Q: I want to choose a new exterior paint color this year when I have it painted. What mistakes should I know about as I make my final selection?

A: Choosing exterior paint colors can be a difficult and daunting task. Start by looking at your home at different times of the day. Is your home in broad sunlight all day long, or is it primarily in the shade due to large trees? Sunlight and shade will give you different color hues – shade will make your color appear darker.Tips For Choosing Exterior Paint Color

Also take a look at other homes in your community. While you probably don’t want to look like a row of cookie cutter houses, you don’t want to stand out like a sore thumb either. If your neighborhood is filled with earth toned homes, you won’t go wrong by following with an earth toned theme.

You should also watch what elements of your home you will be accenting with color, and what color you choose. If your home has unattractive elements, such as large downspouts or unevenly spaced windows, making them light and airy and stand out from the more subdued paint choice of the rest of the home will always put the focus where you don’t want it to be.

Q: Is there anything you can do to eliminate the surprise of choosing the wrong color? How can you gain confidence before its painted?

A: Always begin with the items of your home that won’t change. Brick or stone are difficult to change. Likewise your roof may still have a decade or more of life to it. Use these as your base and grow your color scheme from there. If they have brown hues, stick with the browns. If it’s gray; stick with the grays.

Tips For Home Exterior Trim Color

Also concentrate on the yearly affects of weather on your home. Does your home take in a large amount of sunshine, which means fading is a strong possibility? Then a lighter color would hold its color better, and wouldn’t show that worn and washed out look quite as quickly.

Q: Are there any rules of thumb about color?

A: Typically whites and light colors will make your home look larger. Darker colors will make a home look smaller but more substantial.

If you have a porch, a white or light color will make your front area more approachable.

If you’re worried about color, safe is always a sound decision. Two tints from the same color strip a few shades apart will always work well together. Then paint your home in one shade, the trim in the other. You can work in either direction and still have a clean, crisp look and feel.

For more help on exterior painting in Denver.