How to Choose the Best Paint for Your Home’s Exterior

Choosing the right paint for your house can be a fun decision, but it is not always an easy one. Once you have chosen professionals to do your exterior painting, you will likely have several detailed conversations with them on the color scheme you prefer and the type of paint that will be best for your house. Here are a few guidelines for those conversations to ensure that you end up with the paint job you want.

The first decision most people want to make when painting the exterior of their home is what color it will be. It is advisable to take into account the architectural design of your house and what will fit best in the neighborhood. If your house boasts classic architecture, bright, trendy colors may not be the best choice. While you want your house to stand out, it should do so because the color scheme is beautiful, not because it clashes with everything around it.

Dark background colors with contrasting light trim tends to showcase interesting architectural details well. Dark colors, however, can also trap heat and make your house look smaller. Be sure to discuss the different benefits and drawbacks of your favorite color combinations with your exterior painting professional. It is also a good idea to discuss how likely your chosen colors are to fade over time so that you can choose colors that will last.

Several factors can greatly affect paint’s appearance. Glossy paint will often show imperfections more readily than flatter paints, but it is also easier to keep clean. As lighting is different indoors than it is outdoors, keep in mind that colors will look different on the house than they do in the swatches. It is a good idea to test colors on an inconspicuous area of the house before you commit to them.

More than anything, trust the professionals you hire to do your exterior painting. They have the experience and skills necessary to advise you well and make your home look wonderful.