Exterior House Painting Near Me: Choose the Perfect Palette 

If you are considering exterior painting services and you Google “exterior house painting near me,”  you will eventually have to confront the choice of color palette for the exterior of your home. The color palette for your home’s exterior is more than just a creative endeavor—it’s a statement of your personal style and a substantial factor in your property’s overall appeal and value.

Hence, the decision of your home’s color palette is one that shouldn’t be taken lightly or made impulsively. An exterior paint job is a long-term commitment, both in terms of financial investment and the time it takes to complete. Moreover, the color of your home sets the tone for its overall aesthetic, complementing—or clashing with—the surrounding landscape and architecture.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the process of selecting the perfect color palette for your home’s exterior, from understanding the basics of color theory to considering your environment, understanding trends, and seeking professional guidance when necessary. Whether you’re looking to freshen up your home’s appearance or preparing it for sale, the information herein will help you make an informed decision.

But first, let’s look at color theory and the psychology of color.

Understanding color theory and the psychology of color

Established by Sir Isaac Newton in the 1660s, color theory forms the foundation of any design project, including choosing the ideal color palette for your home’s exterior. Newton’s invention of the color wheel categorizes colors into three distinct groups:

1. Primary Colors: Red, blue, and yellow. These are the colors that cannot be made by mixing other colors together.
2. Secondary Colors: Orange, green, and violet. These are the colors you get when you mix two primary colors together.
3. Tertiary Colors: These are the colors you get when you mix a primary color with a secondary color. They typically have two-word names such as red-orange or blue-green.

Beyond these, there are also other terms you should be familiar with in regard to color theory:

• Hue: This refers to the dominant color family or the basic color of any object before its properties are modified.
• Chroma: Often referred to as saturation, chroma represents the purity of a color. A hue with high chroma has no black, white, or gray added to it. As the chroma decreases, the color appears more muted.
• Value or Lighting: This is all about the brightness or darkness of a color. Adding black darkens the hue, creating a shade, while adding white creates a lighter tint.

Another crucial aspect is the temperature of the color. Colors fall into three categories: warm (like red, orange, and yellow), cool (such as blue, green, and violet), and neutral (white, black, gray, and sometimes brown). The temperature should reflect the goal and personality of your home’s design.

In addition to these, one must also understand the psychology of color as well. Color has a significant impact on our emotions and behaviors, and these effects go far beyond personal preferences. Different colors can evoke a variety of responses, so let’s delve into what each color can represent and how they might impact the mood of your home’s exterior:

• Red: This is the color of passion, excitement, and energy. It’s an intense color that can grab attention and evoke strong emotions. In terms of home exteriors, red can give your home a lively, inviting look. However, be mindful that too much red can also incite feelings of anger or agitation, so it’s often best used as an accent color.
• Blue: Blue is associated with peace, tranquility, and stability. It’s a calming color that can make your home seem serene and inviting. Lighter blues are often associated with the beach and can give your home a casual, relaxed feel. Darker blues, on the other hand, can convey a sense of sophistication and reliability.
• Green: As the dominant color in nature, green is associated with growth, renewal, and life. It’s a calming and relaxing color that can give your home a fresh, inviting look. Lighter greens can evoke a feeling of vibrancy, while darker greens can give your home a more traditional, stately appearance.
• Yellow: Yellow is a bright, cheerful color associated with happiness and positivity. It can make your home stand out and appear welcoming. However, as with red, it’s a color that should be used judiciously. Too much yellow can feel overwhelming, and some research suggests it can cause feelings of frustration.
• White: White is often associated with purity, simplicity, and cleanliness. It’s a versatile color that works well with any architectural style and can make your home appear larger, lighter, and more inviting. However, an excess of white may risk looking sterile or unapproachable, so it’s essential to balance it with other colors.
• Black: Black is a color of power, elegance, and formality. It can make your home look sophisticated and modern. However, too much black can make a home seem dark, uninviting, or even ominous. Like red and yellow, black is often best used sparingly and balanced with lighter hues.
• Brown: Brown is associated with stability, reliability, and comfort. It’s a natural, earthy color that can make your home blend seamlessly with its surroundings. Various shades of brown, from light tans to dark chocolates, can evoke different feelings, from casual and relaxed to rich and luxurious.

Factors Influencing Exterior Home Painting

Exterior home painting isn’t an isolated act. It acts as a part of a larger picture; that larger picture being the local environment, which plays a pivotal role in determining the color palette that will best complement your home. Here are some key factors to consider:

1. Natural landscaping

Take a moment to appreciate the natural hues around your home. Do you live in an area with lots of greenery, or are you surrounded by arid, desert landscapes? For homes in lush, verdant surroundings, earthy tones or cool hues like blues and greens might blend in beautifully. Alternatively, in a desert setting, you might opt for warm tones to complement the surroundings.

2. Architectural cohesion

As you perform an online search for “exterior house painting near me,” don’t forget to look at the colors used on homes in your neighborhood. While it’s not necessary to exactly match the color palette of your neighbors, maintaining a certain level of harmony and architectural cohesion can prevent your house from clashing with its surroundings. It can also help maintain the value of homes in the area. If all the nearby homes are neutral tones, for instance, a bright, multi-colored exterior might seem out of place.

