Adding color to your home is like adding a touch of your unique personality to its exterior. While it may seem overwhelming to choose the right colors, taking the time to find the perfect one can truly enhance the beauty of your home. When considering colors for your exterior, think in threes. Begin by selecting a primary color for the body of your home, then choose a trim color to complement it. Lastly, add an accent color to your front door to create a stunning focal point.
Interested in learning how to use color to elevate your home’s curb appeal? Keep reading to discover valuable insights into the secrets of your home’s siding color.
Choose the Perfect Color Combination for Your Exterior
1. Start with Your Home’s Style
Let your house’s architecture provide a basic color palette for you to begin narrowing your search for the perfect color. Craftsman homes call for earthy colors like olive green and rich brown. A minimalist approach—like contrasting dark and light shades— works well for modern homes. A playful color palette is ideal for Victorian homes, so take your liberty to use bold color combinations.
2. Take a Look at Your House’s Surroundings and Fixed Elements
If your roof is in good condition, take its color into consideration as you contemplate which hue to choose for your exterior. Consider your home’s landscaping, neighborhood, and environment as you choose a color. If bright flowers border your home, perhaps a calm, subdued shade will work well. Do you have brick or stone that you’d like to leave its current color? Think about what will complement them.
3. Use the Color Wheel
- Analogous colors – These colors are right next to each other on the color wheel. They limit contrast and create a calm, relaxing color scheme.
- Complementary colors – These hues are opposite on the color wheel. They create contrast, particularly the most vibrant shade of each color.
- A Triad – Select a color on the color wheel and then add two other hues that are evenly spaced from the original color. The outcome? A three-color combination that offers stunning appeal and vibrant impact.
4. Decide on Warm or Cool Colors
- Warm colors – Reds, yellows, and oranges are some common warm color choices and create a cozy, yet energetic feel.
- Cool colors – Blues, purples, and greens are cooler tones and emit a peaceful, calming vibe.
5. Select Complementary Color Combinations
Primary color – This color takes the leading role in your exterior design. It covers the majority of your home. Deeper colors used on the body of your home offer a warm, comfy feel. This color is used on about 60% of your exterior.
Secondary color – Once you choose a color for the body of your home, select a secondary color—which has a supporting role in your exterior design. Use a lighter trim color to draw attention to your trim. Realize that a soft contrast between the body of your home’s color and your trim color make your house appear larger. Your secondary color will make up about 30% of your exterior.
Accent color – Highlight special features of your home with a third color. Consider adding this pop of color to your door and shutters. This will be used for roughly 10% of your exterior.
6. Try Colors on Your Home
Visualize what different colors will look like on your exterior by using a handy online color tool. One of our favorites is James Hardie’s Home Color Tool. From the convenience of your home, you can take a look at what your top picks will look like, giving you greater confidence while narrowing your options.
Once you have found your top color choices, purchase sample paint and try it on your exterior to see how it looks in varying amounts of sunlight. Or, get color samples and simply hold them up to your home at different times of day.
7. Take Your Cues from the Experts
If you prefer to lean into the curated color combinations put together by designers, that’s a smart way to a stunning solution to your color dilemma. Hardie siding offers gorgeous hues in their ColorPlus® Technology options. These factory baked-on finishes even come with a 15-year warranty against chipping, fading, or cracking.
- The Statement Collection – These include your region’s most popular ColorPlus Technology colors. They are locally stocked and readily available. Examples include Arctic White, Cobblestone, Khaki Brown, Timber Bark, Boothbay Blue, Aged Pewter, Mountain Sage, and Light Mist.
- The Dream Collection – See your vision come to life, with over 700 colors to choose from. You can enjoy a home that makes heads turn with these gorgeous color options. Select from colors such as Climbing Vine, Urban Garden, Nautical White, Aqua Spa, Blue Spruce, Misty Moss, and Sea Mist.
- The Magnolia Home | James Hardie Collection – These hand-picked colors will transform your exterior so it stands out. Choose from colors like Stone Beach, Weathered Cliffs, Rustic Road, Warm Clay, Dried Eucalyptus, Chiseled Green, and Mudflats.
8. Consider How the Sun and Shade Impact Color
Direct sunlight and shade impact how your exterior colors appear. Shade can make your siding look darker than it is, while sun gives it a brighter hue. Paying attention to how the light changes around your exterior will help you gauge how light or dark you want your home.
Enjoy the Perfect Siding Solution with Gorgeous Color to Bring Out the Best in Your Home
Breathe new life into your exterior with replacement siding. It’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your home’s style and color while improving its energy efficiency and increasing its value.
At Presidential Exteriors, we use Hover to create a 3D version of your house, playing around with options and colors until it is just right! As a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor, we bring top-tier expertise to every siding installation. Learn more about how our siding services can enhance your home’s beauty while protecting it from the elements.
