When it comes to painting your home’s exterior, the first thing most homeowners struggle with is what colours to choose. Changing the colour can drastically alter the feel of a home, making it warm and inviting, sleek and modern, traditional or experimental; whatever vibe a homeowner wishes to create will be hugely affected by the colours they pick. But in addition to colour, one of the ways these feelings are conveyed is through how light or dark a home is. However, this is a little more complicated than simply picking a shade of paint. External factors can affect the lightness or darkness of a paint, and certain combinations of paints, sheens, and materials can create very different effects. So let’s examine these factors, and look at the way that these colours and combinations are used in some of today’s most popular exterior design trends, so you can make an informed choice when picking your exterior house paint colours.
How to Pick an Exterior Paint Colour
The first thing you need to understand when picking an exterior paint colour is how the tone and feel of any paint will be affected by its environment. The most obvious example of this is that any paint you select is probably going to look lighter than you expect when you finally apply it to your home’s exterior. This is because paint will generally appear lighter when it is exposed to natural light. Regardless of what direction your home faces or if it gets a lot of direct sunlight, even a modest amount of natural light can lighten the appearance of a paint by half a tone. And if you have a home that is exposed to a lot of natural light, that number can get up to two or three tones. It’s also important to note that the larger the surface, the more obvious this will be. So if your home has a large, featureless side wall, this is going to be especially apparent. That’s why it’s important to check your paint samples on all the areas of your home that you plan on painting, as well as to try them at different times of day, to see how they look in different light.
Another thing to consider is how other features on or around your property may affect how much natural light your home will get. For example, if large landscaping features or surrounding buildings cast large shadows on your home for hours a day, this will affect how bright the paint will appear. With all this in mind, if you are considering a colour but are worried it will be too light, there’s a good chance it will be. That being said, if you fall in love with a colour that you think might be too dark, don’t scrap it before you look at the sample on your home, because the final product could look noticeably lighter!
In addition to exposure to natural light, another factor that will affect how light or dark a paint may appear is the texture of the surface you’re applying it to. If you’re painting a very smooth surface like aluminum siding, the texture of the surface is going to have very little effect on how light the paint appears. However, if you are working with a material that is very porous, something like brick or stucco, the physical texture of the surface will make the paint appear slightly darker. All the cracks and crevices of a material cast very small shadows, which add up. It may seem insignificant when you first think about it, but on a surface as large as the exterior of a home, a heavily textured material can make a paint appear slightly darker than it will on the sample. So if the exterior of your home is made up of a variety of materials, this is something to really pay attention to if you are planning to use the same colour of paint on all of them. For example, if the side of your home is flat, featureless aluminum siding that gets a lot of direct sunlight, and the front of your home is very porous brick, most of which is covered by a porch and is thus very shady, the same colour of paint is going to appear noticeably lighter or darker depending on what area of your home it’s on.
Once you’ve considered the colour of paint that you’re going to use, the texture of the material you’re using it on, and how much natural light an area is going to be exposed to throughout the day, the next thing to pay attention to before selecting your final product is what sheen, or finish of paint you’re planning on using. If you’re unsure what we mean by sheen or finish, don’t panic! Encore Painting has an entire blog dedicated to this subject, so be sure to check out Flat vs. Satin for Exterior House Paint before you go any further so you know exactly what we’re talking about.
Like with the texture of a material, the finish of a paint can affect how light or dark a paint can appear when compared to it’s sample, with higher-gloss finishes reflecting light, making a colour appear brighter and more saturated. The differences are slight, but again, with a project as big as the exterior of a home, it’s worth knowing what you’re getting into. As a result, certain finishes work better with certain textures, so they are an important thing to consider if you will be working with different materials and want to maintain a cohesive look for your home’s exterior. That said, there are no hard and fast rules, and the right level or sheen for your home is the one that best suits your vision, but here are the combinations of finishes and materials that we find compliment each other the best.
