How to Choose an Exterior Colour Scheme
How to Choose an Exterior Colour Scheme
To choose the perfect exterior colour scheme, consider your home's architectural style, roof colour, and the surrounding environment. Select a palette that complements these elements, and test the colours in different lighting conditions to ensure they look great throughout the day. A cohesive colour scheme that harmonises with both the landscape and your home's interior will enhance curb appeal and create a seamless flow from the inside out.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to choose colours that complement your home’s architecture, environment, and personal style, helping you create a beautiful and lasting exterior.
What is an Exterior Colour Scheme?
An exterior colour scheme refers to the combination of colours used on the outside of your home. This includes the main body colour, trim, doors, and any accent colours that enhance architectural features. The right scheme can dramatically improve the appearance of your home, making it more welcoming and visually appealing.
Factors That Influence Exterior Colour Choices
1. Architectural Style
Your home's architectural style plays a significant role in determining the appropriate colour palette. Traditional homes often look best with classic, muted tones, while modern homes can handle bold, contemporary colours.
2. Surrounding Environment and Landscape
Consider the natural surroundings and landscape of your home. If your house is surrounded by greenery, earthy tones might work best, while coastal homes may suit lighter, sandy hues.
3. Climate and Weather Conditions
The climate can affect how colours look and how long they last. Dark colours may fade faster in harsh sunlight, while lighter shades can help keep your home cooler in hot climates.
4. Personal Style and Preferences
Your taste and lifestyle should also influence your colour choices. Whether you prefer a minimalist look or something more vibrant, your exterior colour scheme should reflect your personality.
How to Choose the Perfect Exterior Colours
1. Start with a Colour Palette
When choosing the perfect exterior colour scheme, the first step is to select a cohesive colour palette that harmonizes with your home’s fixed elements, such as the roof, brickwork, or stone facades. These fixed elements often have natural tones that should guide your choices.
Main Colour: This is the dominant colour that will cover the majority of your exterior walls. It should blend well with the environment while reflecting your style.
Trim Colour: The trim colour is used for window frames, doors, gutters, and other architectural details. It should complement the main colour without overpowering it, typically providing a subtle contrast.
Accent Colour: This is where you can add personality and depth to your home’s exterior. The accent colour is used sparingly on elements like the front door, shutters, or decorative features, adding a pop of colour that stands out.
2. Consider the Roof and Fixed Elements
Your roof is one of the most prominent features of your home’s exterior, and its colour should significantly influence your exterior colour scheme. Since roofs often last decades, their colour is unlikely to change, making it a crucial factor in your decision-making process.
Roof Colour: If your roof has a warm hue like terracotta, consider earthy or neutral tones for the walls to create harmony. For a dark, cool-coloured roof, such as slate grey or black, lighter or contrasting colours can create an appealing contrast.
Fixed Elements: Don’t forget to consider other unchangeable elements like pathways, fences, decks, and landscaping features. These elements often have their colour tones—like the grey of concrete or the warm brown of wooden fences—that should be considered when developing your colour palette.
3. Test Colours Before Committing
Before committing to a colour, it's essential to test your chosen palette on a small, inconspicuous area of your home. Paint can look very different in natural light versus indoor lighting, and it can change throughout the day.
Natural Light: Exterior colours can appear significantly different depending on the time of day. For example, a colour that seems perfect in the morning light may look too harsh or too dull in the afternoon or evening. Testing paint swatches on various sides of your home will help you understand how light affects your colour choice.
Weather Conditions: Australian weather can be intense, so it's wise to see how your chosen colours withstand different weather conditions, from bright sunlight to cloudy days.
4. Seek Professional Advice
If you’re feeling uncertain about your choices, consulting with a professional colour consultant or painter can be invaluable. Professionals can offer expert guidance, ensuring that your colour scheme not only looks beautiful but also suits your home’s style and environment.
Expertise: A professional can provide insights into colour trends, durability, and how different shades will interact with each other.
Avoid Costly Mistakes: With their help, you can avoid making colour mistakes that could detract from your home’s appearance or require costly corrections later on.
Best Exterior Colour Combinations to Consider
Choosing the right colour combinations can enhance your home’s curb appeal and align with your style. Here are some popular and timeless exterior colour combinations that are particularly well-suited to Australian homes:
Classic White and Grey: This timeless combination suits most architectural styles, offering a clean, modern look that’s both elegant and versatile.
Beige and Charcoal: Perfect for modern and contemporary homes, this combination creates a sleek, sophisticated appearance that is both stylish and inviting.
Earthy Tones with Natural Wood Accents: Ideal for homes in natural settings, this combination blends seamlessly with the environment, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere that feels organic and connected to nature.
What Exterior Paint Colours Last the Longest?
When choosing exterior paint colours, it’s important to consider not just aesthetics but also durability. Some colours and finishes are more resistant to fading and weather damage than others. Here’s what to consider:
White and Light Neutrals: These colours are excellent for reflecting sunlight, which helps reduce heat absorption and fading. They can make your home more energy-efficient while maintaining their brightness over time.
