exterior accent painting needs.
Step 6
Enjoy the newly painted home and take pride in job well done!