Painting your home’s exterior is an excellent way to give your property an overall boost and likely even add value to your home. Before you contact house painters Portland, though, you need to be sure you’re choosing the right colors for your home’s exterior. Check out these guidelines to ensure you get a look that suits your tastes, your home’s architecture, and your budget.

1. Plan Around What You Can’t Change

Chances are there will be things about your home’s exterior that you can’t change or won’t want to change at this point in your renovation project. For example, if your roofing isn’t in need of replacement yet, you probably won’t want to spend money to make sure it matches a paint color. Your driveway, pathways, and any stone or fence landscaping are likely to remain as well. When choosing your home’s paint colors, consider the other colors around your home. Keep in mind that some colors look better with warm tones, such as brown and beige, while others look better with cool hues like blue and black.

2. Paint Test Areas First

Did you know you can buy your chosen paint colors in test cans? In fact, it’s an essential part of finding the right paint color for the outside of your home. Purchase test cans in several of the colors you’re most interested in and paint swatches on your home. Do this on all four sides of your house to make sure the color you choose looks good in any type of light. It’s also a good idea to paint it near any trim to ensure your color choices coordinate well. Finally, check out your test sites throughout the day to determine which one looks best in all types of light.

3. Choose Three Different Shades

Picking exterior paint is about choosing more than one color. You’re probably focused on the paint you’ll use on your siding since it will cover the most area, but you’ll need to consider your accent colors as well. You’ll likely need two. The first accent color will be the most important, as it will cover the most space in the form of your doors, shutters, and potentially your porch. Finally, you’ll need a third color for the trim around your windows and doors, the roof edging, and other smaller spaces. Traditional methods call for choosing strongly contrasting colors, but a monochromatic palette works if your goal is a more modern look.

4. Consider the Rest of the Neighborhood

Although you may not want to, you might need to consider the exterior paint jobs of other homes in the neighborhood. This is especially true if you live in an area that is governed by a homeowners’ association. While historical neighborhoods are typically more open to your painting whims, modern housing developments typically want to create a uniform style. This may mean you need to stick to beige or gray colors that match the other homes in your area. You might even see disciplinary action if you use a color too outside of the norm (although you may be able to add a pop of color in the form of your door paint). Keep in mind you’ll likely want to stick to neutral hues if you plan to sell as well. You might love bright purple, but a potential buyer may not.

Regardless of which paint colors you choose, always hire professional exterior painters to get the job done. A paint company’s technicians have the knowledge, experience, and tools necessary to do the job correctly and safely. Just be sure to choose a company that is licensed, insured, and has a strong reputation within your community.