Choosing exterior house paint colors can be a difficult decision. It takes a good deal of time and effort to decide what colors will look good together. Picking out the wrong color paint can be a very costly mistake that you’ll likely have to live with it or spend a lot of money to repaint it. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Determine how many paint colors you will be picking out. Newer homes sometimes have metal framed windows that do not need painting but they will have eaves that may need to be painted in a contrasting color to the siding. If you have window trim and shutters that will need to be painted, decide how many colors you want to work with. Generally, homeowners paint their exterior siding with one color and their exterior trim with another color and their shutters and exterior doors with a third color. White is the most often used color for exterior trim. It creates an beautiful contrasting look.

If you have brick on your home, choose a color for your siding that will blend well with your brick. You should consider the color of your roof when deciding on paint colors. Make certain the exterior paint colors you pick blend well with the color of your roof as well.

Look at the colors of your neighbors’ houses. This is crucial, but frequently overlooked factor in color selection. Most homeowners want their home to be distinctive, but it should also be agreeable with colors utilized in the neighborhood. So, take a look at nearby houses before deciding your paint color.

Before you pick any paint color, check to see if your home owners associations restricts the colors you can use. This is particularly important if you live in a newer subdivision, or townhouse community. It is very common to find these types of restrictions in these communities.

When you do decide on a paint color keep in mind that most colors tend not to look exactly the same as those on the paint store fan decks or color samplers. Types of paint formula’s, paint sheen and lighting can all play a part in what a color will or will not look like.

Once you have narrowed down your paint color choice, paint a small section of your home. Most paint companies or hardware stores will sell you a small sample size in a whatever color you want or you could just purchase a quart. Make sure you are testing the exact paint you will be using to paint your house. It’s the only way to really see what the paint will look like. Paint may appear different at different times of the day so be certain to take a look at your samples several times. Make sure to test your trim colors next to the siding color also.

Exterior paint can be made in any color that you can think of, and these are just a few tips to help you make the right choice. By considering all of these things mentioned in this article, you should be able to choose colors that will not only look fantastic but will also hide any defects and emphasize your home’s best features.

Article originally published at Source by Tony Evans