The outside of your home is the first thing people see, and it creates a lasting impression – so make it a good one! Your choice of color will vary depending on your goals. If you plan to sell your home, you will probably have some different considerations than if you plan to live in the house for 10 years or more. Here are some general principles for choosing colors for the outside of your house.

If you plan to sell, go with colors that are common and popular in your area. Look around at what houses in your neighborhood look the best. Don’t be afraid to use some of the same colors, especially for the most prominent surfaces. You can make your home stand out by variety in the details: trim, doors, shutters and landscaping. Choose a color scheme that will appeal to the widest variety of potential buyers. The fresh paint and clean look will have more appeal than the specific colors you choose.

Whether you plan to sell your home or not, pay attention to the houses around yours. You want your house to be distinct and unique, but you don’t want to clash with the neighbors.

For your biggest spaces, lean towards neutral colors. Beige and khaki are popular choices, but many others are acceptable as well. If you want a green, yellow or blue, use a lighter hue for the main portion of your siding.

The details are the place to go bold. Your entry door and shutters are a great place to use a standout coordinating color. Paint them a darker shade of your wall color, or an entirely different color. Your garage door and trim will look great in white if your walls are colored, or they can be a bolder, darker complimenting color.

Before you actually buy your paint, drive around looking for combinations that you like, or browse sites like pinterest and houzz Whatever combinations you are considering, someone has probably tried it. See if you can find out what it actually looks like on a house!

If you are not sure what colors will work best on your home, many painting contractors offer color consultation services. When you hire our services to paint your exterior home we are committed to helping you choose a color plan that you will be happy with.