The exterior colors for a house can have a significant impact on its overall appearance.

And we know that this whole process can be a very overwhelming task as there is a ton to consider before finalizing exterior colors for your home. 

But not to fret, friend. We’re here to help you along the way!

It's no secret, we're all about creating homes with everything you need + nothing more® and today, we’re sharing all about how we select exterior colors for our clients.

One might argue, we’re bringing the good stuff to you *wink*

So, let’s dive in… shall we?

Assess the House's Architecture

The first step in selecting exterior colors for a house is to assess its architecture and there are several different ways to actually assess. It is our responsibility as designers to ensure we’re taking into consideration the style, the unique features as well as the age of the home to ensure the color scheme + any design changes are truly intentional for your home.

Assess The Style

The architectural style of the home will determine which colors will look their best as well as which details should be emphasized or played down. For instance, a home with a traditional style may benefit from using a color palette that is more traditional, whereas a home with a modern style may lend itself to using colors that are more vivid and striking. Although this is not always the case, it is helpful to keep this in mind when trying to understand how the style of a home might influence the colors and materials that are used.

The process of choosing a color scheme can be aided by paying attention to the particular characteristics of the various architectural styles. A home designed in the colonial style, for instance, will typically have a front elevation that is symmetrical, with windows that are evenly spaced and a front door that is positioned prominently in the middle. The use of classic hues, such as off-white or white, with black shutters provides a striking contrast that works well with this style.

On the other hand, a home designed in the craftsman style frequently makes use of natural materials such as stone or wood, and it almost always has a roof with a shallow pitch and a sizable front porch. To complement the natural materials used in the home and to accentuate its warm and inviting atmosphere, earthy tones such as brown or green are excellent color choices.

This is not to say that a craftsman home painted in white or black or a colonial home painted in green or brown is incorrect; however, it does provide evidence of how style alone might impact color selection. However, the style of a home is not the only factor that can influence the colors used on the exterior.

Assess The Unique Features Of The Home

It is also essential to take into account any distinctive or interesting aspects of the house, such as its columns, moldings, windows, arches, beams, and so on. When choosing the exterior paint colors for a house, these elements should be taken into consideration because they have the potential to add visual interest to the exterior and can be used to do so.

Visual interest and personality can be added to the exterior of a house through the use of distinctive aspects of the structure, such as the windows, doors, or architectural details. As interior designers, we might decide to highlight these characteristics by painting them a different color than the rest of the house, or we might choose to use colors that contrast with one another in order to draw attention to the characteristics in question.

Assess The Age Of The Home

In addition, it is important to take into account the age of the house. 

While homes that are more modern may benefit from a color scheme that is more current, homes that are more historical may call for colors that are authentic to their time period. 

In addition, as interior designers, we may take into consideration the historical significance or the age of the architectural details that ought to be highlighted and preserved. There is, as you can see, some overlap between the distinctive characteristics of a home and possibly its age.

A home designed in the Victorian style, for instance, might call for more detailed color palettes in order to draw attention to the intricate architecture, whereas a mid-century modern home might do better with a color scheme that is simpler.

Consider the Neighborhood and Surrounding Environment

In addition to the house's architecture, as interior designers we must also consider the neighborhood and surrounding environment when selecting exterior colors. Say, what?!?!

Yeah, you heard that right friend. 

Considering Your Neighbors When Selecting Exterior Colors For A House 

The color scheme should complement the colors of neighboring homes, while also standing out in a positive way. Sometimes that’s complimenting the colors of neighboring homes by selecting a similar color palette but we can also make your home stand out (positively of course) by selecting contrasting colors. Obviously, this is a balance between standing out and fitting in with the surrounding homes.

Considering The Natural Surroundings When Selecting Exterior Colors For A House 

The natural surroundings, such as trees, landscaping, and even the color of the sky, can also play a role in the color selection process. Yep, you read that right. 

Sometimes this manifests itself by selecting colors that blend in with the natural surroundings or contrasting color to create a visual statement. 

For example, a house surrounded by lush greenery may benefit from a more neutral color palette to allow the natural surroundings to shine, while a house in a desert landscape may benefit from more earthy tones to blend in with the natural environment.

Considering Zoning + HOA Restrictions When Selecting Exterior Colors For A House 

It's also important to consider any zoning or HOA restrictions on exterior colors. Many neighborhoods or communities have specific rules or guidelines for the colors that can be used on the exterior of homes. We don’t view this as a negative — it’s simply the design considerations that we need to assess before beginning.

Determine The Mood + Style

This is the part of curation we absolutely love. What’s unique about working with Elegant Simplicity is that while our designs are rooted in functionality, they don’t turn a blind eye to emotionality. 

In fact, we believe that creating home is about inspiration, not replication.

Selecting Exterior Colors By Feeling

Ok, stick with us. When considering the mood you want to convey, certain colors evoke an emotional response. For more on how color evokes an emotional response check this out. Furthermore, certain colors are even good selections for positive energy.

For example, warm and inviting colors can create a cozy and welcoming mood, while cool and calming colors can create a more peaceful and relaxing mood.

Determining Primary And Accent Exterior Colors For A House

After settling on a mood and a style for the exterior of your home, the next step in selecting the color scheme for the exterior is to decide on a primary color and accent colors.

Selecting A Primary House Color

Accent colors are used on details such as trim, shutters, and doors, whereas the primary color is the main color that is used on the exterior of the house.

When choosing a primary color, we believe the architectural style of the home as well as the desired mood and style play a significant role in the selection. The primary color ought to be one that not only feels right, but harmonizes with the natural setting and any of the houses that are visible in the surrounding area.

Considering Accent Colors 

After deciding on the primary color, a specific accent color or colors is considered to embellish architectural details such as doors, shutters, and trim. It is important that the accent colors not only coordinate well with the primary color but also contribute to the overall aesthetic of the home. 

When selecting accent colors, we consider what the contrast may be between those colors and the primary color. A color scheme with a high contrast can produce a striking and attention-grabbing appearance, whereas a color scheme with a low contrast can produce a look that is more muted and cohesive.

A Few Tips For FInalizing Color Selection

Test The Colors

Even though you think you’ve narrowed in on the perfect color scheme for your home, we always recommend painting test swatches so you can begin to see + feel the change of your design decisions.

Evaluate The Colors In Different Lighting

Our principal interior designer Sherri is infatuated with undertones which is another way of saying it’s incredibly important to see these new colors in different lighting conditions. 

Whichever way you spin it, selecting exterior colors for a house isn’t an “exact” science. If you like it, it’s not right or wrong… it’s simply you. But having confidence in the color curation for your home comes from understanding what you like + how you want to feel in your home. In other words, it comes from taking the time to actually assess, curate + then transform.

Not to worry boo — we’re here. If you haven’t already, check out our 4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home and when you’re ready to begin your transformational journey — let’s chat.