For Your Consideration
Selecting a house color? Think color trends, neighborhood vibe and new paint formulations
Color Guard: Consider a home's architecture and the local environment when choosing exterior paint hues. Image courtesy of Kelly-Moore
Whether it's a New England clapboard Colonial, a Prairie-style on the Plains or a Southwestern stucco, people describe a home in the same terms: by color.
It's the "yellow house on the corner" or the "gray two-story in the middle of the block." The condition and color of the exterior give a home its identity and also account for much of its curb appeal, says Susan Powell, owner of InFocus Design, a Crete, Ill., firm that stages homes for sellers.
Invariably, says Powell, she advises clients to freshen their look with a coat of paint. Indeed, exterior paint has the "huge bang for the buck" because it so dramatically impacts a home's look, contends Erika Woelfel, director of color for Behr.
Home sellers may be able to brush off the doldrums of the housing market by dipping into a can and getting a fresh start. Paint isn't simply decorative. It shelters the underlying surface from the elements.
Not just sellers, but any owner who loves his home will want to protect it with a good coat. Here, a "primer" on some recent trends and advances to get you started on what could be your most significant home improvement.
Color Trends
A good exterior paint job should last 15 years or more, Woelfel says. While there are cycles of fashionable colors for interiors, exterior and building product trends stretch over longer periods, says Debbie Zimmer, director of the Paint Quality Institute, a division of the Dow Chemical Co. But building trends and other influences do bring changes to how we color our homes.
For instance, homes built within the last 15 years are more likely to have part of the façade extending out, allowing for two main body colors, says Leslie Harrington, director of The Color Association, a color forecasting group. Roofs have become more colorful, with deep green and blue shades added to the traditional grey, black and neutrals, Harrington explains.
The old "rule" dictating that a house shouldn't contain more than three exterior shades for trim, doors, body and roof, has relaxed. It's not uncommon to see four different colors on a house, says Harrington. Multiple colors should be selected carefully, so they don't compete or overwhelm one another. For instance, trim and roof colors might match, with two neutral body colors and a "pop" of accent color, perhaps on the door. The house of the future is likely to be smaller, and Mary Lawlor, a color specialist at Kelly-Moore, thinks "cleaner, lighter neutrals" will be used more often to give stature to homes with slightly shrunken square footage.
Judgment Call
Regional and architectural differences also are big color influencers, says Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams. Rich jewel tones may be appropriate for a restored Victorian, for example, while a Californian Arts & Crafts would be enhanced by dusty hues. But whether you are letting the design of your home guide color choice or are experimenting with the color wheel, judgment is required to determine the right shades and mix. Think of how your home fits into its entire setting, advises Harrington.
Consider the colors of nearby properties. If there are two yellow houses on the block, that doesn't mean yours can't be, too, says Harrington. But a subtler or bolder shade of yellow could set your home apart while still blending well with the neighbors. Landscape is another important consideration. Dark green foliage, for example, may allow for the use of brighter hues than would a colorful border of blooming plants.
Tote home paint samples to study. Before committing to a color, purchase a small can; some paint companies offer special sample sizes. "In an inconspicuous area, paint about a two-foot square," suggests Woelfel. "Look at it in all light - morning, afternoon and evening and see if it appeals to you."
Recent Innovations
Many people - even professional painters and home builders -- don't realize that virtually every exterior surface of a house can be painted, says Zimmer. Painting siding, wood composite and other materials can freshen the look and protect surfaces. A coating that's appropriate for stucco, for example, has some stretch to minimizes potential hairline cracks, notes Lawlor.
The best way to identify the appropriate paint for a project, Zimmer says, is to visit a paint or home center store and ask for help from a knowledgeable salesperson.
New paints have been developed to better withstand certain weather conditions. For instance, Kelly-Moore, which sells in the western U.S., has developed a paint that can be used in cool mountain temperatures as low as 35 degrees F, says Lawlor. Resilience paint by Sherwin-Williams can be applied even if rain is imminent, says Steve Revnew, vice president of product development.
Fun Projects
Consumers are bolder than they once were when it comes to choosing home colors. And a favorite place to make a color statement is the front door.
"Your home's entrance is so important, but if you enter through a garage or a side door you may not even notice it much," says Powell. She often advises painting the door a red, dark green or shade that complements the other exterior colors yet gives a vibrant personality to a home. Painting a mailbox or light fixture the same accent color is another way to inject visual interest, she suggests.
"The smaller the area, the brighter you can go with an accent color," Woelfel says. "You don't have to stop with the house. There are stains for driveways, too."
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