It really doesn’t matter whether you’re building from the ground up or renovating an existing home, you want to make sure that the exterior colors all complement one another. This is what makes your home look welcoming and inviting. So, with that in mind, let’s talk about how to coordinate colors.
General guidelines
Three basic elements determine the look of your home:
- The exterior materials used:
- Stone, brick, stucco, vinyl siding or pressed wood siding, for instance.
- The ways in which the materials combine (using brick and vinyl together, for example).
- The exterior materials chosen will comprise most of the surface area of your home.
- The colors you choose for your entry doors, garage doors, and window trim.
- Decorative elements, including cornices, soffits, railings, shutters, and other architectural details that combine to create the overall visual effect of your home’s exterior.
Today, you have access to a huge array of colors, so it’s guaranteed that you will find something you love. The color, or combination of colors, that you select for your home’s exterior will also determine the colors that you choose for the decorative components. When selecting materials, though, consider how much maintenance will be involved. Some materials require regular attention, while others will need little or no maintenance.
The architectural design of your home and the rest of the neighborhood
The exterior colors that you choose will depend in large part on the architectural style of your home. For instance, you may be somewhat limited in your color choices with a Colonial or Victorian style home, since much of the time brick is used as a main component in the exterior. With a country style home, you will probably be able to employ more color, and in brighter hues.
You will also want to consider the flowers, shrubs and trees that you use in your home’s landscaping. The number of plants, as well as their colors, will have an effect on the exterior colors you will select. Also, think about which side of your home gets the most exposure to the sun.
Of course you want your home to stand out, but not so much so that it is in stark contrast to the overall tone of the neighborhood. There may also be restrictions in place in your neighborhood that will limit your color choices, and also the materials that you will be able to use, so be sure to check this out before proceeding.
Tying it all together
Take a good look at your home’s architectural style, and your neighborhood as well. Unless bright colors are the norm in your area, you will want to keep the look understated by avoiding vibrant tones. Then think about how you can use contrasting elements to create a visually interesting yet harmonious look. This is the key to successful exterior decor.
If the idea of re‑painting the entire exterior of your home seems like a bit much, then stick with the main exterior theme, and choose two or three shades that work with the rest of the exterior. You may prefer to go with “natural” tones, as they usually combine very effectively with the main exterior elements of most homes.
Don’t waste time driving around to various stores, gathering up paint samples. Instead, take a look at paint company websites. Most companies will devote a section of their website to visual representations of various exterior paint combinations, so you can get an idea of how different colors are going to work together.
The garage door and front door are vital elements
Your front door is going to be one of the things people notice first about your home, so choose its color based on the color that dominates the rest of the exterior. If your exterior is a very bright color, you can create visual impact using a pale color. The converse is also true – a pale exterior is complemented by a bright color for the front door. Depending on your personal style and taste, you can create an understated effect, or one that is quite striking. Once you have chosen the right contrasting color for your home’s front door, you can further enhance it by adding decorative elements.
Most of the time, you will not want to overly emphasize your garage door. So, if the garage door is located in the front of the home, and is 16 or more feet wide, choose a pale tone. A dark hue is going to deliver too much emphasis. However, if you love dark colors and insist on one for your garage door, you can reduce the impact by adding decorative items like an overhanging pergola, or perhaps by introducing visual interest by means of planters containing colorful flowers.
You might also consider adding windows to your garage door, coordinating with the front door. Check out Garaga’s Design Centre to get an idea of how this will look, and also for a free quote.
Now you know how to pull the elements together to create a welcoming, unique appearance for your home’s exterior. Contact us for all your garage door requirements, and we will help you to make the choice that is just right for your budget and style.
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