Many homeowners put off repainting the exterior of their homes because of their fear of selecting attractive colors. However, color selection need not cause anxiety if you learn about color and how it works individually and in conjunction with other shades. One aspect of color theory that can help when choosing exterior house colors focuses on the idea of color value. Simply put, color value refers to how light or dark a particular color appears. Understanding this idea can help you when you need to look for pleasing home paint colors that work well together. Homeowners often rely on three tips utilizing color value that can assist in narrowing down your paint color selections.
1. Understanding Paint Sample Swatches
You might vaguely know what color you want to paint your home. However, when you step into a paint store and find yourself confronted with dozens of paint color strips called sample swatches, the choices can immediately feel overwhelming. Conversely, when you understand how the paint color strips work, you will discover that they can become an essential ally in your quest to find the right color for your exterior paint job. The color strip usually shows one color of paint in lighter and darker versions of the same color. Knowing this can help if you choose a color scheme that focuses on one primary color. This color might be the shade you choose for the walls of the home’s exterior. You could then select a lighter or darker version of the same color for accent areas, and in this way, you would know that all the colors will work together well because they all appear on the same paint sample swatch.
2. Consider Paint Application Areas
Where you apply exterior paint colors remains an important consideration when it comes to color value and paint color selection. For instance, Phoenix painting company professionals might suggest a contrast between colors having light values situated next to colors with darker values. Color placement can work well when you want to use a contrasting color for the window trim and doors, for example. You might choose a light color for the walls, which can help give a smaller home a more prominent visual appearance, and then utilize darker contrasting colors for smaller accent areas. When you choose colors that complement each other, you can make each color stand out more than by using one color for both walls and accents.
3. Think About Your Locale
Where your home resides can also play a role in your ultimate color selections. Those in areas where sunny weather prevails, for example, might wish to go with lighter and brighter color values, which help reflect the sun’s heat and help to keep the interior home temperatures cooler. You could also choose home color values that coordinate with the foliage and plants typically found around and near your home, so the landscape works in conjunction with the home colors to create a pleasing whole.
When you think about color value in terms of paint color strips, application areas for the paint and your geographic location, you will gain a great deal of visual information. This knowledge can help narrow down your color selections for your home’s exterior to those that will please you the most.
