T
hinking about painting the exterior of your house? Fall is a good time for such a project, in between the high heat of the summer and the rain setting in. Make the most of it! The first question to ask is, does my house have any elements that will not be changing and will affect the colour choices? There are at least two – the roof and the window colours. A third one could be any existing stone on the exterior. This is a big one to deal with as it becomes a “bossy element” with the undertones setting the direction for your colour choices.
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Selecting Exterior Colours
Another thing to consider is the age and style of your house. Do you have an historic home? An Arts and Crafts new build? Or a modern or Westcoast style home? Drive (or walk!) around your neighbourhood looking at similar houses and colour choices. What do you like and not like? The current trend is white with or without black. Gone are the greys. But timeless is better than a trend, for obvious reasons. Painting the exterior of a house is backbreaking work if you’re doing it yourself and expensive if you’re hiring someone else to do it. Likewise, selecting the correct colour is important for the same reasons. Don’t forget the trim colour, including the garage door, and then there’s the front door. The colour for this should be the one that looks the best on your home and flows with your interior and exterior decor. Landscaping will make a big difference
to the curb appeal of your house. Changing the colour will make a big difference but plan for landscaping to add visual interest, if not already in place Don’t use too many colours; the general rule of thumb is a maximum of three, historic homes can take more. Make sure you test your new colour before committing to painting the full house. Most paint stores sell tester pots. Always test colours on a white surface or board so you don’t end up visually comparing your new colour to the current one. If you’re painting a new colour over your existing siding, add a strip of white paint around the edges of the new test paint area. Bringing someone in for a colour consultation may boost your level of confidence in moving forward. Make an informed decision and then go for it! Jane Nares is an Interior Decorator based in Ladysmith. janenaresdesigns. com 250-252-0501
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