Choosing the Right Paint Scheme for Your Home’s Exterior

By Dave Donovan

If you’re looking to give your home a makeover, but you don’t have the money to spend on all-new siding, you may be able to get the results you’re looking for by applying a fresh new coat of paint to your existing siding. In fact, you can change the entire look of your home just by choosing a different color than the one it presently has.

Of course, choosing the right paint scheme is not one that should be considered lightly. After all, everyone who walks or drives past your home will be looking at its color so you want it to look as nice as possible – no day-glow orange allowed.

Here are some tips for choosing the perfect paint scheme for your home’s exterior.

Understanding Color

First, there are three primary colors – red, blue and yellow. All other colors have their base in one of these three primaries. Next are the secondary colors. Secondary colors are what you get when two primary colors are mixed in equal parts, such as combining red and blue to create violet. Lastly, we have the tertiary colors, which are created by combining a primary color with a secondary color. Understanding the primary base colors and their derivatives makes it easier to choose two colors that accentuate each other.

So, What are Color Schemes?

Color schemes are collections of certain colors that work together in a pleasing fashion. There are four types of color schemes – complementary, monochromatic, triadic and adjacent.

• Complementary Color Schemes – Complimentary colors are two opposite colors on the color wheel that when combined create a dramatic contrast, like using red as the primary and green for the accents.
• Monochromatic Color Schemes – Monochromatic color schemes are based on a single hue, like blue, but with two variations used, like dark blue and light blue.
• Triadic Color Schemes – Triadic color schemes are created using three equidistant colors on the color wheel. This type of color scheme is more difficult to come develop and is most commonly applied by a professional with an experienced eye.
• Adjacent Color Schemes – Adjacent color schemes are designed using two colors from the color wheel that are either right next to each other or nearby. This scheme can employ a number of harmonic colors, like blue, green and blue-green.

The next time you’re at the home improvement store, check out the color wheels in the paint section. Following one of these four color schemes will help you ensure that the exterior of your home will have your neighbors gazing in admiration and not revulsion.

Dave Donovan is a freelance copywriter living in Atco, N.J. An electrician for 15 years, an injury forced him to pursue his true passion - writing.