Are there any rules for choosing exterior paint colour combinations?Our house is red brick on the first floor, white siding on the second floor, white shutters, a white garage and a black and white awning over the entrance. We've lived with this look for a year and would like a change. Your suggestions would be appreciated.
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There is a DesignVision demo available on the Para Paints website (www.parapaints.com). It shows an exterior picture of a house which you can paint. Try it out.
Hello!
Do you plan to paint the entire structure, or just the brick, or second floor?
If you're planning to paint your entire home, then, the skys the limit for what you can do - pick your favourite colours (unless you live in a managed community - that restricts your colour choices to keep the neighbourhood design fluid), or, if you don't think they will work, go to a paint store and pick out a bunch of exterior paint sample cards. If you're computer savy - Take a picture of your home, scan it and then scan or match the colours from the cards you got at the paint store. Digitally paint your home (much cheaper than the real thing, and you can change your mind and start again if you want) If you can't decide on a colour, or colours, then drive around and look at the houses in areas that you like. Look at everything, not just places that are similar to yours. Get your inspiration from people who have already taken the plunge. You don't have to copy, but it will give you an idea of things that have been tried, and either worked. . . or. . . well. . . didn't. This area is always subjective. If you opt for a colour scheme that is unusual, vivid or dramatically different - remember the obvious - painting a house is an expensive and time consuming venture, and you don't want to have to repaint anytime soon. . . make sure that you would be happy living with it for a while. You don't want to wake up one day and scream "what have I done?"
If you're planning to keep either the red brick, or the white, I have a suggestion. . . get a colour sample that matches the colour you are keeping, and then get a colour wheel (most hobby and artist shops carry them). Find the match of your sample on the wheel, and then look at the all colours that relate to, compliment or contrast it (your choice will depend on the statement you wish to make, or impression your home will first give to a visitor, and how you feel about your home). Also keep in mind, brick is porous, and will drink paint like a sponge. Prime it first, so you save on paint, and the red colour doesn't alter the new colour. As for the white. . . well, that's the colour of canvas. . . Good luck.