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How to Choose the Right Exterior Paint Color for Your Home

Choosing the right colour for your house can be a hard decision to make, in this article we will help you choose a colour that not only adds aesthetic value but also fits with your local environment, making your home stand out or blend in beautifully.

1. Consider the Surroundings and Environment

Start by looking around your neighbourhood:

• Neighborhood Trends: Drive around your neighbourhood to get an idea of the common colour schemes. While you don’t have to match them, choosing a complementary colour can maintain the colour harmony of nearby properties but then again, maybe you’d rather stand out!
• Natural Elements: For coastal homes, lighter, airy shades blend in with the ocean and beach sand. In areas with trees you might want to have more deep, earthy tones to blend in with the natural greenery.

Pro tip: Create a visual mood board of exterior colors and landscape elements for inspiration.

2. Match Your Home’s Architectural Style

The architectural style of your home is a great way to start building some exterior colour ideas.

• Modern/Contemporary: Neutrals like grey, white, or beige with bold accent trims.
• Colonial or Traditional: Softer tones like white, cream, or pastel blues with darker trims.
• Victorian: Rich, bold colors such as deep reds, greens, or purples work well to highlight the intricate details of the architecture.

Pro tip: Aim for colors that enhance the character of your home’s architecture rather than overpowering it.

3. Understanding Color Basics

Warm vs. Cool Tones

• Warm Colors: Includes yellows, oranges, and reds. They are ideal for creating a welcoming, energetic atmosphere.

• Cool Colors: Blues, greens, and purples bring a sense of calmness and are great for homes in sunny regions.

Neutral Colors

Neutral colors like whites, greys, and beiges are timeless choices, providing flexibility in accents and trimming.

Neutral colours such as whites, greys and beiges are a timeless choice, providing great flexibility with accents and trims.

Pro tip: Use a colour wheel to visualize how different colour tones fit with one another.

4. Consider the Lighting

The colour of your home can look very different depending on if you have natural or artificial light.

• Natural Light: Exposed to strong sunlight? Cooler shades can balance out the warmth, while warmer tones brighten homes in cloudier regions.
• Time of Day: Colours can look different depending on the time of the day. When testing colours, make sure to check them at different times of the day to see how lighting affects their appearance.

Pro tip: Apply sample paints on different sections of the exterior, check in the morning, afternoon and end of the day.

5. Explore Color Schemes

Monochromatic Schemes

• Use different shades of one colour for a more balanced and clean look.

Complementary Schemes

• Colours opposite to each other on the colour wheel will fit together well, eg: blue and orange.

Contrasting Schemes

• A bold primary color paired with white or grey trim can add sophistication.

Pro tip: Don’t forget to factor in the color of the roof, as it plays a role in the overall scheme.

6. Accents and Trim

If you want to give your home some pop, try different accented colours for your doors, window shutters and trim.

• Front Doors: Bright red, deep blue, or even yellow can create a stunning entryway.
• Trims: Choose a color that contrasts yet complements the main wall color.

Pro tip: If unsure, go classic—white trims always provide a clean, elegant finish to any home.

7. Durability and Maintenance

Consider the practicality of your chosen color:

• Darker Colors: Darker colours will fade quicker under the sunlight, but will help hide dirt and scuff marks a lot better.

• Lighter Colors: These will reflect the sunlight, helping keep your home cooler but they more often then not require regular cleaning to look nice.

Pro tip: Ensure you choose high-quality, weather-resistant paints to withstand New Zealand’s varying climate conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions