Selecting exterior paint colors can be a big challenging! It’s a big project and you want to get it right. Here’s a few things I’ve learned over the years in picking exterior paint colors.
Get Samples
I would say this for selecting interior paint colors, too. You cannot make a good paint decision from a paint chip. Go get the small paint pots and actually paint a big section. Yes, you may have to live a with a giant square that is unsightly until you can get it painted but that’s what you want! This will allow you to walk by many times a day in different light and see how it looks.
Select a Tertiary of Colors
We know about the power of two and how it creates symmetry, but when it comes to paint colors there is power in three. Three colors creates a trifecta of harmony. If you are working with brick, the color of your brick may be considered one of the colors.
Links to items in this photo: porch lanterns // similar planters // longer outdoor mat //
Pay close attention to your brick color. Previously, with white trim, our brick house looked mauve-ish pink. In my opinion, a crisp white looks good with a true red brick. It gives it that Americana feel. Our brick has a lot of tones and textures–even feels a little busy if you stare at it for too long–so I wanted to ground and anchor the house. I chose a strong, warm griege to balance all those tones. I would say it’s somewhere between the darkest and lightest color of the bricks. Our trim is Intellectual Grey by Sherwin Williams.
Once you have two strong colors, pick an accent color to be your third color. Apply this to your front door for a big pop and if you can, apply to the window moldings and mullions (if they are wood and paintable). This creates a striking and welcoming curb appeal. My accent color is Verdigreen by Sherwin Williams. Don’t forget to paint all exterior doors. I kept going and painted our french doors along the back and even the door in our garage for a fully cohesive look.
When to Add a Fourth Color
There is no perfect formula when it comes to selecting colors and sometimes you need a fourth color. Our home has siding along the ends under the roof and along the top floor in the back. Why the whole thing isn’t brick, I’m not sure but nevertheless, we had to pick a color to go here.
If we stuck with Intellectual Grey for all the siding, it would feel very heavy. I wanted a color that would still make the grey a good anchor of trim, rather than weighing it down. I chose Shoji White by Sherwin Williams.
links for items in this photo: outdoor lantern // extra long doormat //
I know, I know…I just said white made our house look pink. It’s all about getting the right white and getting samples! Shoji White is very warm; it works with the warmth in Intellectual Grey and really creates a gorgeous trifecta of color impact on the back with the french doors in Verdigreen.
Are you doing any exterior home updates? Check out my other posts on curb appeal with symmetry!