When it comes to masonry like brick, cement, or stone, the highest level of sheen I would go with would be satin, but low-luster is a good choice too. The higher the sheen, the easier it is to clean, but the more imperfections in the material get highlighted. Satin is a good balance here, making cement walkways or stone steps easy to clean, but not emphasizing too many of the cracks in the material. For wood and vinyl, low-luster is good. Like with brick or concrete, using a high-gloss finish on wood would really highlight the textures and imperfections in the material, which can be a lot, especially if it’s for the entire side of a home. Low-lustre finish doesn’t mask the texture entirely, but adds a little more subtlety, which can really calm things down. As for accents on your home like doors or downspouts, high-gloss is a classic choice. It’s easy to clean, which is great for something like a front or garage door, which gets a lot of impact, and it can work as a great contrast to the less glossy finish of the rest of your home. Just remember, like we said earlier, high-gloss paint is very reflective and will make a paint appear brighter, so keep that in mind if you are using it on something that gets a lot of direct sunlight!
The Most Popular Exterior House Colour for 2021
As we said, the right colours for your home are whichever ones match your vision, but if you want to give your home a modern feel, it can be helpful to be aware of what other homeowners are doing, and what is happening in the field of exterior paint design as a whole. Sure, it’s easy to go to a paint manufacturers website and see what paint won colour of the year – Benjamin Moore’s Aegean Teal or Behr’s Canyon Dusk – but giving your home a contemporary look while having your own personal touch comes down to more than just picking a colour. That’s why it’s important when thinking about your home’s exterior to not only think about individual colours, but combinations of paints that will compliment each other and best express your vision. And a great way to do this is to examine current trends in paint and exterior design to see how light and dark paints are used. Of course, at the end of the day it will all come down to personal preference and what you think is right for your home, but here are just a few trends that you might not have considered to help get you inspired so you can choose the combination of shades and colours perfect for your home.
First of all, if you’re looking for something bright, don’t instinctively look to a pure white as a neutral colour for your home. Yes, it’s always a safe choice, but instead consider warmer whites, even verging on almost creme colours. The difference is subtle, but on a surface as large as the exterior of a home, it will really show, and can give your home a softer, more inviting feel. For example, Benjamin Moore’s Shaded White or White Dove are both great choices, each offering a warm, sophisticated look compared to a standard white, with White Dove being a slightly lighter version of Shaded White. And a great way to compliment these warmer, creamier whites is selecting the right shades to accent certain features of your home. For example, rosey doors on a soft white exterior are very in right now. Begonia by Sherwin Williams on a front door really pops with a soft white exterior, adding character to your home, giving it a light, welcoming vibe. And if you want something more subtle than that, consider pale blues or greens for your accent colour. They go great with a soft white, and are a good choice for doors and shutters. Boothbay Grey or Pearl from Benjamin Moore are definitely worth checking out if you want to take your home in more of that direction.
By contrast, don’t be afraid to go dark. All black exteriors, when done properly with complimenting accent colours, can instantly modernize a home. This is why monochromatic dark exteriors have become a major trend in 2021. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that Sherwin Willams’ colour of the year was Urbane Bronze, a dark colour that is not too overbearing to use on the whole of a home’s exterior. Other paints from Sherwin Williams that would be great fits would be Iron Ore or even something as dark as Tricorn Black. Again, it may seem unintuitive, but these heavily black exteriors are trending for a reason, so they are definitely worth considering.
However, if you want to stay on this side of the spectrum but aren’t ready to commit the exterior of your home to something quite so dark, charcoal exteriors have been gaining in popularity recently for exactly this reason. Lighter than colours we previously mentioned, charcoal shades are equally as effective at modernizing a home without being quite as bold a design statement. Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore or Slate Roof by ECOS Paints are great examples of this.
But as we said, if you are going to go with a colour pallet as bold as this, subtle contrasts can make a world of difference. When going with an all dark exterior, rich browns and coppers are perfect for accenting features, providing a light contrast and giving this modern look a sense of sophistication and elegance. Window frames, gutters, downspouts, and even doors are ideal canvases, and can completely transform the feel of a home. A good place to start with these complementary colours would be Ochre from ECOS Paints, a deep, earthy gold that matches perfectly with an all-black facade. So be sure to compare and contrast some of these tones and complimentary colours to see if this modern look is right for the exterior of your home.
