"Dupioni"; "Faux bois"; "Intaglio"; "Pulmonaria"... Rare tropical diseases?
European politicians? Expensive appetizers?
Nope, they're paint colors! If
you're thinking of painting the outside of your house you might be wondering
whatever happened to red, green, and blue!
Paint Paralysis
The dizzying array of color choices and their associated names are enough
to give a homeowner a case of Chromophobia - the fear of colors.
How do you decide what color(s) to use when there are so many options?
At $40 a gallon or more for quality exterior latex, you can't afford to
make a mistake. And if you don't like the colors, your neighbors
probably won't either; colors have public impact - you're not the only one
who has to live with them. But a little research and planning can help you
get started with the confidence that the final paint job is one that you -
and your neighbors - will be pleased with.
Field, Trim, and Accent
An existing house isn't a blank canvas - after all, you're not changing
the color of the roof, the brick or stone, and maybe not even the windows
(if they're vinyl or aluminum clad). Roofs and masonry walls are large areas
of unbroken color and natural starting points for creating a palette.
An exterior paint scheme should be made up of at least three colors: the
field - large areas such as walls or roofs; the trim -
corner boards, window trim, fascias, rakes, etc.; and accent -
specific elements including doors, shutters, and other architectural
features.
Field colors make up the majority of what you'll see on the house and
will lead you to the choice of trim and accent. Are you trying to make your
house look a little more prominent on the street? A lighter field color will
make it look larger; a darker color will visually shrink it. "Unattractive"
elements - gutters, downspouts, etc., should also be painted the field color
to help them "disappear" into the background.
But it's the trim color that can make or break the scheme. Painting the
trim the same color as the field can work in some cases, but it can also
give the house an "unfinished" or "wedding cake" look. Darker trim -
especially around the windows - can cause a "frame" effect, where the
windows look like pictures hung on a wall. Keeping the trim lighter than the
field is almost always a safe bet.
The accent color is where the excitement is. Once you've chosen an
attractive combination of field and trim, make it "pop" with an eye-catching
accent color. It's a tool to give life to an otherwise muted color scheme
and draws attention to the important features of the house. The front door,
shutters, and the windows frames (not the trim) are good places for
accent colors. Windows painted with accent and trim colors together can be
the most interesting part of the composition.
Choosing a Paint Scheme
The two most important considerations in choosing a color scheme are the
architecture of the house and the neighborhood context.
Historic architectural styles, for example, look best in their original
color schemes, although these can vary quite a bit. Original Colonial and
Colonial Revival homes were often quite colorful on the inside, but less so
on the exterior. Often they were painted in a single color for the field and
trim, with a second color for an accent. Combined with prominent red brick
chimneys and a brick or stone base, the effect is a three-color scheme.
Victorian homes - often referred to as "painted ladies" - sometimes
showed off six or more colors of trim and accent. Making that look good
today takes the services of a color specialist and a lot of time. But a
similar effect can be had with as little as three colors if they're well
placed on the house.
The Craftsman style of the early 20th Century sported a darker, earthier
color scheme using deep browns, greens, and reds. The current popularity of
the style is making more homeowners consider richer color schemes for their
homes.
Take cues from the other houses in your area - a house should have its
own personality and style, but houses don't look good in "party dress" all
the time.
Final Coat
Whether you're comfortable with choosing colors or not, you have several
resources that can make the decision much easier. Many paint manufacturers
have produced pre-selected color palettes arranged by architectural style or
color range that specify compatible field, trim, and accent colors. They're
available at paint and building supply stores and most are very well done.
Many paint companies have online paint selection programs that suggest
proper color combinations - some even allow you to preview colors on
photographs of real houses, or on a digital photo of your own home.
Sherwin-Williams.com and
Lowes.com both
have excellent online tools.
Plan ahead, be bold in your color choices, and use paint company
resources. But don't ask for red, green, or blue in the paint store - they
won't know what you're talking about!
