Rethinking Your Exterior Color Choices

The colors you use on the outside of your home make a statement, but is it a statement you want to make? Colors that are too garish or out of the norm might stand out, but they also might clash with your home or the style of its architecture. You also have to think about how well the color scheme goes with the rest of the houses on the street. The last thing you want to do is create strife with your neighbors over color choice.

It might not be a good idea to side your entire house an unusual color, especially if you’re planning to sell anytime soon. Homes that are a beige-gray color sell for as much as $1,526 more than those with white exteriors. Fortunately, there are some ways you can stick with traditional color choices while still putting a personal stamp on your outdoor design choices. The trick is to find exterior elements that can add the right amount of pop.

1. Front Door

The front door is an obvious choice to add a pop of color. If you own shutters, you may want the door and shutters to match. Or, you could choose a more neutral color for the shutters and a bright pop of turquoise or a similarly vibrant hue for the front door.

If you’re planning to list your home anytime soon, you should know that one survey of real estate listings found that houses with a front door in shades between navy blue and soft gray sold for more than those with other colors.

2. Shutters

Shutters are a natural way to add a pop of color. Because they’re a small part of your home’s overall exterior, if your color choice isn’t working, they’re also easy enough to replace. Even though a neutral main color is a smart choice for most homes, you can get really creative with your shutters. Keep in mind that they need to mesh well with your other color choices.

Think about the color palette of your home. If your exterior is red brick, then red shutters are just going to blend in. However, if your exterior is a taupe, then cranberry-colored shutters will pop and draw attention to the feature.

3. Wood Decks

Nothing brightens up backyard landscaping faster than a fresh coat of stain or paint on a wood deck. Any big areas of your home, including decks, should have neutral colors, but think about the color of the furniture you own or would like to purchase. For example, if you have bright, tropical furniture, a simple willow color works well. If your furniture is neutral, you may want to go with a brighter deck color, such as redwood.

4. Signs and Landscape Décor

Another interesting way to add color is to incorporate some seasonal landscape signs and décor into your landscaping. A glass fountain in bright colors is eye-catching and implements the serenity of a water feature, for example. Purchase glass globes in any color of the rainbow, or add nighttime features that light up and change color on a rotation. Think about ways to draw the eye with signs, décor and even plants.

5. Concrete

Adding some stain or paint to concrete takes a drab walkway to an entirely new level. You can do a decorative technique that makes the concrete look like tiles, or you can go with a simple color choice that simply protects and neatens up the area. There are a wide variety of options for painting concrete, so think through what looks best with your exterior and adds value to your home.

Exterior Color

The exterior elements of your home contribute to the first impression people have of your house. The colors you choose should match the personality of the home as well as your own style preferences. Take your time and choose the perfect color — it’s clearly worth it.

About The Author: Holly Welles is a home & garden writer. She shares more advice on creating beauty in your home on her own blog, The Estate Update, and on Twitter.