Finally, if you’re looking for a more traditional look with a modern twist for your home’s exterior, navy blue has been making a huge comeback in recent years. With such a classic look, navy blue can fit perfectly with any number of styles, from mid-century modern to traditional farmhouse to cottage-style bungalows. As well, because navy blue covers such a wide range of shades, it has the versatility to fit with a variety of styles. If you’re looking for a more traditional navy, Newburyport Blue from Benjamin Moore’s Historic Colours Collection is the perfect paint to give your home a look that will make you remember why navy blue has been a staple for exterior house paint for so long. And if you’re looking to give a modern vibe to a classic colour, Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy or Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue add a touch of grey for those looking for an almost sea-inspired tone.
As for accent colours, the most classic and complimentary paint to match with your navy blue exterior is white, and it’s a classic for a reason. No matter what shade of navy you choose, adding a splash of white to shutters, doors, and eaves frames a home beautifully, giving it a look both elegant and charming. Again, Benjamin Moore’s White Dove would be great for this, with its slightly soft appearance working beautifully with a navy blue. And if you want to go a touch warmer still, Alabaster by Sherwin Williams is a great fit as well. White accents on a navy blue exterior is the perfect example of how light and dark paint contrast and compliment each other perfectly. However, if you’re looking to make a bolder design statement, yellow accents on navy blue exteriors have been becoming increasingly popular in recent years, specifically when talking about yellow doors. Decisive Yellow by Sherwin Williams is a perfect starting place if you’re curious about this colour combination, so be sure to check that out, as well as other colours in that field, if you want certain features of your home to pop, giving a seriously modern twist to an otherwise classic paint job.
The Do’s & Don’ts of Choosing a New House Colour
Now that we’ve talked about some things to keep in mind when selecting an exterior paint colour, how certain variables can affect how light or dark a paint may appear compared to it’s sample, and how these guidelines are applied to create trends in exterior design, let’s recap with some simple Do’s and Don’ts to make it easy for you to select the perfect paint for the exterior of your home.
Do’s:
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Test paint samples on all sides of your home at all times of the day. A colour may look great on the front of your home in direct sunlight, but that same colour might look slightly darker on the side of your house in a late afternoon shadow. That doesn’t mean you need to second guess every colour, just be aware how each is going to react in different lights on different sections of your home.
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Pay attention to the finish of a paint. Not only can this give your home a desired feel, the finish of a paint will affect how light or dark a paint will appear which, combined with everything else we’ve talked about, is noticeable.
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Notice the aspects of your home that you won’t be changing and plan accordingly. For example, if you have brown, terracotta roof tiles, unless you are planning on changing them to match the colour scheme of your house, be sure to choose paints that are complemented by that colour.
Don’ts:
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Ignore what is surrounding your home or property. Landscaping features and adjacent buildings can cast large shadows on your home’s exterior. Prepare for this! Knowing that shade will affect the tone of a paint, take this into consideration when picking a colour.
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Underestimate the texture of a material. The more porous a material, the darker a paint will appear. If you’re using the same colour for the whole exterior, really pay attention to how that will play out on materials of different textures.
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Instinctively lean towards whites and shy away from dark colours. Not that whites are bad, but a little nuance in the shade can make a large difference. As for all dark exteriors, a lot has changed in exterior design over the years, and some well placed accents to contrast the dark can make a home both modern and inviting in a way you might not have thought possible!
At Encore Painting, we know that making the decision to paint the exterior of your home is never easy. With so many things to consider, it can sometimes be overwhelming. Hopefully this will help make choosing the colour and shade of paint a little easier, giving you more insight into how the tone of a paint will react in different situations, and how light and dark colours can work together to make really stunning combinations. And now that you know this, have fun with it! Experiment with different combinations until you find something that really speaks to you and matches your vision. And once you’ve decided on the right exterior paint colours for your home, leave the rest to us. Having served the Greater Toronto Area for over a decade, Encore Painting has the experience and equipment to make your vision a reality. Don’t hesitate and get your free estimate today.