Choosing the right house color scheme can be challenging- but we’re here to help. These tips and tricks will help you choose a color scheme that is perfect for your home.
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The most popular house color schemes
Most house color schemes include two or three colors; the main color, the accent color for large trim and shutters, and sometimes an additional trim color that may be used on doors or window ledges. Let’s get started by looking at the most popular house color schemes that are trending now.
Three color combinations
- White and sage green
- White and carbon black
- White and navy blue
- Pale pink and white
- Dark gray and white
- Forest green and carbon black
- Yellow and dove gray
Two-color combinations
- Deep teal, white, and red
- Forest green, white, and black
- Yellow, white, and carbon black
- Dove gray, Carbon black, and red
- Barn red, white, and sage green
- Toffee, cream, and red
- Sage green, pale yellow, bright white
How to choose house color schemes that complement the style of your home
Certain colors lend themselves to a particular style of home. Different color combinations evoke a feeling and essence of certain design styles. You must also consider the style of your home when choosing which colors of your house color scheme you will apply to which exterior elements. Here are some popular home styles and their exterior elements that will be taking color.
Victorian- Victorian homes are characterized by highly decorative elements, such as around porches, flourished railings with turned posts, turrets, dormers, peaks and eaves. Because there are so many decorative elements of Victorian-style homes, there are a lot of exterior elements that can take color.
Craftsman- Craftsman homes are having a moment of popularity. If you own one, updating your house color scheme will really bring this style of home to life.
Ranch- Ranch homes rose to popularity in the 1950s and still comprise a large number of home-styles in the United States today. Here are some popular exterior color combos for ranch homes.
Cape Cod– These homes can be one or one and a half stories, and most often recognized for their dominant shutters. This element makes cape cod’s particularly interesting to use with a contrasting house color scheme.
Considering curb appeal
When you are choosing your house color scheme, you should consider where your home is located. Think of your home’s surroundings like a backdrop in a painting. Your color choice will depend on whether you want your home to blend into its surroundings or boldly pop.
- Neighborhood
Depending on where you live, you may have to consider your neighborhood guidelines for changing or painting the exterior of your home. Some developments or communities have regulations that must be followed when it comes to altering the curb appeal of your home.
- Surrounding houses
Even if this is not mandatory consideration, you might want to consider nearby houses and see if you think your color scheme will be pleasing to your eye when viewed against the backdrop of the surrounding homes.
- Natural elements
Just like surrounding houses, the natural setting that surrounds your house plays an important role in the color scheme you choose. For example, if you live in a wooded area with a lot of browns and greens, you may want to choose a neutral or warm palette to harmonize your home with nature’s colors. Or, you may want to choose colors that contrast your natural surroundings if you want your house to pop against its backdrop.
More to consider when choosing house color schemes.
There are many factors to consider when you are choosing a color scheme for your home. Here are the things you want to look at in order to get a holistic idea of what a certain house color scheme will look like on your home.
- Size of your home
You will want to consider the size of your home when you are choosing the right colors. Depending on if you want a subtle or commanding finished look, the color palette you choose should have more or fewer colors involved depending on the size of your home. Smaller homes with less detail will mainly call for two paint colors, while a larger home with more detail might allow for more colors in your house color scheme.
- Different exterior elements
There are different elements of exterior house color schemes that will play into what colors you choose for your home. Homes that have many decorative trims and railings will be able to hold more colors. While homes with simple architecture will lend themselves to a simpler palette. This doesn’t mean you can’t make a bold color choice if your home is small, just that there will be fewer elements with which to create contrast.
- Cost
There are a few things that will affect the cost of having your home painted. The biggest factors that determine the price of the exterior home painting are:
- Square footage
- Exterior elements
- Type of paint, primer, finish
- Type of siding
- Local contractor costs
You will want to consider these items when you are getting ready to make a budget to have your home painted. You can also consider painting your house yourself if you feel like you want to learn a few new skills and have the tools you will need to get the job done.
How To Choose The Right House Color Scheme
The options for house color schemes are as varied as the owners who reside there. Now that we have looked at the different elements of style and color, let’s look at the steps you can take to choose the right paint colors for your home.
- Consider the style of your home
The paint you choose should complement the style of your home. We talked a bit about some of the most popular style homes and some color schemes that compliment them. If your house fits into one of these categories you may already have a good idea of which house color scheme you want to go with. Maybe your home style falls somewhere in between the architectural types we shared. Either way, you can use visual inspiration to think about what colors will look best on your home.
- Choose your paint color personality
Some house color combinations are very of the moment, while others are timeless and classic. You can get a good idea of which version to go with when choosing your color scheme by looking at the color and design choices you make around the rest of your home. Does your decor reflect the trends of the moment in style and color? Or is your home full of classic furniture and accessories? Whether you are trendy or classic in your home design choices you will do well to make a similar choice when you are considering an exterior house color scheme.
- Consider your surroundings
As we shared earlier in the article, you will want to consider things like your neighborhood, including any restrictions or guidelines that your community may have on the rules of home exterior colors, your natural surroundings, and the other homes that are nearby when choosing the colors for your home.
- Take note of the exterior elements of your home
Depending on the type of home you have, you will have varying exterior elements that may be getting painted. In addition to your main siding material, take a look at any additional structure on the exterior of your home, such as trim, shutters, railings, headings, and aprons. You will also want to consider the current color of your roof when choosing a house color scheme. Another trend that is popping up everywhere right now is to use a pop of color on your front door.
- Decide on a budget
After you have chosen a style for your home color scheme, you will want to set a budget for yourself. Many contractors will charge more for additional colors when painting your home. The more colors you have the higher the price tag may be. Luckily, most exterior paint color schemes only have two to three different colors involved. You will also need to have your hired professional look at how detailed the paintwork is for your type of architecture.
- Research and hire a professional in your area
Now that you are clear on the style and the budget, you can research the best local professionals in your area. Houzz.com is a good place to look for local contractors and house painters. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a good contractor. Check with people you know who have had paintwork done and see if they have any recommendations to share.
Wrapping up
Choosing a color palette that is the perfect fit for your home will give new life to the exterior of your home and improve curb appeal. While choosing a color scheme for the exterior of your home is a big decision, if you use these tips and tricks we shared in this article, you will be able to choose a house color scheme that will improve the look of your home and that you will love for many years.
