With summer around the corner, people are paying more attention to the appearance of their homes. Sound like you? Luckily, one of the easiest ways to improve your home’s exterior is a new coat of paint.
New paint can make your home look fresh and appealing, but choosing the right colors for your exterior paint can make or break the look of the final outcome. With so many options to choose from, selecting the right color scheme can be daunting.
We have compiled a list of the newest exterior paint color trends in 2024, tips to consider when making your choice, FAQs, and more to help make choosing the best exterior paint color for your home easier than ever.
Table of Contents
- How To Choose Paint Color for Your Home Exterior
- 7 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color for Your Home
- FAQs Regarding How To Choose an Exterior Paint Color for Your Home
- Two Brothers Painting: Exterior Painting Experts You Can Trust
How To Choose Paint Colors for Your Home Exterior
You’ve decided to paint your home’s exterior, now you just need to choose the perfect color.
This is not a decision to be taken lightly, as the color of your home can have big implications. For example, your home’s paint job greatly impacts curb appeal and first appearances. You may want your home to blend in with the neighborhood, or maybe you want it to stand out.
It’s not just about appearances either. One Zillow study uncovered how exterior paint color might impact the resale value of the home. They found that 21% of homeowners paint the exterior before selling their home, and that the color of the exterior mattered. Homes painted a gray-beige color sold for more, while homes painted yellow sold for less.
Don’t want to tackle the job yourself? Consider hiring a professional to make sure the job is done right. Check out Two Brothers Painting for great deals on house painting in Portland, Oregon.
Consider These Three Elements
There are three main elements to consider when choosing an exterior paint color for your home:
- Main color: Also known as the “field” color, this will be the majority of the exterior.
- The accent color(s): This could be a red door on a white house, or white shutters on a dark house.
- Trim color: The trim of the roof, around the doors and windows, etc. makes the paint job look clean and uniform.
The best way to find the perfect exterior color scheme for your home is to take a look around your neighborhood. You can get a good idea of what color scheme makes the most sense for your home’s field, accent, and trim.
7 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color for Your Home
#1: Consider the Size and Landscape of Your Home
To choose the best exterior color scheme for your home you must first consider the size and landscape of your house. Is your home smaller and vintage, or sprawling and modern? Is the area more rural and naturalistic, or more urban?
You want your home to fit in well with its surroundings. Muted sage greens and soft yellows are excellent exterior paint choices for homes in nature, while an urban home would look stately in shades of gray and white.
If you want to make your home look larger, consider white for the exterior and a light neutral shade for the trim. Remember that white does not have to mean bright white. Exterior color variants of cream and eggshell or gray-beige can give your home a softer appearance while still getting the benefit of white.
White is also the ideal choice for anyone looking to sell their home. A fresh, white exterior paint job makes the home look newer and more welcoming while still being a “blank canvas” for potential buyers.
#2: Identify the Architectural Style of Your Home and Neighborhood
Architectural style is a huge factor in choosing an exterior paint color for your home. A modern home may look great in a stark black and white scheme, but that might not look as good on a Victorian home.
Certain homes tend to carry colors better than others. Farmhouses look great in shades of red, while that might be far too much for a ranch-style home.
Take a ride around your neighborhood and see if there are any architectural themes. You can also try to find some houses similar to yours to compare paint styles with.
If your neighborhood has an HOA, be sure to reach out to them. They will no doubt have opinions and rules on what exterior colors are allowed in the neighborhood.
#3: Don’t Feel Forced To Follow a Trend
Trends are great — until they aren’t anymore.
There is nothing wrong with trying out some 2024 exterior paint trends, after all, popular things are usually popular for a reason. If you are looking to sell your home, there is a big benefit to choosing an exterior paint color that is fresh and modern looking.
That being said, there is no reason to choose an exterior paint color just because it’s trendy. It’s better to choose your home’s new exterior color based on the neighborhood aesthetic and personal taste.
#4: Take What Already Exists Into Consideration
As previously stated, it is important to choose an exterior paint color that works with your neighborhood and home surroundings. However, it is equally important to choose an exterior paint color scheme that works with the unique features of your home.
For example, what kind of window trims does your home have? Does it have sleek modern trim, or elaborate gingerbread molding?
A stark white field and black trim might be depressing on a Victorian, but very clean and welcoming on a ranch-style home. If your home has brick or stone features, that should also be taken into consideration when selecting exterior colors. You want to work with the fixed features your house has to get the most visually pleasing result.
#5: Remember the Color Wheel Rules
To create the best exterior possible, remember the color wheel. You want the three colors you choose — accent, field, and trim —to complement each other.
If you are not sure, consider choosing three monochromatic shades, or colors that are in the same family but with different brightness. Once you have decided on the color family, you can go to the paint counter at any hardware store and ask for suggestions on what paint colors would work for your home.
#6: Test Before You Commit
Painting your home’s exterior is a big decision, and you want to be sure that you have done all the necessary footwork. Before committing to any colors, get some samples. Once you have a few that you like, do some test patches on the house and trim to see what works best.
Be sure to check the color at different times of day and in different lighting. If you aren’t sure, ask a buddy for their opinion. Second opinions can be very useful on house projects because they can see things that you have gotten used to.
#7: Consult Expert Painting Professionals
Painting the exterior of a home is hard. It is not like interior painting, which can easily be done piecemeal. With a home’s exterior, you have to factor in things like weather, caulking any openings, and getting the job done quickly.
If choosing an exterior paint color for your home has got you stressed, consider hiring a professional. Two Brothers Painting has over 150 combined years of painting experience and can help you with the entire process. From choosing the perfect colors to expertly painting the trim, Two Brothers Painting is the best way to get your Portland, Oregon home painted.
FAQs About How To Choose an Exterior Paint Color for Your Home
Is There a Rule of Thumb for How Many Colors To Choose?
There are no hard rules about the amount of colors to choose for your home’s exterior. However, most people choose three complementary colors: one for the main or “field”, one for the trim, and an accent color for the door or shutters.
Should Exterior Trim Be Lighter or Darker Than the House?
Not necessarily. It depends on how you want the house to look. If the trim is very dark against the house it can look clean and modern, but lighter trim makes the house look larger. Contrasting colors work best, but ultimately it is a personal preference.
Is It Best to Get Expert Guidance When Choosing Exterior Paint Colors?
If possible, yes! A professional painting company, like Two Brothers Painting in Beaverton and Portland, is going to have a lot of experience with painting exteriors. We can offer helpful tips and point out problem areas that need to be repaired before painting.
Two Brothers Painting: Exterior Painting Experts You Can Trust
Struggling with choosing paint colors for your home’s exterior? Overwhelmed by the idea of tall ladders and scaffolding?
If you need your Portland, Oregon home painted, consider Two Brothers Painting. Our family-owned business has a combined 150 years of experience painting homes and businesses.
At Two Brothers Painting, we care about our clients. We take the time to find the right color scheme for your home and outline the pre-painting steps that need to take place before any painting can begin. With Two Brothers Painting, you know you are getting the best painting service for your dollar in Portland, Oregon. Contact us today to get started.