3. Climate

The local climate can have a big impact on color perception. In areas with lots of sunlight, bright and vibrant colors can appear washed out, while darker shades might absorb heat. In cloudy or overcast climates, on the other hand, lighter shades can help reflect light and make your home appear brighter.

4. Local regulations

Before you commit to a color scheme, it’s important to check if there are any homeowner association guidelines or local regulations that you need to adhere to. Some areas might have restrictions on certain colors or require specific colors to maintain a uniform neighborhood aesthetic.

5. Future considerations

If you plan to sell your home in the future, consider how your color choices might affect its resale value. Unconventional color schemes might put some buyers off. Neutral colors are generally a safe choice and appeal to a wide range of tastes.

While your personal preference should be a significant factor in deciding your home’s exterior color, considering your surroundings can help you make a choice that’s harmonious and appealing. By blending your personal taste with environmental considerations, you can choose a palette that enhances both your home and its setting.

Contact us here if you would like to find the best painting contractor for your residential or commercial needs.

Exterior Painting Near Me: Tips for Choosing Your Color Palette

Now that we have explored the principles of color theory, the psychology behind colors, and the significance of considering your surroundings when performing an online search for “exterior painting near me,” let’s get into some practical tips for choosing the perfect color palette for your home’s exterior.

1. Consider your home’s architectural style and neighborhood: As you perform your search for “exterior house painting near me,” it’s crucial that you also understand your home’s architectural style and the general aesthetic of your neighborhood. For instance, a Victorian home may lend itself to a more diverse color palette by exterior house painters, while a modern design may look best in a monochromatic scheme. Similarly, consider your neighborhood’s aesthetic—your home should complement its surroundings rather than clash with them.
2. Examine your home and surroundings: The existing color schemes of neighboring homes, as well as the local landscape, can help you decide whether your home should blend in or stand out. Existing colors on your house, like the roof, window trims, or foundation, should serve as the base for your exterior home painting color scheme. Additionally, factor in the size of your home and its landscape. Darker exterior paint colors can make a large house seem smaller, while lighter shades can help a small house stand out.
3. Identify your decorating style: Your personal decorating style should significantly influence your choice of exterior color. For instance, traditional styles might favor warm neutrals, while contemporary styles might lean towards cool, neutral tones.
4. Don’t follow trends blindly: While it’s tempting to jump on the bandwagon of the latest color trends, remember that trends change frequently. Choosing colors based solely on current popularity could lead to dissatisfaction later on. Always prioritize your personal preferences over passing trends.
5. Plan around the elements that are hardest to change: Factor in the colors of elements like roof shingles, stonework, pathways, and driveways that are unlikely to change. Your chosen palette should harmonize with these existing elements to create a cohesive look.
6. Rely on color wheel rules for guidance: The color wheel can be a valuable tool in creating a balanced and harmonious color scheme. A successful color palette typically uses three hues: a dominant shade for the main body of the house and two accent colors for the door, shutters, and trims.
7. Choose several paint shades: Exterior color schemes should typically consist of three parts: the field color (dominant), the accent color (for smaller areas like doors and shutters), and the trim color (for window and door casings, roof edging, railings). The trim color should contrast strongly with the field color, while the accent color should introduce a bold pop of color without overwhelming the overall palette.
8. Test your colors and make a mockup: Before finalizing your decision, test your chosen colors on a small section of your exterior wall and observe them under various lighting conditions. Also, create a mockup to visualize how your color choices will work together. Remember, colors can appear significantly different outdoors than they do on paint chips, so always preview your colors in the environment where they will be applied.

By considering these practical tips, you’ll be well-equipped to choose a color palette that enhances your home’s exterior and complements its surroundings.

Seeking Professional Services for Exterior House Painting Near Me

Selecting the right color palette for your home’s exterior is an exciting yet complex process. It involves more than just personal preference; there’s a science to it that requires understanding color theory, considering the surrounding environment, assessing the architectural style of your home, and much more. 

This is where the guidance of a professional painting contractor—preferably one specializing in exterior house painting near me—can make a significant difference. Professional painting companies are aware of the latest trends in home exterior colors. 

But beyond trends, they also have a deep understanding of classic, timeless color schemes that work well with various architectural styles. Their knowledge can guide you to make a choice that you’ll be happy with for years to come.

Also, they possess comprehensive knowledge about different types of paint, their suitable applications, and the best techniques to apply them. They understand how different paints respond to different climates and can guide you to choose a paint type that will withstand your local weather and stay vibrant for longer.

While DIY projects can be rewarding, painting your home’s exterior is a large-scale task that can benefit from professional expertise. Koehn Painting is one such contractor. With us, you can rest assured that your home’s exterior will be a perfect blend of your personal preferences, design principles, and the unique elements of your home and neighborhood.

If you want to learn more about Koehn and our painting services, feel free to get a quote from us.