Choosing Exterior Paint Color Like a Pro

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Choosing a paint color can feel as epic as picking a spouse.  It’s like this HUGE, literally huge, decision that stays with you for more than a decade.  A decision that makes its presence known to all who drive by.  “Why the hell would Melinda have gone with that taupe?  I mean I see pink undertones…you?”   Or, “Wow…Jennifer’s dog may be annoying and her kids are loud, but DAMN she got the paint right!  Gotta hand it to her…”.  Slow clap from the curb.  Paint feels so permanent…and it is…kind of.  But, if you want to nail it like Jennifer, there’s a few things you can do to set yourself up for success.  At some point though, you take the leap of faith.

So let’s dive into what steps you can take to make that leap a little less scary.

  1. Paint swatches…as in big, huge squares of paint on your wall for the world to see.  And they will.  They will see and comment and have opinions…some you will agree with and some you won’t, but you are still collecting information.  In the end, it’s your opinion that matters the most, but validation is nice.
  2. In a perfect world, you are putting the swatches in the shade and sun or in an area you can see both at different times throughout the day.  Light can have a major impact on color.  One of our client’s was determined to paint her house a beautiful color that had a lot of yellow undertones.  We loved the color, but unfortunately with her environment and the fixed elements around her property, we knew this was a bad call.   We helped her pick something else that worked beautifully with the gray roof and stonework.  Just because we wanted her to feel sure, we asked her to test the yellow undertone color as well so she could see for herself.  Swatches help!
  3. Lastly, let the colors live there for a few days or longer.  You will start to have favorites. You may second guess, but favorites emerge.  And when one favorite is still your favorite two days later, that’s when you know you found a winner.  BOOM.  Paint magic!
We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.

We would love to partner with you on a paint project and help you pick the perfect colors to make your house the very best it can be! Get started today.

Author

Alli’s passion for home design began during childhood when she’d accompany her father to various fixer-upper properties he was working on. Years later, Alli received a degree in physical therapy from Indiana University, but her love of design and personal need brought her back to the home design industry. Alli co-founded brick&batten in 2017 with her sister, Cassie, out of necessity. She was looking for a service like brick&batten for her own home, but one didn’t exist. Alli loves designing exteriors that inspire people. She’s also interested in real estate investment and enjoys creating exterior designs that will provide a great return on investment. Alli lives in Atlanta with her partner, three children, and their dogs. She loves to travel and often finds herself looking at houses in the areas she visits for inspiration and ideas.