When neighborhood families take a walk around the block, or relatives come to visit, the first aspect they’ll see is your home’s exterior. The color paint you choose says a lot about your personal style, and you don’t have to stick with the same old neutrals. If you’re eager to change things up, use the following tips to find your home’s next exterior painting hue.

How to Choose the Right Colors for Exterior Painting

1. Consider Your Home’s Style

Unlike the color of your throw pillows or dish towels, your home’s exterior paint is not something that can be changed with the seasons. Therefore, it’s important to choose a color palette that complements your property’s overarching architectural style. While a contemporary structure with sharp lines and floor-to-ceiling windows might benefit from bold hues like cobalt blue or charcoal grey, a traditional, Cape Cod-style home requires classic hues like ivory or pale yellow. It’s also important to consider hardscaping elements surrounding your property—such as walkways and gazebos—and let their style influence your home’s new look.

2. Choose Accent Colors

Take a drive around your neighborhood and point out the houses you like the best. Chances are, they aren’t monochromatic—they likely feature one main exterior painting hue, as well as one or two accent colors. Use this template when picking the right palette for your property. While you’ll want to choose one color for the bulk of the siding, such as a warm red, you can use a bright white for the trim and porch and glossy black for the front door.

3. Test It Out

Once you’ve settled on a pair or trio of promising shades, don’t just hold the samples up to your home and make the final decision. Take some time to sleep on it and test out the colors first. Buy a quart of the main color and paint it on an inconspicuous section of your property, then come outside to judge the hue at different times of the day. The same color may look drastically different in the shade, in bright daylight, or after soaking into the wood, which is why a test run is crucial.

If you’ve found the perfect hue, get in touch with Rohde Painting of  Onalaska, WI. They have over 35 years of experience using high-quality paint to transform exteriors and interiors, and they proudly offer a two-year touch-up warranty. To learn more about their exterior painting projects, visit the website, or call (608) 783-6237 for an estimate.