Best Residential Exterior Paint Ideas for Your Home
How complicated can residential exterior painting really be? As you prepare to paint or repaint your home’s outdoor surfaces, you’ll quickly realize just how many variables are at play. Not only must you consider the quality of paint and workmanship – but you must also think about how different color configurations will affect your home’s curb appeal in both the short- and long-term. Getting started is often the hardest part. Fortunately, a little advice can go a long way. So, let’s explore some of the best residential exterior paint ideas to consider for your home.
Best Residential Exterior Paint Ideas
Pick the Right Type of Paint
Before you even think about residential exterior paint colors, you want to make sure the products used on your home are durable enough to withstand your local environment. A paint’s durability is largely determined by its formula and finish. Formulas refer to the central ingredients that make up a product – the most common are acrylic, latex, and oil-based paints. A finish determines how paint looks after it’s dried – these range from matte (or flat) to glossy, with gradations in between (e.g. eggshell, satin, semi-gloss).
Thanks to their elasticity, exterior acrylic paints often work best for most standard siding materials, such as vinyl, wood, stucco, and fiber cement. Latex paints specifically meant for outdoor use are viable for exterior projects as well, and they’re often cheaper than their acrylic counterparts. Oil-based paints are less eco-friendly than the previous two (they contain more volatile organic compounds), but they can be useful for specific exterior applications, such as trim, doors, and floors.
As for finishes, high-gloss paints are the most durable and cleanable – they’re also the most revealing, however, shining a light on surface imperfections. Flatter paints hide these flaws, but they’re also more susceptible to wear and tear. Homeowners are usually better off opting for satin and eggshell finishes for most exterior surfaces, as these provide a good balance between durability and concealment. Of course, you might decide to apply different finishes to different exterior features.
Stay Attuned to Color Trends
Once you’ve sorted out the formulas and finishes best suited for your home’s exterior surfaces, you can start sorting out exterior paint colors. If you live in a homeowners association (HOA) or strict municipality, your color choices might be limited in order to maintain cohesion among your neighbors. Otherwise, your exterior color choices are completely up to your preference. Keep in mind, however, that some color choices are more generally palatable than others. You might not plan on selling your home any time soon, but maximizing curb appeal with modern, popular colors helps prop up your home’s value. Keeping an eye on current exterior color trends can also generate ideas if you’re not sure where to begin.
Create Contrast
Regardless of which particular palettes are trending this year, contrast is always in style. You won’t see many exteriors that consist of a single color, and for good reason. Contrasting colors create character and allow for specific features to stand out, such as doors, trim, windows, and more. As a general rule, lighter colors should be met with darker ones – so, if your home’s siding is light beige, consider painting your trim dark brown. Different colors warrant different contrasting partners, so consider which pairs work best with one another when choosing colors.
Talk to the Experts
Whether you’re just getting started or you’re stuck somewhere in the middle of the exterior painting process, it always helps to get some expert advice. Professional home painters can provide plenty of exterior house paint ideas based on their knowledge and experience. These experts can also help you select paint products and colors along the way. You can also rely on these experts to take care of the surface prep and painting processes when the time comes. At Anderson Painting, we’re happy to help our residential Raleigh, NC, clients every step of the way. To learn more about us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
