Choosing exterior paint colors for your home can be a difficult decision. It takes a lot of time and effort to decide which colors will look good together. Choosing the wrong paint color can be a very costly mistake that you will likely have to live with or spend a lot of money to repaint. Here are some tips to get you started.

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

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

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

Before choosing any paint color, check to see if homeowners associations restrict the colors you can use. This is particularly important if you live in a newer subdivision or townhome community. It is very common to find this type of restriction in these communities.

When deciding on a paint color, keep in mind that most colors tend not to look exactly the same as the color charts or fans at paint stores. The types of paint formulas, paint gloss, and lighting can all influence how a color will or will not look.

Once you’ve narrowed down your choice of paint color, paint a small section of your home. Most paint companies or hardware stores will sell you a small sample size in the color you want or you can just buy a quart. Be sure to test the exact paint that you will use to paint your house. It is the only way to really see what the painting will look like. Painting may appear different at different times of the day, so be sure to look at your swatches several times. Be sure to test the trim colors alongside the siding color as well.

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