Soft Greys and Blues: These colours are known for their resilience against UV damage, maintaining their vibrancy longer than more saturated colours. They offer a modern, stylish look that stands up well to Australia’s harsh sun.
Choosing high-quality, weather-resistant paints is essential for longevity. Look for paints with UV protection and weather-resistant properties to ensure your home’s exterior stays fresh and vibrant for years.
How to Combine Paint Colours for Exterior Walls
Combining multiple colours on your home’s exterior can create a visually appealing and balanced look. Here’s how to do it effectively:
Balance Bold and Neutral Tones: When using bold colours, it’s important to balance them with neutral tones to avoid overwhelming the exterior. For example, a bold red door can be paired with neutral grey walls and white trim to create a striking yet harmonious look.
Use Accent Colours to Highlight Architectural Features: Accent colours can be used strategically to draw attention to specific architectural features, such as window frames, shutters, or gables. This not only adds depth to your home’s exterior but also highlights its unique design elements.
Stick to a Three-Colour Palette: To avoid a cluttered appearance, it’s generally best to stick to three main colours—one for the walls, one for the trim, and one for accents. This keeps the exterior looking cohesive and polished.
Mistakes to Avoid While Choosing Exterior Paint Colours
Choosing the right exterior paint colours for your home is a significant decision that can dramatically impact its curb appeal. However, many homeowners make common mistakes that can lead to disappointing results. Here’s a closer look at some of these pitfalls:
Ignoring the Environment
One of the most common mistakes is not considering the natural and built environment surrounding your home. The colours you choose should complement the landscape, neighbouring houses, and even the natural light conditions of the area. For example, a vibrant colour that looks stunning in a sunny climate might seem out of place or too intense in a shady, wooded area. Similarly, bright, bold colours might clash with a more traditional neighbourhood aesthetic. To avoid this, observe your surroundings and choose colours that blend harmoniously with the existing landscape and community.
Overlooking the Roof
Another frequent mistake is ignoring the colour of the roof when selecting exterior paint. The roof is a large, permanent feature of your home, and its colour should influence your choice of exterior paint. For instance, if your roof has a dominant colour like red or green, choosing a clashing colour for the walls can create a jarring and uncoordinated look. Instead, consider selecting paint colours that complement or subtly contrast with the roof to create a cohesive and pleasing appearance.
Skipping the Test Phase
Many homeowners make the mistake of skipping the test phase, opting to paint the entire house without trying out the colours first. This can lead to regret if the colour looks different than expected in various lighting conditions or when applied to a large surface area. Testing small patches of paint on different sides of your home allows you to see how the colours interact with sunlight, shade, and the overall environment throughout the day. This step is crucial to ensure that the colour works well in all conditions and is exactly what you envisioned.
The Role of Interior Colour Scheme in Exterior Choices
The interior and exterior of your home should have a sense of continuity, with the exterior colour scheme reflecting or complementing the interior design. Here’s how the interior colours can influence your exterior choices:
Creating a Cohesive Look
A cohesive look that flows from the inside out can be achieved by selecting exterior colours that harmonize with the interior palette. For example, if your interior features cool tones like blues and greys, you might choose a similar colour family for the exterior to maintain a unified look. This connection between the interior and exterior creates a seamless transition from one space to another, enhancing the overall aesthetic of your home.
Reflecting Interior Style
The style and colour scheme used inside your home should guide your exterior choices. If your interior is modern and minimalist with neutral tones, consider a sleek, understated exterior colour palette that complements this style. On the other hand, if your home’s interior is more traditional with warm, rich colours, an exterior palette that includes classic hues like deep reds or browns might be more appropriate.
Before You Start Painting…
For those interested in pursuing a career in painting and decorating, consider enrolling in professional courses from Building Institute:
Choosing the right exterior colour scheme is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your home's appearance and value.
So, if you are satisfied with your work, elevate your skills with Building Institute.
FAQ
Which are the most common exterior home colours?
Answer: The most common exterior home colours are classic and timeless, such as white, grey, and neutrals.
Which exterior home colours improve curb appeal?
Answer: The most popular colours—whites, greys, and neutrals—will increase curb appeal. Other eye-catching exterior hues are black and green.
Which exterior home colour holds up the best?
Answer: Choose a lighter hue for a longer-lasting paint job on your home's exterior. Darker colours fade faster and must be repainted more regularly.
How do you pick a colour scheme for a house's exterior?
Answer: When choosing an exterior colour for your home, remember to include an accent colour for the front door, letterbox, and window frames, as well as a contrasting trim color for the eaves, pergolas, fretwork, railings, fascia, and gutter. It's also vital to consider the type of surface you're painting.
How do I select an external accent colour?
Answer: Select three complimentary colours. The accent color is commonly used on doors, shutters, and other tiny areas. The trim color on the windows, door casings, roof edging, and railings add to their visual appeal. Your trim colour should be a contrast to your body colour. If the primary colour is light, paint the trim dark.
Which hue is ideal for the outside of a house?
Answer: Greige, off-white, grey, ivory, cream, brown, and wooden textures are all neutral colours for exterior home wall designs. This is simply because these hues make your property seem stylish and current while blending in with its surroundings.